Key Takeaways
- • Opto Investments, a private markets platform for independent RIA firms, was selected as winner of the "Best Alternative Investment Platform" award in the 7th annual FinTech Breakthrough Awards program, according to a Business Wire release dated March 30, 2023.
- • The FinTech Breakthrough Awards program attracted more than 4,000 nominations from across the globe for its 2023 edition, per the release.
- • Opto provides RIAs with curated access to alternative investments across private credit, private equity, real estate, venture capital, and other asset classes, and typically co-invests alongside RIAs in the private funds it offers.
- • Co-founder and chairman Joe Lonsdale framed the platform as offering institutional-level opportunities and goal-driven alternatives software to advisors serving wealthy investors.
Summary
Opto Investments ("Opto") has been named winner of the "Best Alternative Investment Platform" award in the 7th annual FinTech Breakthrough Awards program, according to a Business Wire announcement. The FinTech Breakthrough Awards are operated by FinTech Breakthrough, an independent market intelligence organization that recognizes leading companies, technologies, and products in the global FinTech market. The 2023 program drew more than 4,000 nominations from around the world.
Opto describes itself as a technology-enabled private markets investment platform designed for independent registered investment advisor (RIA) firms. The platform gives advisors access to a curated selection of alternative investment opportunities in private credit, private equity, real estate, venture capital, and other hard-to-access asset classes, and works with advisors to build diversified, customized portfolios for their clients. According to the release, Opto typically invests in the private funds on its platform alongside RIAs, and says it conducts due diligence on each asset management partner.
In the announcement, James Johnson, Managing Director at Tech Breakthrough, said the need for alternatives access has grown as the traditional 60/40 portfolio has struggled, particularly among high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth investors. He credited Opto with differentiating itself through a customized solution and advisor education. Joe Lonsdale, Opto's co-founder and chairman, said the company was built by a team of investors and technologists to give RIAs serving wealthy investors institutional-level opportunities alongside goal-driven alternatives software. Opto describes its "conversational education" approach, which guides advisors through gaps in their knowledge. The release notes that individual investor access to alternative investments remains in its early stages.
Opto's listed investors include Tiger Global, 8VC, MSD Capital, Clocktower Ventures, FinVC, and HOF Capital. The release does not disclose financial metrics such as assets under management or revenue.
Opto describes itself as a technology-enabled private markets investment platform designed for independent registered investment advisor (RIA) firms. The platform gives advisors access to a curated selection of alternative investment opportunities in private credit, private equity, real estate, venture capital, and other hard-to-access asset classes, and works with advisors to build diversified, customized portfolios for their clients. According to the release, Opto typically invests in the private funds on its platform alongside RIAs, and says it conducts due diligence on each asset management partner.
In the announcement, James Johnson, Managing Director at Tech Breakthrough, said the need for alternatives access has grown as the traditional 60/40 portfolio has struggled, particularly among high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth investors. He credited Opto with differentiating itself through a customized solution and advisor education. Joe Lonsdale, Opto's co-founder and chairman, said the company was built by a team of investors and technologists to give RIAs serving wealthy investors institutional-level opportunities alongside goal-driven alternatives software. Opto describes its "conversational education" approach, which guides advisors through gaps in their knowledge. The release notes that individual investor access to alternative investments remains in its early stages.
Opto's listed investors include Tiger Global, 8VC, MSD Capital, Clocktower Ventures, FinVC, and HOF Capital. The release does not disclose financial metrics such as assets under management or revenue.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.