In this episode of Capital Connect, Monark Markets CEO Ben Haber sits down with Priyesh Ranjan, founder and CEO of Valura.ai, an AI-native global investment platform headquartered in Dubai. After two decades on the institutional side of finance, as CFO of Nasdaq Helsinki-listed Tecnotree, managing a multi-billion dollar family office, and founding the quantitative investment firm 2Cents Capital, Priyesh set out to give individual investors the guidance and access that has long been reserved for private banking clients. In this episode, we unpack: From the Institutional Seat to the Individual Investor: What twenty years across a public-company CFO role, a family office, and a quant firm revealed about how the wealthiest investors actually build wealth and reach opportunities others never see. Why AI Changes the Access Question: Pairing an AI advisor with more than 100,000 global instruments and curated portfolios, and what convinced Priyesh that private banking style guidance could finally be delivered at scale. India Through GIFT City: Valura's expansion as an IFSCA-registered broker-dealer, onboarding more than 1,000 wealth advisors ahead of launch, at a moment when India's outbound investment has climbed 67 percent to over 41 billion dollars a year. Building Compliant Cross-Border Rails: The regulatory and operational challenges of routing investors through registered infrastructure rather than offshore brokers, and why that distinction matters for the long term. Inside the Exclusives Desk: How pre-IPO allocations and private equity deals reach investors who have historically been shut out, and how Priyesh thinks about suitability, education, and portfolio construction for first-time private market investors. The Connective Layer: As private markets open to the wealth channel around the world, what the infrastructure between distribution platforms and the supply side of private markets needs to look like. About Capital Connect: Capital Connect is a podcast from Monark Markets exploring the most timely topics in private capital with the most informed and intelligent voices in the ecosystem. Hosted by Ben Haber. About Monark Markets: Monark provides API infrastructure connecting public and private markets for brokerages, custodians, and wealth management firms. Learn more at monark-markets.com. Connect with Priyesh Ranjan & Valura.ai: Explore the platform at valura.ai, or connect with Priyesh directly on LinkedIn. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not reflect any opinions or official position of Monark Markets. All content provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, financial, or professional advice; please consult with a qualified professional for specific advice related to your circumstances. Tags capital connect, monark markets, ben haber, priyesh ranjan, valura ai, private markets, pre-IPO investing, GIFT City, IFSCA, cross-border investing, India outbound investment, AI investing, wealth management, private equity, alternative investments, fintech infrastructure, Dubai fintech, global investing
