Frank Rotman, a prominent investor in the fintech sector and co-founder of QED Investors, is set to transition to a partner emeritus position by the end of the year, with plans to focus on establishing his own startups. Although his new ventures will not necessarily revolve around financial technology, he has announced via a post on X that his initial endeavor will be in the music industry.
Rotman expressed that while some may find his decision unconventional for obvious reasons, he encourages reserving judgment until more information becomes available about the business concept he has been contemplating for years. He believes that this venture could significantly impact an industry that is universally valued.
In 2007, Rotman co-founded QED in Alexandria, Virginia, alongside Nigel Morris and Caribou Honig. The firm currently manages $4 billion in assets and has made notable investments, such as being the first institutional investor in Credit Karma. QED has also backed unicorns like GreenSky, Flywire, and SoFi, and other companies including Creditas, Nubank, AvidXchange, and Bitso. The firm focuses on investing exclusively in financial technology companies at the pre-seed to Series A stages.
Rotman, who is known on X as “The Fintech Junkie,” will officially shift to his new role on January 1, 2026. He will maintain a part-time advisory position with QED in the years to come. Beyond his interest in music startups, Rotman also intends to author a book that will explore his insights and frameworks regarding the startup and venture capital landscapes. He mentioned the importance of writing in his life, humorously acknowledging the superior writing capabilities of AI like ChatGPT and Claude.
Nigel Morris, Managing Partner at QED, remarked on his long-standing professional relationship with Rotman, dating back over three decades, including their time together at Capital One. Morris expressed confidence in Rotman’s future success, noting his entrepreneurial spirit. Additionally, Amias Gerety, a partner at QED Investors, is set to be promoted to lead the firm’s U.S. investment team.
