David Gearhart, CFA

David Gearhart, CFA has a diverse work experience spanning various sectors such as venture capital, investment banking, and research. David began their career at American Option Services as an Options Broker from November 2002 to April 2004. David then worked at Northern Trust as a Senior Accountant from January 2005 to July 2011. During their time at Northern Trust, they gained experience in financial accounting and reporting.

In July 2011, Gearhart joined First Analysis as a Research Analyst, specializing in the Internet of Things (IoT)/Machine-to-Machine (M2M) space and e-commerce process optimization. David provided research coverage on leading private and publicly traded companies in these sectors. In December 2018, they were promoted to Senior Vice President, focusing on discovering promising investment opportunities in the IoT and e-commerce sectors for the First Analysis venture capital fund.

Throughout their career, Gearhart has served as a Board Observer for several companies, including NimbeLink Corp from March 2016 to January 2021, SmartWitness from June 2019 to November 2021 (successfully exiting to Sensata Technologies Holdings Inc.), Freeosk, Inc. from June 2019 (ongoing), SmartCommerce from February 2021 (ongoing), EdgeIQ from April 2022 (ongoing), and CoolR Group from September 2022 (ongoing).

Overall, David Gearhart, CFA brings a deep understanding of the IoT, e-commerce, and investment sectors, demonstrated through their research, analysis, and investment activities at First Analysis and their role as a Board Observer for various companies.

David Gearhart, CFA obtained their Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Purdue University in 2000. Four years prior, they completed their high school education at Merrillville High School. In 2010, they became a Charterholder in Investment Analysis & Portfolio Management from the CFA Institute. Gearhart furthered their education at DePaul Driehaus College of Business between 2011 and 2015, where they focused on finance. Additionally, they hold certifications in Series 7, 63, 79, 86, and 87 from FINRA, although the specific dates of their attainment are not provided.