AltFinance

Tune in! AltFinance President and CEO, Marcus Shaw, is speaking at the 2026 Milken Institute Future of Finance conference in Washington, DC. today. On a panel moderated by Milken Institute's Managing Director of Finance, Dan Carol, Marcus Shaw will speak on Advancing Economic Mobility, with panelists Anna-Lisa Miller of Ownership Works and Shil Patel of Ranger Global, and Rob J. Shapiro of Sonecon. Scan the QR code to watch the panel live at 12:35 ET.

Congratulations to the AltFinance Class of 2025! 👩🏽‍🎓👨🏾‍🎓 You started the AltFinance Fellowship program as ambitious students, and you’re graduating as rising stars in the world of investing. From mastering financial models to making real connections across the industry, you’ve shown what excellence, resilience, and vision look like. Now, you’re stepping into careers at some of the most respected firms in finance—and we couldn’t be more proud. 👏🏽Here’s to the deals you’ll close, the strategies you’ll shape, and the impact you’ll make. #AltFinance #ClassOf2025 #InvestInTheFuture #NextGenInvestors #HBCUExcellence #FinanceCareers

🚨 Calling all Howard University students! 🚨 Join HUIG and AltFinance for an exclusive AltFinance Recruiting Session on March 12, 2025, from 5-7 PM in HUSB 539! 💼📊 Learn about the AltFinance Fellowship Program and gain access to: ✅ One-on-One Personalized Coaching ✅ Buy-Side Career Roadmap ✅ Custom Curriculum ✅ In-Person & Virtual Workshops ✅ Engagement with Top Alternative Investment Firms (Apollo, Ares, Oaktree & more!) Plus, hear directly from Marcus Shaw, President & CEO of AltFinance! 🎤✨ 📅 Application opens: January 15, 2025 ⏳ Deadline: April 15, 2025 📍 Don’t miss out on this chance to take your finance career to the next level! RSVP now—link in bio or scan the QR code on the flyer! 🚀

We’re excited to announce that applications for the 2025 AltFinance program are now open until April 15, 2025. The AltFinance Fellowship provides ambitious students with finance and alternative investment education, one-on-one professional mentorship, scholarship funding to pursue professional and academic goals, and access to internships and full-time jobs at alternative investment firms. Please share this opportunity with students who are interested in learning about the fascinating field of alternatives. Below are the requirements for the fellowship program: 🎓May 2027, December 2027 or May 2028 graduation dates 🏫Attending Clark Atlanta, Florida A&M, Hampton, Howard, Morehouse, Morgan State, North Carolina A&T, or Spelman. However, other HBCU students are welcome to apply. 📚3.3+ GPA preferred 📄 Resume 📑 Unofficial Transcript 📝Written Short Answer Response 📹Two Video Responses (1-2 min) 👩🏽‍🏫Recommendation Letter Visit AltFinance.com/Fellowship to apply and tag a friend who may be interested! The admission committee looks forward to reviewing your application.

AltFinance is proud to sponsor and host a panel at the 2024 Annual National HBCU Week Conference next week from September 15-19 in Philadelphia. Hosted by The Department of Education, this year’s theme is “Raising the Bar: Where Excellence and Opportunity Meet” with the goal of continuing to identify and target tangible opportunities that would connect federal and private resources to the HBCU community. The conference will feature the 6th annual Career and Recruitment Fair, celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the HBCU Scholar Program, and feature 50+ sessions and workshops. On Tuesday, Sept 17 at 10:30am, AltFinance is hosting a session titled “Increasing the Pipeline of HBCU Talent in Alternative Investments.” During this conversation, AltFinance CEO & President Marcus Shaw will moderate a panel on cross-sector partnerships that have developed impactful programs for connecting the HBCU community with the alternative investment industry. The panel includes Jeffrey Hughes (Managing Director, Ares Management Corporation), Dr. Vaneesha Dutra, Ph.D. (Associate Professor of Finance, Howard University), and Eli Lesser (Senior Executive Director, Innovation and Global Initiatives, The Wharton School). This panel will also discuss how HBCUs can collaborate with AltFinance to introduce their students to careers in investment management. We encourage all HBCU faculty and leadership to attend the session to learn more about how they can collaborate with the organization and to introduce their students to career opportunities in alternative investments. To register for the AltFinance session, visit the conference app, Whova.

For the second year in a row, AltFinance CEO Marcus Shaw was a featured guest at Bloomberg’s 6th Annual Diversity Drives Returns conference, held last month at Bloomberg’s headquarters in New York. He joined Dr. Paul Judge - a fellow Georgia Tech and Morehouse alum- and Bloomberg’s Scarlet Fu for a panel titled “Identifying Diverse Opportunity in VC/PE.” Marcus shared that exposing undergraduates at HBCUs to careers in alternative investment strengthens the spectrum of opportunities for high-performing students and more importantly expands the talent pool for an industry that is increasingly recruiting undergraduates. Buy-side firms, particularly those in alternatives, are realizing that the conventional path (undergrad, investment banking, and often getting an MBA) is not meeting their needs, and they need top talent earlier in the pipeline. HBCUs represent a tremendous, untapped pool of highly-motivated, high-achieving talent. AltFinance is addressing the industry’s diversity gap by providing the industry-specific education, exposure and experience for HBCU students to succeed in a career in alternative investments. Diversity Drives Returns is Bloomberg’s annual flagship conference highlighting diverse managers in the alternative investment space. Every year Bloomberg convenes fund managers, analysts, investment professionals, allocators and others in the alternative investment ecosystem to highlight meaningful themes, discuss what’s ahead and connect with peers. Additional speakers for the conference included Les Brun, Founder, Chairman & CEO of Ariel Alternatives & Hamilton Lane and David Grain, CEO & Founder of Grain Management.

