Adam Adler

Adam Adler’s path into entrepreneurship has been shaped by persistence, adaptability, and a steady dedication to learning through experience. Now rooted in Charleston, he is an entrepreneur and investor who founded The Adler Fund, a private equity group with holdings in sustainable development, technology, real estate, and high-growth startups. His work reflects a combination of practical decision-making and a long-range view of what it takes to build lasting ventures. Before business became his focus, Adam spent much of his early life competing in tennis. He trained at the Rick Macci Tennis Academy in South Florida, where discipline and commitment were daily expectations. His efforts earned him a scholarship to play for the University of South Carolina. While competing at the collegiate level, he completed a double major in Sports & Entertainment Management and Business and graduated with honors in 2007. Years of intense training and competition taught him how to manage pressure, prepare thoroughly, and maintain resilience, skills that would later influence his leadership style. Adam’s introduction to entrepreneurship began while he was still a student. At USC, he co-founded Ultimate Social Networking Inc. and Ultimate College Model, the first digitally native modeling network. These early ventures gave him exposure to building products from scratch, engaging online communities, and adjusting quickly when user needs shifted. They also sparked a strong interest in technology and its ability to reshape industries. After graduating, Adam shifted his focus to biotech. He brought together a team of molecular scientists, including several who had worked as biochemists at Merck and Amgen, to form Fuse Science. The company built a 30k sq. ft. FDA- and cGMP-certified facility in Oxnard, California, which housed its headquarters and laboratory. As CEO, he directed the development of a nutrient delivery system built around sublingual, buccal, and transdermal absorption. This technology aimed to bypass traditional digestion and allow for faster nutrient uptake than capsules. He self-funded the company in its early years, secured the intellectual property, and recruited seasoned leadership from Fortune 25 organizations. He also forged partnerships with world-recognized athletes, including Tiger Woods, Andy Murray, David Ortiz, Jose Bautista, Tyson Chandler, Paul Pierce, Andre Ward, and Paul Rodriguez. Combined with support from Daymond John, he guided Fuse Science from an estimated $500k valuation to more than $100M. In addition to business, Adam has earned recognition in professional poker. He has reached final tables at World Series of Poker events and made multiple deep runs in major World Poker Tour tournaments. His appearance at the televised final table of the 2022 WPT Championship demonstrated his ability to stay grounded and make clear decisions under intense pressure. Years of competing in high-stakes cash games further strengthened his judgment, patience, and risk assessment skills, traits closely aligned with investing. The Adler Fund grew from Adam’s desire to connect real estate, technology, and early-stage innovation within a single investment platform. Based in Charleston, the fund invests in real estate development, AI, and emerging companies. As Managing Partner, he stays actively involved in strategy, operations, and supporting founders at critical growth stages. In real estate, he focuses on sustainable development in the Lowcountry, emphasizing environmental responsibility, strong design principles, and long-term community value. In technology, he supports founders working on purposeful innovation in biotech, cyber, and child-centered education. One of the fund’s newer investments is Wyzly, a learn-to-earn app where children earn screen time by completing educational challenges. The idea originated from his 7-year-old daughter, Isla, and aligns with Adam’s interest in healthier digital experiences for families. Adam’s leadership style is rooted in involvement, clarity, and a genuine interest in long-term value rather than short-term trends. Lessons from his upbringing, including watching his father succeed as a day trader, taught him the importance of resilience, consistency, and measured decisions. Looking to the future, Adam plans to continue expanding The Adler Fund’s reach in both technology and real estate, build stronger ties with AI-focused ventures, and support founders committed to purposeful, lasting work. His focus remains on contributing to Charleston’s growth while helping shape projects that endure well beyond their starting point.