Dan Ives, Wedbush Securities Analyst.
Scott Mullin | CNBC
Dan Ives, one of Wall Street’s most prominent technology analysts, is leaving his longtime job at Wedbush Securities to launch a merchant bank aimed at uniting research, advisory, financing and investing under one roof.
Ives, who has spent the past eight years at Wedbush and more than 25 years covering technology stocks, said the new company aims to build what he calls a “modern merchant bank” focused on helping companies and investors take advantage of opportunities created by artificial intelligence and other economy-wide structural changes.
“My eight years at Wedbush have been phenomenal,” Ives said in an interview. “But as I look at the next opportunity, it’s to build a modern merchant bank with great partners, long-term capital, and what I think will change the way Wall Street looks at investment banking.”
The company, expected to be formally announced in the coming weeks, plans to provide proprietary research, strategic advisory services, financing and investments across technology, energy, finance and other sectors, Ives said. Ives also said he intends to continue covering technology stocks with his research capabilities while helping build the broader business.
The move marks an unusual career turn for one of the sell-side’s most high-profile analysts, who has become a familiar face to investors for his bullish calls for AI beneficiaries and his energetic TV appearances. Known for his colorful jackets and outspoken style, Ives also launched his own clothing line last year.
At Wedbush, Mr. Ives also held unusual roles for a sell-side analyst, including serving on the advisory board of Zeta Global and briefly serving as chairman of Aitco Holdings. At Eightco, he led the crypto asset strategy centered around WorldCoin, a digital token associated with Sam Altman’s identity venture, World.
Ives said the company aims to hire talent from across Wall Street and position itself at the center of the AI-driven transformation that is reshaping the industry.
“My career has pretty much built up to this,” Ives said. “We see a business opportunity at hand in this AI revolution, and I think that’s what this company can do.”
