Former hedge fund manager launches Valiant Research LLC to bridge the gap between institutional-grade analytics and retail investors
In an era where retail investing has exploded but quality guidance remains scarce, Gregory Blotnick, founder of Valiant Research, is charting an unconventional path. The seasoned investor is dedicated to bringing high-quality market intelligence to individual investors.
Blotnick’s career trajectory includes analyst positions at firms Citadel LLC and Schonfeld Strategic Advisors, along with roles at Exis Capital, North Elm Capital, and Doubloon Capital. He rounded out his expertise with an MBA from Columbia Business School before eventually running his own fund, Brattle Street Capital.
This extensive background in money management sets Blotnick apart in a crowded field of financial advisors and market commentators. Unlike many who offer investment guidance based on theoretical knowledge or limited experience, Blotnick has lived through the pressure-cooker environment of managing institutional capital, where results matter more than rhetoric.
The Problem with Retail Investment Guidance
The democratization of investing has created both opportunities and pitfalls. While commission-free trading platforms and accessible market information have opened doors for millions of new investors, the quality of available guidance hasn’t kept pace with demand.
“The surge in public interest in the stock market has been incredible to watch,” Blotnick observes. “But there’s a dark side to this democratization. Too many retail investors are getting burned by so-called experts who have never actually managed money professionally. People are paying for guidance that’s making them worse off than if they’d just bought index funds and called it a day.”
This phenomenon has become increasingly visible across social media platforms and financial websites, where self-proclaimed experts with little to no institutional experience offer advice to eager but inexperienced investors. The result is often costly mistakes that could have been avoided with proper guidance grounded in professional experience.
Valiant Research’s Mission
The thesis behind Valiant Research addresses a fundamental market inefficiency: sophisticated investment analysis has traditionally remained the exclusive domain of hedge funds and institutional money managers, despite its potential value for individual investors. Blotnick believes these analytical tools and methodologies can be adapted and presented in ways that make them accessible to retail investors without sacrificing their sophistication.
This approach represents more than simply translating complex strategies into simpler terms. Valiant Research aims to bridge the gap between academic finance principles and real-world application, drawing on the investment philosophies of legendary investors while maintaining the analytical rigor that Blotnick honed during his institutional career.
The firm’s model doesn’t promise quick riches or short-term trading strategies. Instead, it focuses on providing the kind of fundamental analysis and strategic thinking that has proven successful in professional money management, adapted for investors who lack access to institutional resources.
Timing and Market Opportunity
The timing of Blotnick’s venture reflects broader changes in the investment landscape. The retail investing boom that began during the pandemic created a massive audience hungry for quality investment guidance. Simultaneously, traditional barriers between institutional and retail investing have continued to erode, creating opportunities for firms that can effectively serve both markets.
While Valiant Research will maintain institutional clients, Blotnick’s primary focus remains clear: leveling the playing field for individual investors who deserve access to the same caliber of analysis that institutional investors take for granted.
The Challenge Ahead
Translating institutional expertise into actionable insights for retail investors presents unique challenges. The methodologies that work for hedge funds managing hundreds of millions in assets don’t always scale down effectively for individual portfolios. Additionally, retail investors often have different risk tolerances, time horizons, and investment objectives than institutional clients.
In a market saturated with noise from unqualified commentators and get-rich-quick schemes, Valiant Research represents a different approach: research grounded in academic rigor and professional experience. Whether Gregory Blotnick can successfully execute this vision remains to be seen, but for individual investors seeking quality guidance backed by genuine expertise, his venture offers a promising alternative to the current landscape of retail investment advice.
