Shaping a career through consistent effort and an openness to new fields has defined Adam Adler's work. Now established in Charleston as an entrepreneur and investor, he leads The Adler Fund, a private equity group focused on sustainable development, real estate, technology, and high-growth startups. His path reflects a steady accumulation of experience across competitive athletics, biotech innovation, real estate, and early-stage investing.
Adam’s early discipline began on the tennis court. As a young athlete, he trained at the Rick Macci Tennis Academy in South Florida, where repetition, focus, and accountability were emphasized daily. His commitment paid off when he earned a scholarship to the University of South Carolina. While playing tennis at the collegiate level, he completed a double major in Sports & Entertainment Management and Business and graduated with honors in 2007. The competitive nature of college athletics taught him how to prepare thoroughly, manage pressure, and stay composed, skills that later supported him as a founder.
While still in school, Adam took his first steps into entrepreneurship. At USC, he co-founded Ultimate Social Networking Inc. and Ultimate College Model, which became the first digitally native modeling network. These ventures exposed him to the realities of building digital platforms, managing user communities, and adapting to evolving technology. They also sparked a deeper interest in innovation and how digital tools could reshape industries.
Following graduation, Adam moved into the biotech field. He assembled a team of molecular scientists, including former biochemists from Merck and Amgen, to establish Fuse Science. The company built a 30k sq. ft. FDA- and cGMP-certified facility in Oxnard, California, serving as its headquarters and research hub. As CEO, he oversaw the development of a nutrient delivery technology based on sublingual, buccal, and transdermal absorption. This approach bypassed digestion and enabled faster uptake than traditional capsules. During the early stages, he self-funded operations, secured vital intellectual property, and brought in leaders with experience from Fortune 25 companies. He expanded the company’s reach by forming partnerships with globally recognized athletes, including Tiger Woods, Andy Murray, David Ortiz, Jose Bautista, Tyson Chandler, Paul Pierce, Andre Ward, and Paul Rodriguez. With added visibility from Daymond John, Fuse Science expanded significantly, rising from an approximate valuation of $500k to more than $100M.
Parallel to his work in business, Adam became a respected competitor in professional poker. Over the years, he reached several final tables at World Series of Poker events and earned deep finishes in major World Poker Tour tournaments. His appearance at the televised final table of the 2022 WPT Championship demonstrated his ability to remain calm and strategic under high pressure. His experience in high-stakes cash games reinforced skills such as risk evaluation, patience, and transparent decision-making, traits that align closely with his investment philosophy.
The Adler Fund was ultimately created as a platform that brings together Adam’s interests in real estate, technology, and early-stage innovation. Based in Charleston, the firm invests in AI, real estate development, and emerging startups. As Managing Partner, he remains hands-on, guiding strategy, evaluating opportunities, and supporting founders through critical growth stages.
Adam Adler hasn't published any decks.
Speaker Deck Pro: Add privacy options and schedule the publishing of your decks Upgrade
