Wall Street Maverick Dan Ives Exits Wedbush to Launch AI-Focused Merchant Bank

In a significant shift on Wall Street, Dan Ives, one of the most recognized and outspoken technology analysts, is leaving his long-standing role at Wedbush Securities. After eight impactful years at Wedbush and over 25 years dedicated to covering technology stocks, Ives is embarking on an ambitious new venture: a modern merchant bank designed to integrate research, advisory services, capital raising, and investing under a single roof.

Ives envisions his new firm as a pioneer in the financial landscape, specifically targeting the immense opportunities created by artificial intelligence and other structural economic shifts. "In looking at the next opportunity, it's to create a modern merchant bank with great partners, long-term capital and something I think will change the way Wall Street looks at investment banks," Ives stated, expressing his vision for the firm's transformative potential.

Dan Ives, Wedbush Securities analyst.

Scott Mlyn | CNBC

The move represents an unusual, yet strategic, career pivot for an analyst known for his energetic television appearances, bold calls on AI beneficiaries, and distinctive colorful jackets. Ives' prior roles at Wedbush even extended beyond traditional sell-side analysis, including serving on the advisory board of Zeta Global and briefly as chairman of Eightco Holdings, where he spearheaded a crypto treasury strategy centered on Worldcoin, the digital token linked to Sam Altman's identity project.

While the firm's formal announcement is slated for the coming weeks, Ives revealed its plans to offer proprietary research, strategic advisory, capital raising, and investment capabilities across diverse sectors like technology, energy, and financials. Crucially, he intends to continue his renowned coverage of technology stocks in a research capacity, alongside his efforts to build out the broader business.

Ives is set to recruit top talent from across Wall Street, aiming to position his new venture at the very nexus of the AI-driven industrial revolution. "My career has almost built up to something like this," Ives remarked, highlighting his belief that the firm will be uniquely equipped to identify and capitalize on emerging opportunities in this rapidly evolving technological landscape.