Michael Weisz: Visionary Investor, Entrepreneur, and Builder of Category-Defining Platforms
Michael Weisz is a name synonymous with innovation in private markets, fintech, and alternative investments. A seasoned investor, entrepreneur, board member, and strategic advisor, he has built a reputation for creating platforms that transform how individuals access opportunities traditionally reserved for institutions. As the Founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Yieldstreet, Weisz has led one of the most significant shifts in the democratization of alternative investments. Today, his career continues to inspire as he advises companies, leads his family office, and contributes to philanthropic initiatives in the United States and abroad.
Early Career and Foundations of Success
Real Estate Beginnings
Michael Weisz’s professional journey began in real estate. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Touro College, he obtained his New York State real estate license and started his career at Heino Realty in Brooklyn. His ability to generate leads, secure exclusive rights to sell residential and commercial properties, and develop relationships with clients established his early reputation as a determined and capable professional.
Following this initial experience, Weisz joined Eastern Union Commercial Real Estate as a Capital Placement Advisor. In that role, he originated debt and secured clients for investment properties across the United States. His work involved navigating commercial mortgage-backed securities markets, collaborating with banks, pension funds, and private lenders, and structuring complex financial transactions.
Hedge Fund Experience
In 2009, Michael transitioned into the hedge fund world, joining a $1 billion New York City-based asset-backed investment fund. Over four years, he served as Analyst and Vice President of Business Development, where he developed senior secured debt opportunities, prepared credit committee reports, and generated investment strategies across industries such as litigation finance, healthcare, mining, consumer finance, and trade finance. This role expanded his expertise in structured credit and asset-backed finance, providing the foundation for his later entrepreneurial ventures.
Founding Soli Capital
In 2013, Michael Weisz founded Soli Capital, a New York-based specialty finance firm. Soli Capital focused on litigation finance, a then-nascent sector that provided loans secured by legal case portfolios and law firm receivables. Under Weisz’s leadership, Soli Capital broadened into asset-backed investments across accounts receivable financing, real estate finance, and consumer products.
His approach emphasized low correlation to public markets, strong collateral support, and historically sound strategies that produced attractive risk-adjusted yields. Soli Capital positioned Michael as a pioneer in litigation finance and set the stage for his next big leap—redefining alternative investing for individual investors.
Yieldstreet: A Fintech Powerhouse
Founding and Vision
In 2014, Michael Weisz co-founded Yieldstreet with the vision of making alternative investments accessible to the broader investing public. For decades, opportunities in private credit, real estate, art finance, litigation finance, and venture capital were limited to institutional investors or ultra-high-net-worth individuals. Yieldstreet changed that by creating a digital-first platform where accredited investors could access curated opportunities with low stock market correlation.
Growth and Achievements
Under Michael’s leadership, Yieldstreet quickly became the largest direct-to-consumer digital investment platform in the United States. The company deployed over $6 billion across multiple asset classes, including private credit, private equity, structured products, supply chain finance, and interval funds.
Weisz spearheaded innovations in investment product structuring, including vehicles such as 3(c)(5), 3(c)(7), ’40 Act funds, and BPDNs. His efforts raised over $250 million from leading venture and private equity firms, secured more than $1 billion in credit facilities, and earned Yieldstreet recognition as one of the most transformative fintechs in America.
Yieldstreet also grew globally, expanding operations across four continents. Michael led strategic acquisitions, such as Cadre, an online real estate platform, and Athena Art Finance, a fine art lender previously owned by The Carlyle Group. These moves strengthened Yieldstreet’s mission of democratizing access to private markets.
Leadership Transition
From 2014 to mid-2023, Weisz served as President of Yieldstreet. In July 2023, he became Chief Executive Officer, a role he held until May 2025. After nearly two years as CEO, he transitioned to focus on broader strategic goals while continuing to serve as Founder and Board Member.
Current Ventures and Family Office
Today, Michael Weisz manages a family office that invests across real assets, private credit, private equity, venture capital, and emerging asset classes. His focus is on long-term wealth preservation, sustainable growth, and supporting innovative companies.
In addition to managing his own capital, Weisz serves on multiple boards and acts as a strategic advisor to founders, executives, and institutional investors. His guidance often centers on navigating growth, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic transitions in fast-evolving markets.
In August 2025, Michael joined the Strategic Advisory Board of NextNRG, a publicly listed energy and infrastructure company specializing in AI-driven energy systems, microgrids, and wireless EV charging. His role highlights his ability to bridge fintech expertise with other industries experiencing transformative change.
Philanthropy and Personal Life
Beyond business, Michael Weisz is deeply committed to philanthropy. He oversees two charitable foundations that fund programs in education, food security, and social welfare in the United States and Israel.
He is also an active speaker and media contributor, frequently sharing insights on fintech, entrepreneurship, and the future of investing. His passion lies in supporting visionary founders and developing technology-forward businesses that serve massive addressable markets.
Michael lives in New York with his wife and three children, balancing his professional pursuits with family life and social impact initiatives.
Challenges and Lessons
Like many entrepreneurs leading disruptive platforms, Michael has faced challenges. Some Yieldstreet offerings, particularly in real estate, have underperformed or defaulted, drawing attention from investors and the financial press. These setbacks reflect the inherent risks of democratizing access to complex private market opportunities.
Weisz’s resilience and ability to adapt highlight his commitment to transparency, innovation, and continuous improvement in the face of adversity. His experience serves as a reminder that building transformative platforms often involves navigating both triumphs and challenges.
Legacy and Impact
Michael Weisz’s legacy is defined by his role in opening private markets to everyday investors. By building Yieldstreet into a global fintech leader, he changed how individuals access wealth-building opportunities outside traditional stocks and bonds.
His ongoing work as an investor, advisor, and philanthropist continues to influence industries far beyond fintech. From litigation finance to art lending, from real estate to energy innovation, Michael has proven his ability to spot trends, structure opportunities, and create platforms that define entire categories.
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Conclusion
Michael Weisz is more than an entrepreneur—he is a visionary operator who has reshaped access to private markets and built lasting institutions. With a career spanning real estate, hedge funds, litigation finance, and fintech, his influence is felt across multiple industries.
As he leads his family office, advises on global initiatives, and supports philanthropic causes, Michael Weisz stands as a prime example of what it means to be a modern investor: innovative, resilient, and dedicated to building prosperity for all.
