CAIS
CAIS is a financial technology platform founded in 2009 that provides independent financial advisors and wealth management firms with marketplace access and SaaS tooling for alternative investments and structured notes, serving 62,000+ advisors across 2,000+ firms.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What CAIS does
CAIS is a financial technology platform founded in 2009 by Matt Brown that provides independent wealth channels with structured access to alternative investments. The company operates a multi-tenant SaaS platform (CAIS Solutions) combined with a marketplace (CAIS Marketplace) that together support the pre-trade, trade, and post-trade lifecycle for alternative investments and structured notes. CAIS serves 2,000+ wealth management firms, 62,000+ independent financial advisors, and 8,300+ advisor teams, with approximately $7.5T in end-client assets at firms with access to the platform. The platform integrates with major TAMP/managed-account platforms (Envestnet, Orion, Vestmark, RedBlack) and custodians (BNY Mellon Pershing, Schwab Advisor Services, Addepar) and lists offerings from 70+ alternative asset managers and 10+ bank issuers.
The core product suite includes the CAIS Marketplace (turnkey alternatives menu with independent Mercer due diligence), CAIS Solutions (SaaS for operations automation with digital subscription documents, AML/KYC smart logic, and CAIS DocuSign), CAIS Capital Markets (structured notes distribution and lifecycle support), CAIS Custom Funds (branded single- or multi-manager fund structures), CAIS Compass (portfolio construction tool), CAIS IQ (an education platform with 175+ courses), CAISey (an AI-powered conversational assistant launched October 2025), and the Models Marketplace (with model portfolios from BlackRock, Carlyle, Franklin Templeton, and KKR). CAIS Advisors, a registered investment adviser launched December 2024, manages offerings including the CAIS Sports, Media and Entertainment Fund interval fund. In May 2026, CAIS integrated Anthropic's Claude as a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server as part of an "Alts Engine" strategy to automate alts workflows.
CAIS generates revenue through four streams: (1) sales/transaction fees on alternative fund placements facilitated through the platform, (2) SaaS subscriptions for CAIS Solutions negotiated with home offices of broker-dealers, RIA aggregators, and bank/trust companies, (3) investment advisory and asset management fees through CAIS Advisors, and (4) capital markets distribution revenue on structured notes from major bank issuers. The go-to-market is sales-led via regional product specialists, supported by a large content and events program including the annual CAIS Summit (expected 1,200+ attendees in October 2026) and the CAIS Live nationwide roadshow. The company is privately held under the legal entity Capital Integration Systems LLC (Delaware), with subsidiaries including CAIS Capital LLC (FINRA/SIPC broker-dealer), CAIS Advisors LLC (SEC-registered investment adviser), and CAIS Insurance Solutions. The company is backed by Apollo Global Management, Motive Partners, Franklin Templeton, Reverence Capital Partners, Hamilton Lane, and Eldridge, with a disclosed valuation of over $1 billion as of January 2022.
CAIS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CAIS
- Legal name
- Capital Integration Systems LLC
- Website
- http://caisgroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- CAIS is a financial technology platform founded in 2009 that provides independent financial advisors and wealth management firms with marketplace access and SaaS tooling for alternative investments and structured notes, serving 62,000+ advisors across 2,000+ firms.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CAIS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- WealthTech / Alternative Investment Platform
- NAICS
- Investment Banking and Securities Intermediation (523150), Miscellaneous Intermediation (52391), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)
- SIC
- Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211), Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Merchant Cash Advance (MCA) Marketplaces (FSAKAHAI)
Keywords
Where CAIS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
CAIS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Sales fees on alternative funds and strategies: CAIS and/or its affiliates are paid a fee for the sale of private funds and strategies facilitated through the platform, generating transaction-based revenue on alternative investment placements.
- SaaS subscription (CAIS Solutions): Recurring software-as-a-service fees from RIAs and independent broker-dealers using CAIS Solutions to centralize and scale alternative investment operations across the pre-trade, trade, and post-trade lifecycle.
- Investment advisory / asset management (CAIS Advisors): Fee-based investment advisory services offered through CAIS Advisors, LLC, a registered investment adviser managing products such as the CAIS Sports, Media and Entertainment Fund; advisory services include customized alternative investment solutions and model portfolios.
