Biography
Zack Ellison, CFA, CAIA, is the founder and managing partner of Applied Real Intelligence (A.R.I.) and the CIO of A.R.I.’s Venture Debt Opportunities Fund. A.R.I. is an investment management company focused on providing debt financing solutions to innovative, high-growth, venture capital-backed technology companies. Ellison leads A.R.I.’s investment activities, including sourcing, due diligence, structuring, execution, and portfolio management. Previously, Ellison was director of US Public Fixed Income at Sun Life Financial, a corporate bond and CDS trader at Deutsche Bank, and an investment banker at Scotia Bank. He served on the board of CFA Society Los Angeles from 2020 through 2023 and in 2021 was the recipient of the society’s Emerging Leader Award. He currently serves on the board of the Southwest Chapter of the CAIA Association and as a member of the Milken Institute Young Leaders Circle. Ellison holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and an MS in risk management from NYU Stern. In his personal time, he is studying for a doctorate in business administration at the University of Florida. Additionally, he holds the CAIA designation, is a CFA charterholder, and previously held FINRA Series 7, 55, and 63 licenses.
The potential advantages of private market investments, specifically venture equity and venture debt investing, extend to five dimensions of performance.