Our Story 

Our mission is to seek to deliver excess risk-adjusted returns by leveraging our AI software platform and data science team in private markets and to provide flexible capital to companies. In 2018, we partnered with Cowen Inc. to launch Cowen Sustainable Investments. In December 2023, co-founders Vusal Najafov and Ewa Kozicz reacquired the firm and rebranded it back to Anthelion Capital. 

We continue to innovate our software platform leveraging the latest AI technology. This platform is leveraged for credit underwriting and portfolio management for broadly syndicated bank loans and direct lending investments. It also provides key insights to our portfolio companies.

Anthelion Capital is primarily backed by large institutional investors including pension plans and sovereign wealth funds. Anthelion also acts as the investment manager for Alphite Capital, a specialty finance company focused on middle market and broadly syndicated bank loans.

Meet the Team

  • Vusal Najafov Anthelion Capital

    Vusal Najafov

    CO-FOUNDER

    Vusal is the co-Founder of Anthelion Capital and oversees strategy, investment, portfolio construction, and AI-native software platform. He has 24 years of experience investing across sectors as well as developing investing-focused data science software platforms. Prior to Anthelion, Vusal worked at Goldman Sachs, Highbridge, Millenium and Indus Capital. He earned a BBA with honors in finance from Texas Tech University and MBA with honors from the Wharton School.

  • Ewa Kozicz

    Ewa Kozicz

    CO-FOUNDER

    Ewa is a co-Founder of Anthelion Capital and oversees strategy, investment selection and portfolio construction for the firm. Ewa has 26 years of investment experience across sectors and asset classes, including significant expertise in agriculture, industrials, and financial services. Prior to Anthelion, Ewa worked at BlackRock, Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse. She has an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BA in Economics and Math from Columbia College.

  • Michelle Barone

    Michelle Barone

    COO/CFO

    Michelle is the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer for Anthelion. She has over 24 years of experience, including 18 years as a COO at Goldman Sachs Investment Partners with a focus on launching and operating new funds in the asset management space. Michelle holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics from Columbia University.

  • Ahmed Bayyari

    Ahmed Bayyari

    MANAGING DIRECTOR / CTO

    Ahmed oversees the Anthelion Capital technology platform development and infrastructure with 25 years of experience developing proprietary enterprise software products and cloud solutions. Ahmed holds BS and MS degrees with honors in Computer Systems Engineering from University of Arkansas.

  • Thomas Hanley

    Thomas Hanley

    PRINCIPAL / DEAL EXECUTION

    Tom’s responsibilities include the sourcing, valuation, structuring and management of investments across all sectors. Prior to Anthelion, Tom was in BlackRock’s Real Assets group. He holds a BA from Stanford University and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.

  • Jordan Jaffe Anthelion Capital New York

    Jordan Jaffe

    PRINCIPAL / DEAL EXECUTION

    Jordan handles sourcing, valuation, structuring, and management of investments across all sectors. Previously, he worked at APG Asset Management and Guggenheim Securities. Jordan holds a BS in Economics from the Wharton School and a BS in Nursing from the the University of Pennsylvania.

  • Steven Sun Anthelion Capital

    Steven Sun

    DEPUTY CFO / CONTROLLER

    Steven is the Deputy CFO and Controller at Anthelion Capital. Prior to this, he spent the last several years at Cowen, HPS Investment Partners and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.  He holds a BS in Accounting from Hunter College. 

  • Jordan Shrem Anthelion Capital

    Jordan Shrem

    VP / TRADER

    Jordan is a Vice President at Anthelion Capital focusing on the trading and sourcing of credit investments. Prior to Anthelion, he was at Z Capital Group and CVC Credit Partners. Jordan holds a BA in Economics from the University of Maryland, College Park.

  • Joshua Lee

    VP / PRODUCT MANAGER

    Joshua shapes the strategic vision and execution of Anthelion Capital's AI-driven investment analytics and deal execution platform. With deep expertise in machine learning and predictive analytics developed during his time at Microsoft and J.P. Morgan, Joshua has built advanced analytics systems that enhanced investment decisions.

  • Yao Qian

    Yao Qian

    VP DATA ANALYTICS & MODELING

    Yao builds data analytics and machine learning strategies for Anthelion Capital’s technology platform. Yao holds a Master’s degree from School of Engineering and Applied Science in Columbia University. 

  • Yipeng Zhang

    Yipeng Zhang

    VP DATA ANALYTICS & MODELING

    Yipeng conducts data analytics using machine learning and coding to help build out the Anthelion technology platform. Yipeng holds a Master’s in Management Science & Engineering from Columbia University.

  • Yumeng Zhang

    Yumeng Zhang

    ASSOCIATE DATA ANALYTICS & MODELING

    Yumeng develops data analytics and machine learning models for investment strategies. Previously, she was at Goldman Sachs.  Yumeng holds a BS and a BBS from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and a Master of Financial Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.

  • Chris Warwick

    Chris Warwick

    PRINCIPAL ENGINEER

    Chris is responsible for executing the vision for Anthelion Capital's technology platform. Previously, he was at Sourcegraph. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Ursinus College. 

  • Dan Worth

    Dan Worth

    PRINCIPAL ENGINEER

    Dan executes the vision for our technology platform. He previously worked at SentinelOne Inc., where he led the technical implementation for the Business Data Ecosystem group. He has a Bachelor's in Computer Information Systems from Bloomsbury University. 

  • Giselle Giglio

    Giselle Giglio

    ASSOCIATE

    Giselle serves as an Executive Assistant and Investor Relations Associate at Anthelion. She previously worked at Apollo Global Management and other venture capital firms. Giselle holds a Master's degree in Business Economics from Brooklyn College.