Last month, AltFinance hosted its annual AltFinance Fellowship Case Competition in Washington, D.C. as part of our 2024 AltFinance DC Workshop. More than twenty teams of AltFinance Fellows collaborated and pitched their investment recommendation for a leveraged buyout of a leading commercial landscape company to a mock investment committee and their peers. For several weeks, fellows leveraged investment research, public filings, and calls with industry experts to develop their investment thesis and a full valuation analysis, which included a leveraged buyout analysis, discounted cash flow Analysis and comparable companies analysis. Three standout teams earned the opportunity to compete for the prestigious prize of $10,000 and present their analyses to an investment committee, composed of investment and legal professionals, while their peers watched from the audience. Brittany Clark, Howard University ‘25, Andrew Coulibaly, Howard University ‘24, Zoë Shelton, Howard University ‘25, and Kathryn Stewart, Spelman College ‘24 won first-place, demonstrating their exceptional research, analytical prowess, and compelling presentation skills. All fellows agreed that their financial modeling and analytical skills improved as a result of the workshop and case competition, by providing them the opportunity to operate in near real-world work conditions “The AltFinance D.C. workshop’s case competition mirrored the intense rigor and fast-paced environment that analysts encounter on the desk. Navigating team dynamics and conducting valuation analyses provided invaluable learning experiences, equipping fellows with skills that can be transferred to internships and full-time opportunities,” stated Case Competition Winner Team Lead Brittany Clark.

AltFinance is hosting office hours on Friday, April 12 at 1pm for students who have questions about completing their application for the AltFinance Fellowship program. Link in bio. Submit your questions below!

In honor of Women’s History Month, AltFinance proudly recognizes the remarkable contributions of women from diverse backgrounds who are advancing the alternative investments industry. Trailblazers and HBCU alumni like Clearlake Capital Group’s Marcelia Freeman (Florida A&M University ), Goldman Sachs’ Nicole Pullen Ross (Hampton University), and Neuberger Berman’s Patrica Zollar (North Carolina A&T State University) embody resilience, innovation, and leadership in the realm of investing. Their remarkable achievements serve as a beacon of inspiration, urging us to challenge barriers, defy stereotypes, and relentlessly pursue excellence in every facet of investing. AltFinance is committed to addressing the root causes of underrepresentation in alternatives, including by increasing the presence of women of color in investment roles. Through the AltFinance Fellowship program, we’ve supported nearly 60 female Fellows, comprising an impressive 45% of all Fellows across three cohorts. Our mission is clear: to foster greater diversity in alternative investments by empowering HBCU communities with access to specialized curriculum, invaluable networks, and sustainable financial backing. In collaboration with esteemed founding partners like Ares, Oaktree, and Apollo, and with the support of program partners including The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, MLT and UNCF, we’re actively cultivating and nurturing a robust pipeline of diverse talent in the alternative investments sector. Let’s join hands in celebrating the indelible contributions of women in the alternatives industry and reaffirm our commitment to empowering women in their journey toward successful careers in investing. Together, we can forge a future that is truly inclusive and equitable for all.

Last week, AltFinance attended the 80th annual UNCF National “A Mind Is…”® Gala in Washington, DC. This milestone fundraising and social event focused on raising awareness of the need for and benefits of a college education; the students UNCF serves; and the contributions of HBCUs. Hosted by generous corporate sponsors including AltFinance partner, Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. , the National AMI Gala is an evening of celebration attended by civic leaders, alumni, dignitaries, and more. UNCF President and CEO, Dr. Michael L. Lomax, commenced the evening by speaking about the historical importance of undergraduate scholarships in combating the forces of intolerance and inequity. The event honored incredible men and women who have dedicated their time, talent and treasure to ensuring that future generations of students are less burdened by financial obstacles in their pursuit to change the world. Among the honorees were Oaktree Co-Chairman and Chief Investment Officer Bruce Karsh and Martha Karsh. Bruce and Martha are co-founders of the Karsh Family Foundation. The Foundation has committed more than $300 million in gifts supporting educational access, financial aid, and scholarships. Their largest gifts have been for need-based financial aid to universities and colleges, including Howard University and Spelman College. We deeply appreciate the generosity of the Karsh’s in their support of HBCUs and their students. Each year, UNCF awards over $70 million in scholarships to students attending more than 1,100 schools across the country. UNCF is a valued AltFinance partner that, among other things, manages the AltFinance Scholarship Program. To date, UNCF has awarded nearly $2 million in need- and merit-based scholarships to over 130 AltFinance Fellows. “What was most valuable to me was learning that the endowment for all 102 HBCUs combined is $5.2 billion, in contrast to Harvard University’s at $50 billion. This taught me that it’s up to future investors like AltFinance Fellows to ensure the endowments of our institutions one day match that of the more well-funded institutions, stated AltFinance Fellow and Howard University Sophomore Cameron O’Neal.

@sof.famu @clubreal_famu @famu.cfo finance and economics students: AltFinance will be on campus on Monday, February 12 to speak with students who are interested in joining the AltFinance Fellowship Program and the AltFinance Institute. Scan the QR code to register. See you there ✌🏽

@_hamptonu @hamptonu.rec Econ and Finance students: AltFinance will be on campus Tuesday, February 13 at 5pm. Come meet AltFinance CEO Marcus Shaw and hear from our talented fellows about their experience as an AltFinance Fellow and participant in the AltFinance Institute. RSVP by scanning the QR code. Bring a friend and see you there!