RISE Financial Services, LLC, a Subsidiary of Siebert, Purchases Minority Stake in Hedge Connection Inc., A Woman-Owned and Patented FinTech Company Providing Capital Introduction Solutions - Seite 2

“We are thrilled to partner with Siebert, a firm that has a history of being actively dedicated to ESG and gender equality,” said Lisa Vioni, CEO of Hedge Connection and President of RISE Prime – Head of Capital Introductions. “When we launched Hedge Connection in 2005, the premise was to democratize the capital raising process so that all managers, including emerging managers, could gain access to institutional investors. Collaborating with Siebert and RISE Prime gives us the platform we need to grow in a meaningful way and to realize the original goal of giving managers a mechanism to break down barriers that impede growth. We look forward to developing a comprehensive program that will enable RISE Prime’s clients to build their brands while getting access to institutional investors through state-of-the-art technology as well as through a host of live networking and educational events.”

“We are excited to collaborate with Hedge Connection as we embark on initiatives that are aligned with our mutual commitment to diversity and inclusion while continuing to support the goals of our strategic partners,” said Gloria E. Gebbia, controlling shareholder and Board member of Siebert. “Lisa Vioni and her company Hedge Connection are recognized leaders in offering investor introduction services within the alternatives industry. With their expertise and technology, we will continue to build on Muriel Siebert’s legacy. Lisa is a renaissance leader, delivering a unique blend of capital markets, FinTech, and creative expertise, including being the recipient of a Tony Award for the Broadway production of Long Day’s Journey Into Night. Lisa’s addition to the Board of RISE Financial will be a true asset as we continue to reignite our offerings.”

Cynthia DiBartolo, CEO of RISE Financial and Member of the Board of Directors of Siebert, stated “Our investment in Hedge Connection and appointment of Lisa Vioni to our organization furthers Siebert’s 50+ year history of diversity which began with the legendary Muriel Siebert. In advancing that legacy, it is critical for RISE Prime to be at the forefront of digitalization in the hedge fund world. Partnering with the only woman-owned FinTech company offering a patented enterprise capital introduction SaaS solution puts us in a position to realize that objective. And while technology solutions such as Fintroz have been somewhat propelled by the pandemic, let’s make no mistake about it, the industry has long needed to modernize the traditional alternative landscape and capital introduction model. Moreover, as the nation’s only diversity prime broker striving to advance ESG, we recognize that traditional capital introduction services disproportionally disadvantage talented minority and woman emerging mangers. As a mission-driven organization, RISE Prime will now be able to harness this innovative technology to best assist all managers with connections to the right partners – that’s real democratization.”