Institutional Investor’s exclusive, invitation-only capital introduction experience, designed to bring together leading institutional LPs and GPs who are reshaping the landscape of private and alternative markets.
We are at a turning point in institutional investing—where market complexity, macro volatility, and liquidity dynamics are driving a complete reassessment of how capital is allocated across private and alternative strategies. For endowments, foundations, healthcare systems, pensions, family offices, and RIAs, the imperative today is clear: build resilience, seek differentiated return streams, and construct portfolios that can adapt—without sacrificing long-term objectives.
Alpha Edge is not just another conference—it’s the final act of II’s “Power Week,” following the prestigious Single Family Office Gathering (May 11–13). It’s where high-conviction capital meets high-potential talent who are shaping the future of alternative investing.
Taking place over 1.5 days at the Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale, this high-conviction capital introduction experience will be focused on real assets, private equity, secondaries, venture, and alpha-driven liquid strategies.
This closed-door program is designed to surface the current and next generation of investment talent and offer a unique lens into how top allocators are building resilient, future-ready portfolios through the integration of public and private alternatives. With 100 institutional LPs and GPs in attendance, Alpha Edge is a forum for strategic discovery, candid dialogue, and relationship-building with long-term alignment at its core.
For more information, please contact:
Giorgio Tupini
Sr. Exec Director, Head of North America Sales, Institutional
Curated by Allocators, for Allocators
Institutional Investor is pleased to announce the launch of the Alpha Edge Private Markets Buy List, a first-of-its-kind, peer-driven initiative developed and curated by allocators, for allocators.
The Alpha Edge Buy List aims to spotlight GPs who truly embody LP-first principles—those who demonstrate transparency, alignment, and consistency across market cycles.
Access to the Peer-Driven Alpha Edge Buy List
GPs featured on the Buy List are endorsed by their peers and evaluated across key dimensions of institutional discipline and integrity:
Prioritize Fee Alignment
Only managers endorsed by LPs who have negotiated transparent, LP-aligned fee structures—free of hidden layers or misaligned economics—make the cut.
Honor True European Private Equity Standards
GPs adhering to the European waterfall model, ensuring LPs receive continuous distributions before carry is taken—protecting downside and reinforcing long-term trust.
Deliver Predictable Liquidity and Avoid Offloading Risk to LPs
Managers who provide steady distributions without unnecessary recycling or trapped capital, supporting LP liquidity management across vintages and market cycles.
Follow ILPA Standards of Alignment, Governance, and Transparency
Including standardized reporting and performance templates to ensure consistency in fees, expenses, and return calculations.
This peer-validated Buy List is designed to cut through the noise of GP marketing and surface only those managers who are aligned, disciplined, and proven—empowering LPs to make more confident commitments while reinforcing collective bargaining power across the allocator community.
Disclaimer: The Alpha Edge Buy List is a peer-driven initiative intended for informational purposes only. Inclusion on the list does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement by Institutional Investor, participating allocators, or ILPA. All investment decisions should be made based on independent due diligence.
Mark Baumgartner
Chief Executive Officer & Chief Investment Officer
University of Florida Investment Corporation
Anurag Pandit
Chief Investment Officer
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital – ALSAC
Erik Ogren
Managing Director of Investments
Carnegie Mellon University
Scott Ramsower
Head of Private Equity Funds
Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
Caixia Ziegler
Managing Director, Real Assets and Sustainable Investments
MacArthur Foundation
Amol Deshpande
Managing Director, Head of Private Equity
Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS)
Nicole Wang
Senior Portfolio Manager
Texas Treasury Safekeeping Trust Company
Helen Huang
Private Equity Investor
Massachusetts Pension Reserve Investment Management – Mass PRIM
Cecelia Chen
Director of Investments
Carnegie Corporation of New York
Kim Lew
Chief Investment Officer & Chief Executive Officer
Columbia Investment Management Company
Jewel Chen
Portfolio Manager – Private Equity
Texas Permanent School Fund
Petya Nikolova
Deputy CIO & Head of Infrastructure
NYC Retirement Systems
Kirk Wolff
Portfolio Manager, Private Equity & Co-Investments
State of Wisconsin Investment Board
Jason Bowne
Deputy Chief Investment Officer, Head of Private Markets Investing
Jefferson Health
Asaf Zentler
Chief Investment Officer & Treasurer
University of Miami
Dhinesh Ganapathiappan
Senior Investment Officer, Head of Private Markets
City of San Jose
Sargent McGowan, CFA
Chief Investment Officer, U.S. Endowments & Foundations
University of Florida Investment Corporation
Edyta Riley
Head of Real Estate
Ford Foundation
Yangge Seamen
Head of Private Investments
Children's Health System of Texas
Frank Mihail
Chief Investment Officer
North Dakota Trust Lands
Nick Maffeo
Director of Hedge Funds
Employees Retirement System of Texas
Marquette Chester
Senior Managing Director
Xponance
Mohamed Farid
Principal Portfolio Manager & Head of Absolute Return Portfolio
World Bank Pension Fund
Ryan Johnston
Senior Analyst, Funds Alpha Team
State of Wisconsin Investment Board
Brandon Gill
Managing Director & Head of External Partnerships
AIMCo
Michael Putignano
Investment Director
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
Signe Conway
Managing Director
The Wallace Foundation
Kavita Verma
Director of Domestic Investment
State of Maryland
