When Ahmad Ashrafi sold his business, he found himself with the time and money to pursue his passion: investing. Unfortunately, he hit a roadblock that many new investors encounter. Despite looking into all the top investment firms, he couldn't find one that aligned with his vision and strategy. Ashrafi was put off by large firms that couldn't offer an endowment-style portfolio, effectively combining traditionals with alternatives. Frustrated by the cookie-cutter approach, Ashrafi decided to chart his own path and establish Infinity9 Investment Group—an investment firm committed to allocating capital the right way.
"I felt the industry misunderstood people like me. I didn't want to be a number on somebody's books. I wanted a partner who could be agile and build a bespoke high-performing portfolio that suited my unique goals," Ashrafi reports. "I couldn't find it, so I decided to create it."
So, in 2019, Infinity9 was born. Ashrafi had a clear vision in mind: to create an investment firm that prioritized performance, agility, and client-centricity above all else. Fueled by his own experiences and frustrations, Ashrafi set out to build a firm that he wished had existed when he entered the world of investing.
Ashrafi modeled Infinity9 on his own personality: passionate about knowledge and insights, detail-oriented, curious, and hungry. It's a winning combination. While larger, more established firms are geared towards institutional or retail investors, Infinity9 is a strategic partner for family offices and UNHWIs. You can think of the firm as a specialized commercial real estate advisor, reducing the need for in-house resources.
"We are agile in market conditions, in a way that big firms can't be. We are able to invest outside the lines, so when the market looks left, we look right," Ashrafi asserts.
Eschewing conventional wisdom, Infinity9 defies norms and pursues opportunities that others overlook. This contrarian mindset has become the cornerstone of the firm's philosophy, guiding its strategies for its clients. And it's paid off. Ashrafi credits the firm's growth to allocating to deals that value substance over sexiness. In a world where investment firms use flashy marketing to hard-sell opportunities, Infinity9 prefers to allocate to deals that offer compounding value to its customers. Rather than succumbing to the allure of superficial trends, Infinity9 embraces the intricacies of investment opportunities, recognizing that true value lies in deep knowledge, disciplined financial engineering, and advanced statistical modeling.
At Infinity9, success is not measured by assets under management (AUM) but by the achievements of its clients. The company proudly boasts an "eat what you kill" mentality, allowing it to stay as lean as possible for the benefit of its clients. This ethos of alignment over agreement permeates every aspect of the firm's operations, fostering a culture of partnership and shared success.
"We only make money when our clients do," Ashrafi emphasizes.
Ashrafi couldn't care less about AUM; his team is laser-focused on being the highest-performing investment option, prioritizing performance alongside a tailored experience. By eschewing the hard sell and focusing on value creation, the firm has carved out a niche for itself as a trusted partner for family offices and UHNWIs seeking superior risk-adjusted returns from exclusive off-market investments.
Ashrafi is always looking for ways to break down barriers for investors. For example, recognizing the challenges faced by foreign investors seeking entry into the U.S. real estate market, Infinity9 creates a direct bridge between off-market real estate opportunities and international investors. The deals succeed because Infinity9 understands international investors' needs and concerns and structures deals that facilitate entry into the market.
"International investors need information, access, and a trusted partner with boots on the ground. We pride ourselves on fostering long-term partnerships with foreign investors and delivering results," says Ashrafi.
As Infinity9 continues to thrive in the investment management and commercial real estate sectors, Ashrafi remains focused on the firm's future. With plans to expand its offerings to encompass alternative asset classes such as private equity and venture capital, Infinity9 is poised to set new standards of excellence in the industry.
Ashrafi's journey is a testament to the power of vision, agility, and innovation. By daring to think differently and prioritizing client success above all else, Infinity9 is breaking barriers and reshaping the future of investing for its clients. For more information, visit infinity9.com or reach out to Infinity9's Investor Relations team at ir@infinity9.com or +1 786-836-8164.
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