- Capital Markets platform / structured notes: Revenue from capital markets activities through CAIS Capital Markets including distribution and lifecycle support for structured note products from major bank issuers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | — | CAIS Marketplace access for financial advisors |
| Subscription | — | CAIS Solutions (SaaS) for RIAs and broker-dealers |
| Unit Pricing | — | CAIS Sports, Media and Entertainment Fund |
| Other | — | CAIS Advisors customized model portfolios and funds |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
CAIS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CAIS operates a multi-tenant SaaS platform (CAIS Solutions) combined with a marketplace (CAIS Marketplace) that powers pre-trade, trade, and post-trade workflows for alternative investments and structured notes. The platform serves more than 2,000 wealth management firms and 62,000+ independent financial advisors, providing free turnkey access to a curated menu of alternative investments from 70+ third-party asset managers and structured notes from 10+ bank issuers, backed by independent Mercer due diligence.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CAIS Marketplace: Turnkey alternatives menu providing financial advisors direct access to a broad selection of alternative investments.
- CAIS Capital Markets
- CAIS Solutions
- CAIS Custom Funds
- CAIS Compass
- CAIS IQ
- CAISey
- CAIS Advisors
Products and services
- CAIS Platform The unified CAIS platform that connects independent financial advisors with leading alternative asset managers, powering the pre-trade, trade, and post-trade lifecycle of alternative investments and capital market strategies. Serves over 2,000 wealth management firms and 62,000+ advisors.
- CAIS Marketplace A turnkey alternatives menu providing free, direct access to a broad selection of alternative investments, including private markets, hedge fund product menus, structured note offerings, educational materials, and Mercer due diligence reports.
- CAIS Solutions A software-as-a-service (SaaS) offering that enables RIAs and independent broker-dealers to centralize and scale all their alternative investment operations in one place, with features such as automated customer profiles, digitized documentation, AML/KYC smart logic, CAIS DocuSign, and integrations with custodians and reporting providers.
- CAIS Capital Markets Provides financial advisors access to market-linked investment solutions and technology support throughout the entire lifecycle of a structured investment, including access to bank issuer offerings and bespoke structured note strategies from 10+ major bank issuers.
- CAIS Custom Funds Helps firms build branded custom fund structures (single-manager or multi-manager) to preserve their existing edge in alternative investing and streamline their clients' investing experience.
- CAIS Compass A portfolio construction tool that helps advisors analyze the potential historical impact of alternative asset classes on their client portfolios and model potential allocations.
- CAISey An AI-enabled interactive tool that helps financial advisors accelerate discovery, analysis, and comparison of alternative funds by providing instant data-backed responses and consolidating fund information.
- CAIS Advisors A registered investment adviser (CAIS Advisors, LLC) offering customized alternative investment solutions, including the CAIS Sports, Media and Entertainment Fund, an interval fund targeting accredited investors with a $25,000 minimum and semi-annual liquidity.
- CAIS Sports, Media and Entertainment Fund An interval fund offering accredited investors exposure to over 30 sports franchises across all five major North American professional leagues as well as media and entertainment assets, with Arctos and Eldridge selected as core independent managers.
- Models Marketplace Model portfolios designed to help financial advisors address the complexities of alternatives in client portfolios, including offerings from BlackRock, Carlyle, Franklin Templeton, and KKR.
- CAIS Enterprise Solution An enterprise product to power alternative investments for TAMPs and managed account platforms, unifying alternative and traditional investment management across partner platforms including Envestnet, Orion, and Vestmark.
- CAIS IQ An interactive on-demand learning experience built for financial advisors to build confidence and alternative investing knowledge, featuring 175+ courses and 3,500+ CE credits earned by the user base.
Companies that use CAIS
Customer profileNamed customers20 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
CAIS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration10 records
AI capability8 records
Feature9 records
CAIS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- Eagle Point Credit ManagementcoreJoined the CAIS platform in June 2026, making the Eagle Point Enhanced Income Trust (Ticker: ENHIX) available to the network of 2,000+ wealth management firms and 62,000+ financial advisors.
