ETF Boot Camp Draws Inspiration from ‘Shark Tank’

As the exchange traded fund universe expands and money managers fill out the missing spaces with new investments, some exchange traded fund strategies have fallen out of favor and closed down, but a number of ETF ideas have stuck.

In the upcoming in-person ETF Boot Camp conference, Ethan Powell, Founder & President of Impact Shares, Akash Ganapathi, Co-Founder of Trill Financial, and Michael Venuto, Investing Officer & Co-Founder of Toroso Investments, will head up the ETF Shark Tank panel. Drawing inspiration form the popular CNBC show of the same name, the panel will hear short pitches from different prospective ETF issuers looking to launch the next killer ETF concept.

SEE MORE: ETF Boot Camp: Where Money Managers Can Gain ETF Industry Edge

“One more thing to look forward to at the Boot Camp is a panel called the ETF Shark Tank,” Tom Lydon, publisher of ETF Trends, told Joe Anthony, President of Gregory FCA and a panelist at the ETF Boot Camp. “We’re going to have three new innovative ETF ideas pitched to a group of ETF experts who will try to run them through the gamut to see if they have what it takes to bring those ETFs to market. We’re going to have fun with that one.

New ETF issuers, especially smaller money managers entering the trade, face stiff competitions as the industry matures. There are now 1,939 U.S.-listed ETFs on the market from 122 fund sponsors with $2.4 trillion in assets under management, according to XTF data. So far this year, 187 new funds have launched, but 95 ETFs have delisted.

In August, there were 10 new ETFs launched. However, last month was one of the biggest months for ETF closures, with 41 taken off the market, and more announced closures in September.

Nevertheless, the ETF industry is still going strong. According to BlackRock data, global exchange traded products attracted $39.8 billion in net inflows over August and added $213.4 billion in inflows for the year ended August. U.S.-listed ETFs have brought in $153.1 billion in net inflows year-to-date.

The most popular new ETF launches of 2016 include an eclectic bunch. So far this year, the SPDR Gender Diversity Index ETF (NYSEArca: SHE) attracted $278.8 million, WisdomTree Dynamic Currency Hedged International Equity Fund (BATS: DDWM) a brought in $276.1 million, IQ Enhanced Core Plus Bond U.S. ETF (NYSEArca: AGGP) has $247.2 million in assets under management and First Trust Dorsey Wright Dynamic Focus 5 ETF (NasdaqGM: FVC) holds $232.0 million.

Money managers who are interested in learning more about the ETF industry and the investment vehicle can attend the in-person third annual ETF Boot Camp in New York on September 29-30. Want 50% off? Sign-up with a colleague and both use promo code “buddy” at checkout.

This article was provided by our partners at ETFTrends.