PROFILE
TODD RUPPERT A Visionary Impact Investor with a Passion for the Arts
In business school, there are countless case studies about the first mover’s advantage, which in hindsight proves the theory to be true. But what you don’t learn is the how and why, and what is behind the founder’s passion and vision to put them on a trajectory for success. This ability to recognize the potential of the market opportunities and identify the future first movers is an innate talent that serial startup investor Todd Ruppert possesses. With over 40 years of experience in the financial industry, Ruppert was formerly the CEO and President of T. Rowe Price Global Investment Services, and was also a venture partner of Greenspring Associates, a $14 billion VC firm. This experience of being vested in the equity and venture side has given him the acuity to spot highly lucrative investment opportunities in a global marketplace. Ruppert’s secret to success lies in following his personal interests in various fields with numerous investments located around the globe in arts and entertainment, fintech, disruptive technologies, education, and impact investing. Here he shares his insights on some of his activities. By Hillary Latos
What are some of the areas you are invested in? FinTech is really what I grew up with and I'm an investor, advisor and board member to FinTech companies all over the globe. I'm invested in a lot of different areas, whether it's infrastructure, payments, insurance tech or roboadvisors, etc. it's across the board. I just went on the board of Rocket Dollar that just made an announcement a couple of days ago about another funding round. Rocket Dollar enables individuals to invest their self-directed IRAs in alternative investments. I’m also on. the board of Symbiont, which is a smart contracts blockchain company that works with the asset management industry. Another is Bite Investments, a technology platform providing access to a diversified selection
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of alternative assets. There are many more. Over the last year I have been doing more in Africa in digital banking and open finance. I look for company founders that are intellectually gifted, have street smarts, and have the leadership qualities to turn a team’s talents into durable value for customers. I also look for founders that meet the four H’s – hungry, humble, honest, and with heart. It’s really a combination of a strong founder or founders and a large, expanding market opportunity. You are also diversified into artistic fields such as entertainment, is that more of a passion play? I really enjoy the arts and entertainment industries, and there are attractive investment opportunities. I cofounded a com-
pany in 2013 called Iconic Images where we acquire the intellectual property rights of photographers. It’s an interesting business. I'm on the board of The Fine Art Group, which is one of the largest independent art lending, brokerage, valuation, advisory and appraisal companies in the world. I'm on the board of a company called Hit Lab in Montreal, which is doing a global digital emerging artists showcase. I'm also an advisor to a private equity firm called BroadLight Capital which is working in the entertainment, technology, and consumer space. I’m also an investor in London and LA based Flawless. It’s neural network driven filmmaking that is the world’s first system that uses Artificial Intelligence to create perfectly lip-synced visualizations in multiple languages.