- AnthropicflagshipIntegrated Anthropic's Claude as a Model Context Protocol server within the CAIS platform, enabling advisors to query fund data, analyze performance, and surface portfolio insights inside their existing workflows. Forms part of CAIS's 'Alts Engine' strategy to automate alts workflows across partner platforms.
- CoatuecoreJoined the CAIS platform in May 2026 with its Coatue Innovative Strategies Fund (CTEK), a tender offer fund launched in 2025 with a $1 billion anchor commitment from Bezos Expeditions and DFO Management.
- RedBlackcorePartnership to integrate CAIS' alternatives trading functionality into RedBlack's portfolio rebalancing engine, streamlining alternatives placements and portfolio management.
- REX SharescorePartnership to launch the REX Autocallable Income ETF (Ticker: ATCL) with CAIS as core platform and marketing partner, RBC Capital Markets providing institutional structuring and hedge support, and Bloomberg Indices supplying the underlying index.
- ArctosflagshipSelected as core independent manager of the CAIS Sports, Media and Entertainment Fund, providing access to over 30 sports franchises across all five major North American professional leagues.
- Sound Point PartnerscoreCollaboration to broaden access to Sound Point's private credit solutions for financial advisors through the CAIS platform.
- LODAS MarketsflagshipStrategic partnership to develop a secondary marketplace for private funds. LODAS' trading technology will be integrated into the CAIS platform with launch expected in early 2026, contingent on regulatory approval. CAIS Group also has a separate white-labeling deal with LODAS.
- EnvestnetflagshipEnterprise technology agreement enabling CAIS to power alternative investments across the Envestnet platform, unifying alternative and traditional investment management for advisors.
- OrionflagshipEnterprise technology agreement (originally March 2024) expanding to power alternative investments across the Orion platform, unifying alts and traditional investment management.
- VestmarkflagshipEnterprise technology agreement enabling CAIS to power alternative investments across the Vestmark platform.
- Schwab Advisor ServicesflagshipExpanded relationship to streamline independent advisor execution for ticker-traded alternative investments on the CAIS platform.
- SolactivecorePartnership to launch a first-of-its-kind private credit BDC index.
- J.P. Morgan Asset ManagementflagshipPartnership to expand advisor access to alternatives through the CAIS platform.
- BNY Mellon PershingflagshipCollaboration providing advisors access to a large selection of alts funds with no custody or transaction fees, with expanded integrations and new features unveiled in June 2022 and November 2023.
- MercerflagshipIndependent third-party due diligence partner — all funds listed on the CAIS Marketplace undergo an independent review by Mercer. Mercer is not an owner or shareholder of CAIS and has co-produced the annual CAIS–Mercer State of Alts Survey.
- Bank of AmericaflagshipBank issuer providing structured note access through CAIS Capital Markets.
- JPMorgan Chase & Co.flagshipBank issuer providing structured note access through CAIS Capital Markets.
- Goldman SachsflagshipBank issuer providing structured note access through CAIS Capital Markets; also a speaker at the 2026 CAIS Summit.
- Morgan StanleyflagshipBank issuer providing structured note access through CAIS Capital Markets.
- UBSflagshipBank issuer providing structured note access through CAIS Capital Markets.
- BNP ParibasflagshipBank issuer providing structured note access through CAIS Capital Markets.
- CitiflagshipBank issuer providing structured note access through CAIS Capital Markets.
- RBC Capital MarketsflagshipBank issuer providing structured note access through CAIS Capital Markets; co-partner on the REX Autocallable Income ETF.
- BMOflagshipBank issuer providing structured note access through CAIS Capital Markets.
- BarclaysflagshipBank issuer providing structured note access through CAIS Capital Markets.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights7 records
CAIS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- iCapital: iCapital is the leading marketplace-plus-platform for alternative investments serving independent advisors and home offices, with its own network of asset managers and structured solutions. CAIS explicitly benchmarks against iCapital in its value proposition, and both compete for the same RIA and broker-dealer customers.
