Zack Ellison
Founder and managing general partner at Applied Real Intelligence
Expertise: Entrepreneurship, venture debt, venture capital, investing, finance
Education: University of Chicago

Zack Ellison, MBA, MS, CFA, CAIA is the founder and managing general partner of Applied Real Intelligence (A.R.I.) and the chief investment officer of the A.R.I. Senior Secured Growth Credit Fund, which provides debt financing solutions to premier VC-backed companies. He previously worked as a loan underwriter, investment banker, corporate bond trader, and fixed income portfolio manager at three firms with over $1 trillion in assets – Scotia Bank, Deutsche Bank, and Sun Life. Ellison holds an MBA from the University of Chicago, an MS in Risk Management from NYU, and is completing his Doctorate in Business Administration at the University of Florida.

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11 Articles
A businessman gives a pitch in front of a whiteboard
Common Pitfalls in Investor Pitches and How to Avoid Them
Our expert shares tips for perfecting your pitch to avoid the mistakes that could cost you funding.
A founder is pitching her startup to investors.
Pitch With Proof: How to Win Over Investors
Evidence and clear strategy will show investors that your business can succeed.
Happy employees are sitting at a table.
Thriving as a Founder: Mental Resilience for Long-Term Success
Our expert, a founder himself, outlines timeless strategies for founders to strengthen mental health and sustain growth.
A man and a woman are looking at a computer screen and are smiling.
Mastering Mental Health for Founders: Advanced Strategies for Lasting Well-Being
Meditation and self reflection are great ways to stave off stress.
A woman wearing glasses and a weary expression is looking at a computer screen.
Balancing Mental Health for Founders: The Foundation
Our expert launches a three-part series that provides useful advice for entrepreneurs seeking mental well–being and better work-life balance.
Two businesspeople are seated at a desk reviewing paperwork.
Founders, Here’s What to Look for in an Investor
It sometimes can be better to turn down money than partner with the wrong investor.
An entrepreneur sitting with an investor at a conference table.
10 Top Strategies for Raising Startup Capital
It’s competitive out there. Being pleasant, being prepared and being truthful are among the ways to stand out in a sea of startups.
Water swirling in a vortex.
How to Avoid the Startup Death Spiral
The death spiral starts with a precipitous drop in valuation and ends with an R.I.P for your company. Here’s how to stop death in its tracks.
A plant in sunlight. Startups have funding lifecycles, just as plants do.
Where Is Your Startup in Its Funding Lifecycle?
Founders can find funding easier if they understand which types to seek as their company grows.
A conservative business plan and a marketing deck help. startups get ready to raise venture debt.
Get Ready to Raise Venture Debt
A conservative business plan and a marketing deck help.
Venture debt lets founders hang on to a bigger portion of their company as it grows.
What Is Venture Debt? How Can It Support Diverse Founders?
This alternative to equity financing lets founders hang on to a bigger portion of their companies as they grow.