# Kurtosis: Investment Management Firm
High-Level Overview
Kurtosis LLC is an investment management firm founded in 2024 and based in Downtown Los Angeles that pursues a concentrated long-only strategy to deliver sustainable and durable returns while managing tail risk.[1] The firm operates as a single-family office, meaning it is not currently accepting outside capital.[1]
The firm's investment philosophy centers on identifying concentrated positions in companies with potentially unappreciated characteristics indicative of high excess earnings potential.[1] Kurtosis invests primarily in public equities—focusing on small-cap biotech and medical device firms, as well as large-cap technology and communications companies—with geographic reach across North America, Europe, and Asia. The firm also maintains exposure to private funds and companies within its diversified asset portfolio.[1]
Origin Story
Kurtosis was founded in 2024 by Jack Kurtz, who serves as lead Portfolio Manager.[1] Kurtz brings over a decade of investing experience to the role, having previously worked as a Senior Analyst at Cricklewood LP, where he researched and invested in a diversified public portfolio focused on large-cap technology and small-cap healthcare equities.[1]
Kurtz's career trajectory reflects deep roots in financial services. He began his career at Morgan Stanley and Société Générale, where he gained foundational knowledge of the financial services industry.[1] He holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Michigan.[1] His lifetime passion for stocks and concentrated investing experience in both public and private companies informed the creation of Kurtosis.
Core Differentiators
- Concentrated investment strategy: Rather than pursuing diversified portfolios, Kurtosis focuses on concentrated positions in companies it believes have significant upside potential, leveraging deep research and conviction-based decision-making.
- Tail risk management: The firm explicitly aims to manage tail risk—the potential for extreme market events—through its investment approach, distinguishing it from passive or broadly diversified strategies.
- Sector expertise: The combination of small-cap biotech/medical device focus alongside large-cap technology and communications exposure allows the firm to capitalize on opportunities across different market capitalizations and industries.
- Single-family office structure: Operating as a single-family office provides operational flexibility and alignment of interests, though it constrains the firm's capital base and growth trajectory.
Role in the Broader Tech Landscape
Kurtosis operates within a broader trend of specialized, conviction-driven investment management. The firm's focus on small-cap biotech and medical devices reflects sustained investor interest in healthcare innovation, while its large-cap technology exposure positions it within the secular growth narrative that has dominated markets. By concentrating capital in high-conviction positions rather than pursuing index-like diversification, Kurtosis represents a counterweight to passive investing trends and reflects renewed interest in active management among sophisticated investors.
The timing of Kurtosis's 2024 founding coincides with a period of market maturation in technology and healthcare sectors, where identifying "unappreciated characteristics" requires deep research and domain expertise—precisely the value proposition the firm offers.
Quick Take & Future Outlook
As a newly established single-family office with experienced leadership, Kurtosis is positioned to build a track record in concentrated investing across healthcare and technology. The firm's success will depend on its ability to identify mispriced opportunities in competitive markets and execute on its tail risk management philosophy during both bull and bear markets. Given the founder's background in large institutional settings combined with his conviction-driven approach, Kurtosis may serve as a model for other experienced investors seeking to launch specialized, concentrated strategies outside traditional fund structures.