Ryan Pegler | Portfolio

About Me

I'm a senior at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign studying Finance & Information Systems within the Gies College of Business. I have strong interests in finance, data analytics, and technology, and I am devoted to driving change through my skills. I've founded OpenField, a platform bridging under-represented athletes and NIL opportunities. I also have experience in investment analysis and equity research through my internship with Prairie Road Partners. I have hands-on experience with blockchain technology and portfolio management through organizations like Illini Blockchain and Investment Portfolio Organization. I am currently looking for opportunities to gain more hands-on experience in investment management, data analytics, and related roles.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Gies College of Business
B.S. Finance & Information Systems, Class of 2026

Consistently ranked as a top 10 public business school and recognized as a Public Ivy, the Gies College of Business at UIUC is renowned for its rigorous academics, cutting-edge curriculum, and global reputation for producing future leaders in finance, tech, and entrepreneurship.

Hedge: Options, Equities, and Alternatives
Association for Information Systems
American Marketing Association
Illinois Sports Consulting Agency
Sports Analytics Society
Action Against Hunger
Kappa Delta Rho

Università Bocconi

Milan, Italy
Exchange Semester, Jan 2025 – May 2025

Widely regarded as Europe's top institution for economics, finance, and management, Bocconi University is renowned for its world-class academics and powerful global network that launches students into elite careers in finance, management, and innovation worldwide.

FinTech, International Finance, Business Strategy, E-Marketing and E-Commerce, & Management of Fashion Companies
RadioBocconi
B4I Innovation Workshops

Experience

OpenField, LLC

Founder & CEO

Summer 2025

A platform bridging underrepresented college athletes with NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) opportunities and higher-level exposure through several cutting-edge, personalized features. Founded and led OpenField from concept to launch, overseeing product strategy, brand development, and end-to-end execution. Designed the platform’s UI/UX, built and managed the website, and led outreach to athletes, brands, and scouts. Directed social media strategy, growth initiatives, and the development of core features including athlete bios, film feeds, verification tools, and more.

Prairie Road Partners

Private Equity Intern

Summer 2024

A lower-middle market search fund focused on sourcing, acquiring, and operating one high-potential business in North America. Conducted deep-dive proprietary reviews of 1,500+ companies in verticals like SaaS, healthcare services, and niche B2B markets. Evaluated acquisition targets using market sizing, growth trends, and margin profiles.

Illini Blockchain

Investment Analyst

Jan 2024 – May 2024

A student-led organization at the University of Illinois dedicated to advancing blockchain education, research, and hands-on development through workshops, speaker events, and collaborative projects with industry leaders. Conducted in-depth research on emerging blockchains and digital asset trends as part of the Investment Team, while also engaging in hands-on development projects through a comprehensive boot-camp process.

IPO

Investment Portfolio Manager

Jan 2024 – May 2024

A selective, student-run investment group focused on equities, derivatives, and alternative assets through technical and fundamental research. Produced weekly market updates and delivered investment pitches supported by valuation models, earnings analysis, and macroeconomic trends. Managed a simulated portfolio and achieved the second-highest return among all analysts by semester-end.

Projects

OpenField

OpenField is a sports-tech platform connecting overlooked college athletes with local businesses and sports programs for NIL deals and recruitment opportunities. Our platform features role-based dashboards with real-time data tracking, a verified NIL deal system, and on-site messaging. Our mission is to bridge the gap between overlooked talent and opportunity through modern tech and data.

🌐 View Project →

Upside

Upside is a data-driven project that analyzes draft prospects using only the most important advanced metrics like BPM, offensive/defensive ratings, and age to forecast their NBA potential. It helps teams and fans assess which players are likely to become stars, or fall short; all based on years of historical data.

🌐 View Project →

Fundamental

Fundamental is a simplified investment portfolio tool that tailors stock selections based solely on an individual’s risk tolerance, market outlook, and sector preferences. Inspired by simplified, beginner-friendly platforms, it aims to make smart investing accessible to everyday users.

🌐 View Project →

Skills & Tools

Financial Modeling & Valuation
Data Analysis & Visualization
Microsoft Suite
Market Research & Industry Analysis
Competitor Benchmarking
Financial Modeling
SQL & Python (learning)
Financial Modeling & Valuation
Data Analysis & Visualization
Basic HTML/CSS/JS & React
Google Analytics & Tableau
SQL & Python (learning)
Figma & UX Design Principles

Certifications and Courses

AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials

AWS, Cloud architecture, Scalability & security, Cost optimization

AI for Everyone

AI basics, Real-world use cases, Ethics in AI

Google Analytics Certification

Data-driven decision making, Audience Segmentation, Conversion Rate Optimization

Microsoft Azure AI Essentials

Generative AI, Harnessing AI for Business, AI Workloads

Beyond Work

Here are some of my favorites beyond the resume. These passions keep me grounded and help me maintain a healthy work-life balance.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family: Youngest of 5 — with a dog and two cats at home.
🗣️ Socializing: I enjoy meeting people of all backgrounds and learning from their experiences.
🏀 Sports: Lifelong sports fan — Both playing and watching. Very competitive.
✈️ Travel: I've visited 20+ European cities and love experiencing new cultures.
🎬 Movies: Some of my favorites are Good Will Hunting and Dead Poets Society.
💪 Working Out: I enjoy exercising by lifting or playing pickup games daily to stay healthy.

Get in Touch

ryanpegler21@gmail.com

linkedin.com/in/ryanpegler