Key Takeaways
- • DayMark Wealth Partners, a Cincinnati-based RIA founded in 2022, closed its inaugural private markets fund at $25 million in partnership with Opto Investments, targeting accredited investors and qualified clients seeking diversified growth exposure.
- • DayMark Fund I employs a barbell strategy with equal allocation to private equity and venture capital, supplemented by secondaries and direct deals, balancing established PE managers against emerging venture managers across AI, defense, biotech, and enterprise software sectors.
- • The fund's venture capital sleeve includes direct exposure to xAI (now part of SpaceX), Epirus, Exowatt, and Higgsfield, alongside fund-level investments in Fusion Fund IV, Neo Fund IV, and Zero Prime Ventures Fund II, with specific access to Opto's recently closed AI-focused venture fund.
- • DayMark Wealth Partners has grown strategically through acquisitions across Illinois, Ohio, Connecticut, Florida, and Utah since inception, positioning itself to leverage private markets access as a differentiation tool for its high-net-worth client base.
Summary
The fund's strategic architecture reflects a barbell approach to portfolio construction. DayMark Fund I allocates capital equally between private equity and venture capital, with additional diversification sourced from secondaries and direct deal opportunities. The private equity allocation anchors the portfolio with exposure to established, proven managers, while the venture capital sleeve maintains a broad exposure to emerging venture capital managers specializing in high-growth sectors including artificial intelligence, defense, biotech, and enterprise software. This dual-track structure is designed to balance stability and upside potential across market cycles.
On the venture capital side, the fund has secured meaningful allocations to both direct investments and fund-level commitments. Direct investment holdings include positions in xAI (now part of SpaceX), Epirus, Exowatt, and Higgsfield. At the fund level, DayMark Fund I has committed capital to Fusion Fund IV, Neo Fund IV, and Zero Prime Ventures Fund II. The venture allocation also includes specific access to Opto Investments' recently closed AI-focused venture fund, providing concentrated exposure to the artificial intelligence investment thesis.
DayMark Wealth Partners was founded in 2022 by Robert Prangley II and operates as a registered investment advisor serving high-net-worth individuals, families, and business owners. The firm provides comprehensive financial planning, investment management, and estate planning services. Since inception, the firm has pursued geographic expansion through strategic acquisitions in key markets including Illinois, Ohio, Connecticut, Florida, and Utah. The launch of DayMark Fund I represents the firm's entry into managed private markets offerings, extending its value proposition beyond traditional advisory services to include direct access to curated alternative investment vehicles for its client base.
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