Private Markets are No Longer Opaque: AI, Due Diligence, & the Future of Allocation

Private Markets are No Longer Opaque: AI, Due Diligence, & the Future of Allocation

In Episode 31 of Whiskey & WealthTech, host Alex Serman sits down with Philipp Hemmersbach, CEO and Co-Founder of Kapnative, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping private market investing. Philipp shares how his experience working with wealth managers, family offices, and private banks revealed a common pain point: private markets are growing rapidly — but due diligence processes remain manual, slow, and opaque. Kapnative is changing that by deploying AI agents across the entire due diligence lifecycle — from automating DDQs and validating data to financial modeling and investment memo creation — Kapnative reduces processes that once took four weeks down to 10–15 minutes. The result? Analysts spend less time on administrative heavy lifting and more time on value-adding decision-making. The conversation also dives into broader trends shaping wealth management: ·       Margin pressure from ETFs and commoditized investing ·       The rise of semi-liquid private market structures ·       AI transforming advisor roles from operational to relational ·       The growing importance of data validation and cross-portfolio intelligence

From Risk to Readiness: Rethinking Shareholding Disclosure with Eric Lapham

In our milestone Episode 30 of Whiskey & Wealthtech, Alex sits down with Eric Lapham from Artius Global to unpack one of the most overlooked—but costly—areas in wealth and asset management: shareholding disclosure compliance. They break down why firms are struggling with manual processes, how one missed filing can trigger fines in the hundreds of thousands, and why automation is quickly becoming the industry standard. Kicking things off with a pour of a classic bourbon, Maker’s Mark, Eric shares how Artius Global’s SaaS-based, practitioner-built platform simplifies a historically labor-intensive process—reducing 10–40 hours of manual work into a one-to-two-hour workflow. The conversation also explores industry consolidation, future trends, and the growing need for clean data and automation across compliance functions.

The Future of Goals-Based Investing: Bridging the Gap Between Planning and Portfolio Construction with Nebo Wealth

n this special live episode recorded at First Rate’s 2025 WealthTech Connect conference in Dallas, host Alex Serman sits down with Martin Tarlie and Matt Kadnar, co-founders of Nebo Wealth, for a fascinating conversation about the evolution of goals-based investing. They unpack how Nebo bridges the long-standing gap between financial planning and portfolio construction—helping advisors deliver personalization at scale while driving client confidence and better life outcomes. The trio dives into: * How Nebo’s goals-based optimization engine turns asset allocation into an output, not a starting point. * Why personalization at the asset allocation level is the next frontier for wealth management. * How tools like Nebo empower advisors to balance autonomy, compliance, and efficiency. * The rise of alternative investments—and why advisors need frameworks, not just products. * The human side of investing: building understanding to reduce emotion and improve decision-making. Of course, it wouldn’t be Whiskey & WealthTech without a pour—this time, the First Rate Private Label Single Malt from Andalusia Whiskey Co., shared in front of a live audience.

Data, Diversification, and the Rise of Private Markets with Carol Penhale

In this Toronto edition of Whiskey & WealthTech, Alex Serman sits down with Carol Penhale, Head of Canada at RIMES Technologies, for a spirited discussion on private markets, data granularity, and wealth trends shaping the future. Over a glass of Glen Breton—the first North American single malt—they explore how institutions are navigating the complexities of private asset data, the growing role of target date funds, and Canada’s outsized position in the alternatives space. Carol also shares her insights on the generational wealth transfer, the shift from paper to digital, and the most rewarding aspects of her career in financial technology and data.

Reimagining the ‘Old Fashioned’ Way: AI’s Disruption in Wealth Management with Greg Woolf

In this episode of Whiskey & WealthTech, Alex Serman sits down with Greg Woolf, founder and CEO of AI Think Tank, to sip Knob Creek whiskey and dive into the evolving role of AI in wealth management. From whiskey tasting notes to wealthtech trends, Greg shares his take on generative and agentic AI, the changing expectations of wealth managers, and how firms can stay competitive. Whether you're into bourbon or big data, this episode has something for every modern advisor.