Val Zlatev (Analog Century) "Levity Over Gravity"

Successful Investors

In 1999, Val Zlatev stumbled across a group of traders while attending a physics conference in Chicago. Enamored by the energy in the room, Val decided to abandon his boredom in physics and enter the exciting world of finance. This career pivot provided Val with exposure to valuable mentors and experiences, enabling him to further refine his philosophies for both investing and life. Among his favorite insights, is an early mentor’s advice, “Simplicity always trumps complexity.” This wisdom continues to impact Val’s investment decisions today. As Senior Founding Partner and CIO at Analog Century, Val focuses on playing to his strengths, acknowledging the certainty of uncertainty, and cultivating the best possible performance from his team. No matter the outcome, Val chooses to focus on lessons learned. Speaking of a fund that closed, Val shares, “First and foremost, the learning was find a way to unwind. Don't allow stress of the job to burn you out. PMing is not a sprint. It's a marathon. And burning out doesn't help anybody.” Val Zlatev holds a PhD in Physics from the University of Pennsylvania; his thesis focused on the early moments following the Big Bang. Val’s professional experience includes McKinsey & Company, MSD Capital, and Kingdon Capital. Prior to Analog Century, Val served as Partner at Quentec Asset Management.