- SUBSCRIBE: SUBSCRIBE is a pure-play SaaS platform for alternative-investment operations targeting RIAs and broker-dealers. CAIS positions itself against SUBSCRIBE by offering a combined marketplace + SaaS + AUM-linked fee model, addressing the same operational pain points in alts workflows.
Emerging players
- Yieldstreet: Yieldstreet provides access to alternative investments (private credit, real estate, structured notes) to accredited individual investors and advisors. It overlaps with CAIS' structured-note and private-credit offerings but skews more toward retail-sourced capital rather than institutional advisor distribution.
- Alto (formerly AltoIRA): Alto operates a platform for investing IRA and taxable assets in alternative investments, partnering with asset managers and serving individual investors and advisors. It addresses similar operational complexity in alts subscriptions and reporting, though its product scope is narrower than CAIS.
Regional players
- Moonfare: Moonfare offers semi-liquid private equity, private debt and venture funds to wealth investors and advisors, primarily in Europe. It is comparable in product mix to CAIS' CAIS Marketplace and CAIS Advisors offerings, but operates in a different geography with different regulatory regime.
Broad incumbents
- Addepar: Addepar is a wealth-management technology platform serving RIAs, family offices and private banks with portfolio reporting, analytics and data aggregation. CAIS integrates with Addepar for transaction reporting, and the two compete for the technology wallet of large independent advisors.
- Orion: Orion provides portfolio accounting, rebalancing and performance reporting software to RIAs and broker-dealers. CAIS has an enterprise technology agreement embedding alts into Orion, but Orion's broader wealthtech stack overlaps with CAIS Solutions at the operations layer.
- Envestnet: Envestnet operates the Tamarac and Envestnet Wealth platforms powering UMA, TAMP and financial-planning workflows for advisors. CAIS Enterprise Technology is embedded in Envestnet, but Envestnet is a broader incumbent whose platform competes for the same operations and rebalancing spend.
- Vestmark: Vestmark provides wealth management operations, rebalancing and managed-account technology for advisors and TAMPs. CAIS integrates alts into Vestmark, but Vestmark's broader platform competes for the operations budget that CAIS Solutions targets at broker-dealers and RIAs.
Others
- Mercer Investments: Mercer provides independent investment due diligence and consulting to institutional and wealth clients. It is CAIS' third-party due diligence partner on the Marketplace and a co-publisher of the annual State of Alts survey, making it a strategic ecosystem enabler rather than a direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CAIS social profiles
Digital presenceCAIS compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
CAIS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CAIS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
CAIS subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
CAIS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds12 records
Investors15 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CAIS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CAIS
What does CAIS do?
CAIS operates a multi-tenant SaaS platform (CAIS Solutions) combined with a marketplace (CAIS Marketplace) that powers pre-trade, trade, and post-trade workflows for alternative investments and structured notes. The platform serves more than 2,000 wealth management firms and 62,000+ independent financial advisors, providing free turnkey access to a curated menu of alternative investments from 70+ third-party asset managers and structured notes from 10+ bank issuers, backed by independent Mercer due diligence.
Is CAIS a public or private company?
CAIS is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was CAIS founded?
CAIS was founded in 2009. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is CAIS based?
CAIS is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does CAIS make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Sales fees on alternative funds and strategies are the primary driver. The others are saaS subscription (CAIS Solutions), investment advisory / asset management (CAIS Advisors) and capital Markets platform / structured notes.
Who are CAIS's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are iCapital and SUBSCRIBE. Emerging players are Yieldstreet and Alto (formerly AltoIRA). Moonfare is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Addepar, Orion, Envestnet and Vestmark. Mercer Investments is listed as an others.
Does CAIS have an API?
Yes. CAIS has integrated Anthropic's Claude as a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server, enabling financial advisors to query fund data, analyze performance, and surface portfolio insights within their existing workspace. The MCP integration is currently available to a select group of advisors and forms part of CAIS's "Alts Engine" strategy to automate alternative investment workflows across partner platforms. No public REST/GraphQL API or developer portal is documented.
What industry is CAIS in?
CAIS's product category is WealthTech / Alternative Investment Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAKAHAI, Merchant Cash Advance (MCA) Marketplaces. Its NAICS code is 523150 and its SIC code is 6211.