Abe Weldy, CFA, CAIA

Abe Weldy is the Co-Chief Investment Officer of the Indiana University Foundation, one of the nation's leading university endowments among public institutions. He was appointed to this role effective April 1, 2021, alongside co-CIO Jim Bergstrom, following the retirement of longtime Chief Investment Officer Gary Stratten. Weldy holds both the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) professional designations, reflecting his deep expertise in investment management and alternative asset classes.

Weldy graduated from Miami University in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business. He began his investment career with over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. Prior to joining the Indiana University Foundation, he held positions at two high-net-worth and institutional wealth management firms based in Indianapolis, where he worked with affluent clients and institutional investors. Earlier in his career, he also worked at a global mutual fund company based in Tampa, Florida, gaining broad exposure to traditional investment management.

Weldy joined the Indiana University Foundation in August 2005 as Director of Alternative Investments, tasked with building out the foundation's exposure to non-traditional asset classes. During his tenure in this role, he transformed the alternative investments portfolio from just 10% of total assets (when the endowment was approximately $1.1 billion) to nearly 50% of a much larger $3.8+ billion portfolio by 2025. This strategic shift has been instrumental in driving long-term returns, with alternative investments generating over $820 million in cumulative gains since inception. In 2017, Weldy was promoted to Senior Director, Investments, recognizing his leadership and investment acumen. His elevation to Co-Chief Investment Officer in 2021 reflects his central role in shaping the foundation's investment strategy over nearly two decades.

Weldy is married to Jennifer and has two school-aged children. He is known for his passion for outdoor activities, travel, and attending his children's sporting events. He balances his demanding professional responsibilities with an active family life, reflecting his commitment to both his career and personal pursuits.

As Co-Chief Investment Officer, Abe Weldy leads the Indiana University Foundation's alternative and non-public investment categories, which comprise approximately half of the endowment's $3.8+ billion in assets. He shares CIO responsibilities equally with Jim Bergstrom, maintaining close involvement with the Investment Committee, external consultants, senior management, and university partners across the IU system. The foundation's investment philosophy centers on building a broadly diversified portfolio with a strong equity bias to achieve long-term growth while maintaining acceptable levels of volatility.

Investment Strategy: The IU Foundation employs a multi-asset class approach designed to "safely maximize returns" without taking undue risk in any single category. The portfolio is diversified across five primary asset classes:

1. Private Equity – Buyouts, venture capital, and special situations 2. Public Equity – U.S., international developed, and emerging market equities 3. Real Assets – Natural resources, real estate, and infrastructure 4. Absolute Return – Multi-strategy approaches including event-driven and global macro strategies 5. Fixed Income – Investment-grade, non-investment-grade, and direct lending strategies

Weldy's Focus Areas: Weldy specifically oversees alternative and non-public investments, including private equity (venture capital, buyouts, special situations), real assets (natural resources, real estate, infrastructure), and absolute return strategies. Under his leadership, these categories have grown from 10% to nearly 50% of the total endowment, reflecting a deliberate strategy to capture illiquidity premiums and diversify away from public market volatility.

Manager Selection: The IU Foundation investment team actively seeks "best-in-class investment managers and solutions" across all asset classes. They prioritize long-term partnerships with top-tier fund managers and maintain a rigorous due diligence process. The foundation has consistently outperformed its target weighted benchmark over extended periods, demonstrating the effectiveness of its approach.

Seed and Early-Stage Investing: While Weldy's role at the IU Foundation is primarily as an institutional Limited Partner investing in funds, the source data indicates he is also categorized as an "Angel Investor" focused on "Seed Round" investments. This suggests he may engage in direct seed-stage investments, either personally or through IU Foundation initiatives that support early-stage companies, particularly those emerging from Indiana University research and entrepreneurship programs.