What are Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)? 

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are investment financial instruments that trade on exchanges, similar to regular stocks.

‍An ETF is a type of investment fund that tracks or mimics the performance of a specific index, sector, commodity, or asset class. Think of an ETF as a basket containing multiple different securities - stocks, bonds, or other assets - that are grouped together and traded as a single security. 

Although they have existed for nearly 30 years, their attractiveness has grown significantly since 2012, revolutionizing how individuals and institutions approach markets. They enable simple, low-cost construction of diversified portfolios and provide access to markets and asset classes that would otherwise be difficult to reach.

Regulatory Framework for Technology ETFs 

The Securities and Exchange Commission's Rule 6c-11 serves as the primary regulatory framework for most ETFs, designed to foster competition and innovation by lowering barriers to entry. This rule allows ETF sponsors to operate under the Investment Company Act of 1940 without requiring individual exemptive orders.

Historical Market Overview

The ETF industry (both active and passive ETFs) experienced remarkable growth in 2024, reaching a global total of US$14.8 trillion in assets under management (AUM). This expansion was driven by ongoing innovation from ETF providers, along with increasing adoption by a broad range of investors across various markets and investment strategies.

In the USA, more than 450 ETFs were introduced in the first half of the 2025, setting the pace for over 900 launches by year-end - significantly surpassing last year’s record of just over 700. Nearly 85% of these new ETFs have been actively managed, covering both traditional asset classes and innovative structures like buffer and leveraged products.

Market Trends

It is estimated that by 2030, global total of ETF AUM will reach $25 trillion, out of which U.S. launched ETFs are expected to account for 65% of the total, with growth primarily driven by funds focused on AI and technology. Other key contributors include clean energy and climate solutions, healthcare innovation, and digital assets.

TIAC Supports Launch of First ETF Platform for a New Asset Management Entity

Wedbush Fund Advisers (Wedbush Funds), established in 2024 as an asset management division of Wedbush, marks a strategic expansion of the 70-year-old financial services firm into the rapidly growing ETF market.

Wedbush’s equity research team has earned a strong reputation in sectors such as technology, financial institutions, real estate, consumer markets, and healthcare. Dan Ives, Managing Director and Global Head of Technology Research, in particular, has gained significant market recognition and media visibility.

Wedbush Funds leveraged its proprietary research to offer a timely thematic ETF as its inaugural ETF - Dan Ives Wedbush AI Revolution ETF (ticker: IVES). IVES - targets the AI sector and saw exceptional early success, amassing over $100 million in AUM within its first five trading days and surpassing $350 million within the first month - making it one of the strongest ETF launches in recent history.

Inception 

At the time of launching Wedbush Funds, the firm faced a key regulatory requirement: SEC rules mandate that ETF providers maintain a platform with daily ETF data. This called for more than a simple content site; it required a system capable of aggregating data from multiple service and data providers, running real-time calculations, and displaying SEC-compliant disclosures

Wedbush Funds selected TIAC as its technology partner based on an established relationship and strong third-party recommendations. TIAC’s deep expertise in fintech and regulatory systems made it a natural fit.

Together, the teams defined a product roadmap for a platform that would support:

• Automated daily updates
• Multi-source data integration
• Robust compliance capabilities

All delivered within an accelerated timeline to support the ETF launch.

Methodology 

TIAC initiated the engagement through targeted discovery sessions with stakeholders across business, compliance, and technical teams from Wedbush Funds.

These sessions established a shared understanding of:

• SEC disclosure and compliance requirements
• Integration needs across multiple service and data providers
• Legal and technical constraints of regulated platforms
• Competitive benchmarks in ETF technology

With this foundation, TIAC built a structured development roadmap using agile methodology, aligned with regulatory deadlines and launch milestones. A key pillar of the approach was proactive regulatory research, designing the platform to support compliance at launch and remain flexible enough to adapt to future SEC regulatory changes.

Development  

TIAC assembled a dedicated project team, including a project manager and seasoned fintech web developers, under a project-based engagement model. The team worked in close collaboration with Wedbush Funds to deliver a secure, scalable platform tailored to the unique needs of ETF operations and compliance professionals, and ETF shareholders.

TIAC handled:

• Backend development
• Data integration pipelines
• Data transformation logic
• Frontend user experience (UX), optimized for regulatory clarity and real-time updates

Core platform capabilities included:

• Automated data flow: Ingests pricing and holdings data from multiple service providers
• Real-time calculations: Computes daily NAV and ETF metrics with built-in validation
• Compliance engine: Enforces SEC disclosure requirements on formatting, timing, and content
• Web publication pipeline: Dynamically updates public-facing content automatically
• Enterprise-grade security: Features robust access controls, encryption, and infrastructure aligned with financial industry standards

Outcome 

TIAC successfully delivered the SEC-compliant ETF website platform within the agreed timeline, enabling Wedbush Funds to launch its inaugural product - the Dan Ives Wedbush AI Revolution ETF (IVES) - on schedule.

The platform, now live at wedbushfunds.com/funds/ives, automated all daily compliance updates and eliminated manual intervention, providing a seamless and efficient operational foundation. Within the first month of launch, IVES achieved over $350 million in assets under management, signaling strong market reception.

The platform continuously aggregates data from multiple service providers, performs real-time NAV and holdings calculations, and ensures all published content adheres to SEC regulated formatting and timing standards. Its cloud-based, scalable architecture also positions Wedbush Funds for future ETF launches without needing foundational redevelopment.

The project demonstrated how a focused, tech-enabled approach to regulatory complexity can directly support commercial success -bridging compliance, data integration, and investor transparency in a single solution.

Go-to-Market Enablement

The IVES ETF launch established Wedbush Funds as a serious new player in the ETF market, backed by a focused investment strategy and strong execution. The platform’s automation of core operational workflows - daily compliance updates, multi-source aggregation, and real-time disclosures - ensured a smooth launch experience for internal teams and external investors.

TIAC continues to enhance the platform, supporting Wedbush Funds as it scales operations and expands its product roadmap.

TIAC’s Approach to Innovation  

At TIAC, innovation is rooted in domain-specific knowledge and systematic execution, especially in the highly regulated financial services sector. Our work with Wedbush Funds exemplifies our ability to deliver complex, time-sensitive projects with precision.

Our innovation approach is built on:

• Discovery-driven engagements: Early alignment through technical due diligence and regulatory research
• Regulatory-first architecture: Designing systems that embed compliance logic from the outset
• Specialized technical expertise: Deep capabilities in ETF operations, automated data pipelines, and financial regulation
• Scalable delivery models: Project-based teams or dedicated MDC (Managed Development Center) that accelerate timelines and reduce risk
• Automation and efficiency: Eliminating manual processes to ensure consistent, compliant execution

By delivering robust, scalable platforms, TIAC empowers clients like Wedbush Funds to stay focused on strategy, innovation, and growth.