# Altin Kadareja

> Altin Kadareja is the Albanian co-founder and CEO of Cardo AI, a financial-technology company that turns fragmented private-credit and asset-based-finance data into structured workflows, monitoring and analytics. After studying at Bocconi and working across Allianz Bank, Intesa Sanpaolo, Prometeia and BlackRock, he founded Cardo AI in 2018 around a problem he had experienced firsthand: complex credit strategies were still being run through manual processes and spreadsheets. He now leads the company from New York as it expands across the United States and Europe.

- **Role:** Co-founder and CEO at Cardo AI
- **Organizations:** Cardo AI, BlackRock, Prometeia, Intesa Sanpaolo, Nexen S.p.A., Allianz Bank Financial Advisors
- **Nationality:** Albanian
- **Education:** Undergraduate degree in Business Administration, Bocconi University, MSc in Economics and Management of Innovation and Technology, Bocconi University, Semester Abroad programme, Copenhagen Business School, Executive Programme in Risk Management, Imperial College Business School
- **Known for:** Co-founded Cardo AI in 2018 around the modernization of private-credit and asset-based-finance operations., Built a career spanning product innovation, banking, risk consulting and asset management before becoming a founder., Raised a $15 million Series A for Cardo AI in November 2024, co-led by Blackstone Innovations Investments, FINTOP Capital and JAM FINTOP.

## Career timeline

- **2009-2010** — Worked as an innovation product manager at Allianz Bank Financial Advisors.
- **2010-2011** — Worked as a junior consultant at Nexen S.p.A.
- **2011-2014** — Worked as an analyst at Intesa Sanpaolo.
- **2014-2018** — Worked at Prometeia, including as a manager.
- **2018-2019** — Served as a vice president at BlackRock.
- **2018** — Co-founded Cardo AI to modernize the data and operating workflows of asset-based finance and private credit.
- **2024** — Led Cardo AI's entry into the U.S. market and announced a $15 million Series A co-led by Blackstone Innovations Investments, FINTOP Capital and JAM FINTOP.
- **2025** — Cardo AI joined the FinTech Innovation Lab New York cohort.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Cardo AI in 2018 around the modernization of private-credit and asset-based-finance operations.
- Built a career spanning product innovation, banking, risk consulting and asset management before becoming a founder.
- Raised a $15 million Series A for Cardo AI in November 2024, co-led by Blackstone Innovations Investments, FINTOP Capital and JAM FINTOP.
- Was selected as an Endeavor Entrepreneur in 2024 through Endeavor Italy.
- Led Cardo AI into the 2025 FinTech Innovation Lab New York cohort.
- Led Cardo AI as the company received Debt Portfolio Management Technology of the Year and Service Provider of the Year recognitions in 2025.

## Latest updates

- **2026-06** — Appeared on the Structured Finance Association's Bright Ideas podcast to discuss spreadsheets, data infrastructure, AI governance and cybersecurity in asset-based finance.
- **2026-06** — Published Cardo AI's AI Manifesto and wrote that the platform was running more than 700 facilities and over $200 billion in assets.
- **2026-02** — Outlined Cardo AI's focus on continuous, decision-grade data and explainable AI in a Q&A about private-market infrastructure.
- **2025-11** — Cardo AI was named Alternative Data Vendor of the Year in the Risk Markets Technology Awards 2026.
- **2025-03** — Cardo AI was selected for the 2025 FinTech Innovation Lab New York cohort.
- **2024-11** — Cardo AI announced a $15 million Series A and its expansion into the U.S. market.

## Links

- Website: https://cardoai.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/altinkadareja

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/altin-kadareja
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-10