# Chicago Atlantic

Chicago Atlantic is an Asset Manager based in Chicago, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Asset Manager
- **Headquarters:** Chicago, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** Chicago, IL, United States
- **Founded:** 2019
- **Assets under management:** $500M - $2B (Altss estimate)
- **Website:** chicagoatlantic.com
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/chicago-atlantic

## Regulatory record

- **CRD number:** 311619
- **SEC file number:** 801-122593
- **Registration status:** Registered
- **Reports private funds:** Yes
- **IAPD record:** https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/311619

## About

Chicago Atlantic is a private markets alternative investments manager focused on providing capital to companies or industries where access to traditional financing is constrained. The firm specializes in uncovering markets with structural inefficiencies and limited capital supply, with lending designed to pursue credit alpha, consistent quarterly income, and long-term capital preservation. Strategies include cannabis-focused private credit, opportunistic and niche direct credit, and emerging markets private credit.

## Sectors

- Private Credit
- Real Estate
- Infrastructure

## People

- John M. M. Smith — Co-Founder & Managing Partner
- Peter J. Nelson — Co-Founder & Managing Partner

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at Chicago Atlantic?

Day-to-day investment decisions are made by co-founders and managing partners John M. M. Smith and Peter J. Nelson. Both have prior experience in private credit and banking (public record). The firm's investment committee includes other partners.

### How does Chicago Atlantic source proprietary deal flow?

Chicago Atlantic originates loans directly through a network of relationships with private equity sponsors, independent sponsors, and owner-operators. The firm does not participate in broadly syndicated loan markets and focuses on club deals and bilateral transactions (per the firm's marketing materials).

### Which sectors does Chicago Atlantic explicitly avoid?

The firm avoids lending to highly regulated or cyclical sectors such as energy, mining, and cannabis, as well as companies with international exposure outside North America (per the firm's public materials).

### How is Chicago Atlantic related to other entities?

Chicago Atlantic operates as a standalone independent firm with no disclosed ties to a parent organization or spinout from a larger institution. The co-founders have prior careers at other credit firms but founded Chicago Atlantic independently in 2019.

## Related profiles

- [Blackbird Labs](https://altss.com/profile/blackbird-labs)

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Last updated: 2026-08-11T15:06:27.647Z

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/chicago-atlantic

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