# Matt Brown

> Matt Brown is the New York-based founder, chairman, and CEO of CAIS, the alternative-investment platform he launched in 2009 after a career spanning financial advice, private equity, and asset-management platforms. His route into finance began with an interview taken while he was headed toward film school; his longer arc now connects 65,000 financial advisors to private-market infrastructure and connects him personally to the Museum of the City of New York, founded by his great-grandfather, where Brown serves as board chair.

- **Role:** Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer at CAIS
- **Organizations:** CAIS, Museum of the City of New York, Endeavor, Shearson Lehman Brothers, Brown Simpson Asset Management, Brownstone Advisors
- **From:** New York, United States
- **Education:** Bachelor of Arts, Saint Mary's College of California
- **Known for:** Founded CAIS in 2009 and developed it into a full-lifecycle alternative-investment platform., Led CAIS to more than 2,500 wealth-management firms and 65,000 financial advisors overseeing about $8.5 trillion in end-client assets by July 2026., Raised a $170 million Series D for CAIS in July 2026 at a valuation above $2 billion.

## Career timeline

- **Before college** — Started a house-painting company in high school and hired friends to paint homes.
- **1991** — Earned a B.A. from Saint Mary's College of California and joined Shearson Lehman Brothers as a financial advisor.
- **1990s** — Founded Brown Simpson Asset Management, a private-equity business that grew to nearly $1 billion in scale.
- **Early 2000s** — Built Brownstone Advisors around an asset-management platform approach that he later called a prototype for CAIS.
- **2001-2017** — Worked with Endeavor, mentoring entrepreneurs and serving on regional and global boards.
- **2009** — Founded CAIS to give independent wealth advisors access to alternative investments and related technology.
- **2023** — Appeared on The Wall Street Journal's list of the world's most influential decision makers.
- **2024** — Became chair of the board of trustees of the Museum of the City of New York.
- **2026** — Led CAIS through a $170 million Series D that valued the company above $2 billion.

## Achievements

- Founded CAIS in 2009 and developed it into a full-lifecycle alternative-investment platform.
- Led CAIS to more than 2,500 wealth-management firms and 65,000 financial advisors overseeing about $8.5 trillion in end-client assets by July 2026.
- Raised a $170 million Series D for CAIS in July 2026 at a valuation above $2 billion.
- Named among The Wall Street Journal's 'World's Most Influential Decision Makers' in 2023.
- Elected chair of the Museum of the City of New York's board of trustees, effective October 2024.
- Mentored entrepreneurs through Endeavor and served on its South Africa, Turkey, and global boards.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — CAIS announced a $170 million Series D led by Vista Equity Partners, valuing the company above $2 billion and bringing total capital raised to nearly $600 million.
- **2026-06** — Brown and his wife, Marisa, hosted the Museum of the City of New York's second Gotham Dreams Gala, which raised $2.6 million from more than 600 guests.
- **2026-04** — As museum board chair, Brown introduced the Museum of the City of New York's 2026-2034 strategic plan, emphasizing inclusion and his great-grandfather's founding vision.
- **2025-10** — At the 2025 CAIS Summit, Brown reflected publicly on CAIS's growth from a 2009 idea and the convergence of public and private markets.
- **2025-05** — Brown appeared at the Milken Institute Global Conference to discuss technology, AI, portfolio construction, and broader access to alternative investments.

## Links

- Website: https://www.caisgroup.com/our-company/profile/matt-brown
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-brown-579b8731/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/mattbrownCAIS

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/matt-brown
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-27