Park Sutton Advisors, a Waller Helms Company (“Park Sutton”), is pleased to have represented Touchdown Ventures (“Touchdown,” “TDVC” or the “Firm”) on its partnership with Cerity Partners (“Cerity”), a leading independent wealth manager with over $100 billion in client assets, headquartered in New York, NY. The combination adds more than 50 colleagues to the Cerity Partners team and a unique area of expertise in alternative investment strategies focused on early-stage and growth-oriented private investments.
Founded in 2014, Touchdown specializes in developing and managing corporate venture capital programs. Offering Venture Capital-as-a-Service (VCaaS), the firm provides customized solutions to access external innovation through venture capital investments. With $1.5 billion in assets under management, Touchdown has been a leading advisor in facilitating corporate access to innovation for over a decade.
“Our partnership with Touchdown Ventures comes during a period of significant growth for Cerity Partners and will be instrumental in deepening our offering to corporate partners,” said Kurt Miscinski, CEO of Cerity Partners. “Touchdown’s best-in-industry VC professionals, coupled with our shared fiduciary commitment to deliver exceptional service in our clients’ best interest, make them an ideal partner. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome the Touchdown team.”
David Horowitz, Touchdown’s CEO, noted “Our relationship with Cerity Partners amplifies our team’s ability to provide the best possible venture capital services for corporations seeking access to external innovation.” Scott Lenet, President of Touchdown, said, “Joining Cerity Partners strengthens our capacity to educate, mentor, and advance the career development of private market investors who join our combined firm. Our two teams share common values and a commitment to training and development that stands out in the industry as a differentiator.”
Steven Levitt, Senior Managing Director at Park Sutton, remarked, “Touchdown’s advanced investment strategies and service offerings will enhance Cerity’s capabilities for serving corporations and high-net-worth individuals. We anticipate this partnership will drive significant growth for both entities.” Dan Erichson, CFA, Managing Director, noted, “TDVC’s ability to deliver top quartile returns and form strategic partnerships offers a distinctive value proposition for both corporations and start-ups. With rising demand for alternative investments among high-net-worth individuals, we expect leading RIAs to utilize balance sheet capital to integrate these capabilities.” Alain Nono, Director, added, “It has been a pleasure working with TDVC. Both Cerity Partners and Touchdown Ventures share a commitment to fiduciary service and this partnership will further enhance their offerings. We wish the combined team the best of luck.”