Fintech Innovation

Cathie registered ARK Investment Management LLC (“ARK”) as an investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in January 2014. With over 40 years of experience identifying and investing in innovation, Cathie founded ARK to focus solely on disruptive innovation while adding new dimensions to research. Through an open approach that cuts across sectors, market capitalizations, and geographies, Cathie believes that ARK can identify large-scale investment opportunities in the public markets resulting from technological innovations centered around DNA sequencing, robotics, artificial intelligence, energy storage, and blockchain technology. As Chief Investment Officer (“CIO”) and Portfolio Manager, Cathie led the development of ARK’s philosophy and investment approach and has ultimate responsibility for investment decisions.

Prior to ARK, Cathie spent twelve years at AllianceBernstein as CIO of Global Thematic Strategies where she managed over $5 billion. Cathie joined Alliance Capital from Tupelo Capital Management, a hedge fund she co-founded, which in 2000, managed approximately $800 million in global thematic strategies. Prior to her tenure at Tupelo Capital, she worked for 18 years with Jennison Associates LLC as Chief Economist, Equity Research Analyst, Portfolio Manager and Director. She started her career in Los Angeles, California at The Capital Group as an Assistant Economist. Cathie received her Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude, in Finance and Economics from the University of Southern California in 1981.

Cathie has been recognized as an influential fund manager across various outlets. In 2018, editors at Bloomberg acknowledged Cathie by selecting her to its second annual Bloomberg 50 list of people across business, entertainment, finance, politics, technology, and science who have defined global business. Additionally, Fortune named Cathie to its exclusive roundtable of experts in the annual Fortune Investors Guide: The Best Investing Advice for 2019 From Fortune’s Experts. In 2016, Cathie received the “Women in Finance – Outstanding Contribution Award” from Market Media. Cathie also has been a featured speaker at the World Economic Forum (China) in 2016 & 2017, the World Strategic Forum (Miami) in 2017, The Sohn Hearts and Minds Investment Leaders Conference (Australia) in 2018 and 2019, and Singularity University’s Exponential Finance in 2017 and Global Summit in 2019.

In 2018, Cathie launched the Duddy Innovation Institute at her alma mater, Notre Dame Academy in Los Angeles. The institute offers a challenging educational experience for young women eager to stretch their learning beyond the boundaries of traditional acquisition of knowledge, while influencing a new way of thinking and learning throughout campus.

*The Adviser did not pay a fee to be considered for or granted any awards. The Adviser did not pay a fee or was required to be a member of an organization to be invited as a speaker at any of the noted events. For full Award Disclosure please go to our Terms & Conditions page. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

Brett joined ARK in February 2014 and has worked alongside Cathie for almost 15 years since their time at AllianceBernstein. As Director of Research, Brett guides and manages the proprietary research of ARK’s investment team. The team recognizes that disruptive innovation demands a dynamic and universal approach. By researching across sectors, industries and markets, ARK’s investment team seeks to gain a deeper understanding of the convergence and market potential of disruptive innovations, and thus size investment opportunities more appropriately.

Prior to ARK, Brett served as a Vice President and Senior Analyst on the Research on Strategic Change team at AllianceBernstein. In that role, Brett conducted thematic research, served on the thematic portfolios strategy committee under Cathie Wood’s stewardship, and advised portfolio managers across asset classes. His research topics included Global Energy in the Face of Carbon Dioxide Regulation; Social Media and the Rise of Facebook; the Reformation of the Financial Services Landscape; and the Emergence of Electric Vehicles. He also is the Founder and Principal at iamB Consulting, providing strategy consulting to early stage startups. Prior to 2007, Brett worked in business development in the Radio-Frequency Identification industry after serving as a founding teacher at a charter high school in Los Angeles. Brett earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Max joined ARK as an Analyst for ARK’s Fintech strategy in December 2018. He focuses on payments, digital wallets and the venture capital space.

Prior to ARK, he spent nearly two years at Redstone, a Berlin-based venture capital firm. Max also was Research Assistant at the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) where he studied the syndication behavior of venture capitalists and subsequent effects on their portfolio companies. Max obtained his Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Heidelberg.

Max has appeared on TD Ameritrade Network and has been quoted in Financial Times, Forbes, CNBC, among other publications.

George joined ARK in August of 2019. As an Analyst for ARK’s Fintech strategy, George focuses on alternative lending, vertical integration of hardware and software and impact investing. Additionally, George has played an integral role in helping to develop and align ARK’s Environmental, Social and Governance policy and our focus on sustainable investing.

Prior to ARK, George worked at Square for almost five years.  He most recently worked on the capital team, Square’s lending arm. George graduated from Brown University with a Bachelor of Arts in Business, Organizations and Entrepreneurship and was a member of the Division I Men’s Crew Team.

George has appeared on Cheddar TV and TD Ameritrade Network for his work on alternative lending.

Yassine joined ARK in July 2018. As ARK’s Blockchain/Cryptoasset Analyst, his research focuses on cryptoasset portfolio allocation, cryptoasset institutionalization, and Bitcoin mining.

Prior to ARK, Yassine was a Summer Analyst at Rembrandt Venture Partners, a SaaS focused early stage venture capital firm; and Arena Investors, a registered investment adviser that originates investments with borrowers and other counterparties who need access to financing and are otherwise not able to access conventional sources. Yassine graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Wharton and a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering from The School of Engineering.

Yassine has been quoted on Yahoo, Yahoo Finance, Coindesk, Bitcoin Magazine, and Asia Times, among other publications. Additionally, Yassine was a featured speaker at The Fidelity Mining Summit and has been a guest on notable crypto-focused podcasts, including Marty Bent’s Tales from the Crypt, Laura Shin’s Unchained, Bitcoin Magazine, and Anthony Pompliano’s Off The Chain.