Modernist is a company.
Key people at Modernist.
Modernist was founded by Steve Chen (Co-founder, Partner).
Modernist Financial, LLC is a fee-only, fiduciary Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) based in Portland, Oregon, certified as a B Corporation since January 2017, focused on progressive wealth management for individuals and high-growth entrepreneurs.[1][2] Their mission is to empower progressive clients to enjoy today while building a stable financial future through evidence-based, values-aligned Financial Life Planning, emphasizing low-cost, tax-efficient investments and optional sustainability-conscious portfolios.[1][2][4] They differentiate via comprehensive services like investment management, cash flow planning, estate planning, tax strategies, and Business Financial Planning, with a collaborative onboarding process spanning 1-3 years.[1][2]
Modernist also operates the Modernist Venture Club, a members-only investment club in San Francisco that provides access to venture opportunities through funds and SPVs, investing agnostically across stages and industries in member-founded/funded companies like Coinbase (IPO ~$60B, ~10,000% ROI) and Plangrid (acquired ~$1B).[3] This blends traditional advisory with networked venture access, impacting the startup ecosystem by channeling progressive capital into high-potential deals via a curated community of founders and investors.[3]
Founded in Oregon around 2017 (B Corp certification year), Modernist Financial emerged to serve progressive clients seeking holistic, values-driven wealth management beyond traditional planning.[1][2] Key figures aren't named in available data, but the firm evolved from a focus on evidence-based investing to a broader "Planning-Driven Wealth Management" model, incorporating Financial Life Planning that aligns finances with personal goals, cash flow, taxes, and estates.[1][2] Certification as a B Corp marked their commitment to using business as a force for good, joining a global movement.[2]
The Modernist Venture Club extends this ethos to venture investing, leveraging a San Francisco-based members-only network of successful founders, investors, and innovators for SPVs and funds in member-led deals, building on early successes like Philz Coffee's 2013 Series A.[3]
Modernist rides the wave of values-driven investing and sustainable finance, aligning wealth with progressive ideals amid rising demand for ESG (environmental, social, governance) portfolios and B Corp accountability.[1][2] Timing is ideal post-2017 B Corp certification, as retail and entrepreneurial investors seek fiduciary advice amid market volatility, tax complexity, and startup booms. Market forces like low-cost indexing's dominance and venture's democratization via SPVs favor their model, especially for high-growth entrepreneurs.[3][4]
They influence the ecosystem by democratizing venture access through their network—backing hits like Coinbase and Plangrid—while channeling progressive capital into tech (e.g., Mobilecoin, Origin Protocol), bridging wealth management with startup funding in a fragmented landscape.[3]
Modernist is poised to expand its hybrid model, scaling Venture Club SPVs amid surging demand for networked, impact-focused investing in AI, blockchain, and climate tech.[3] Trends like regulatory pushes for fiduciary standards, ESG growth, and club-based venture (e.g., more member-led unicorns) will amplify their reach, potentially growing AUM via entrepreneur inflows.[1][2][3] Influence may evolve toward deeper tech ecosystem integration, powering progressive founders while sustaining their core permission to "enjoy today."[2] This positions them as a resilient player in an era of conscious capitalism.
Key people at Modernist.
Modernist was founded by Steve Chen (Co-founder, Partner).