Aligned. Principled. Bold.
Who we are
Co-founded by Joe Lonsdale—founder of 8VC, Addepar, and Palantir—Opto is built and backed by operators who understand the unrealized potential in private markets.
Alternatives don't just offer investors exposure to innovation, they drive it, fueling the technological shifts that will solve generation-defining challenges.
60+
Builders
1.5%
of screened funds pass our vetting1
1. Opto internal data and analysis, as of May 27, 2025.
Meet our leadership team
Opto blends exceptional Silicon Valley engineers with industry specialists who’ve spent their careers navigating the complexities of private markets

Ryan VanGorder
Chief Executive Officer

Joe Lonsdale
Co-Founder, Executive Chairman

Jacob Miller
Co-Founder, Chief Solutions Officer

Matt Reed
Co-Founder, Chief Technology Officer

Matt Malone
Head of Investment Management

Nicholas Downer
Head of Advisory Services

Matthew Baskir
Head of Legal, Corporate and Risk

Erika Jesse
People Business Partner

Eytan Schindelhaim
Head of Product

Sydney Sharp
Recruiting

Matt Dunn
Head of Marketing

Sean Mulcahy
Head of Investment Operations

Alexis Rieger
Head of Legal, Investment Management
Our extensive network
Our advisory board provides strategic guidance to help shape our growth, drawing on deep industry experience and a strong understanding of private markets

Isaac Applbaum
Founder & Partner, Mizmaa Ventures

Kelly O'Connor
Founder & CEO, Lumiere Partners

Mark Goldberg
Founder, Alternative Investments Market Intelligence

Kamal Jafarnia
Co-founder, Opto Investments

Todd Ruppert
Founder & CEO, Ruppert International

Mark Machin
Co-founder, Intrepid Growth Partners

David Barnard
Former Head of Private Wealth Management, AllianceBernstein

Steve Lockshin
Founder & CEO, Advice Period
Opto's advisors are not directly compensated for any endorsement. However, they hold equity in Opto and a conflict of interest does exist. Therefore, the advisors' advice or opinions regarding Opto or its affiliates may be influenced by such arrangement.
Careers
We’re on a mission to transform the $15T private markets industry, and we’re looking for ambitious builders to help make it happen.
We tackle complex problems, iterate fast, and hire for impact. If that sounds like you, check out our open roles.

Our insights
Insights to help advisors guide clients through the complexities of private markets

What drives outperformance in private markets?
Jacob Miller, Opto co-founder, discusses the factors that can potentially drive sustained outperformance in private markets

Advisor challenges when introducing private assets
Robert Picard of Hightower Advisors discusses key challenges advisors may face in bringing private markets into investor portfolios
Contact us
Experience our platform for yourself
Opto is a revolutionary end-to-end solution for wealth managers to build, fundraise for, and manage private markets programs at scale
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