Minneapolis' Gene Munster gained a national reputation as a tech industry analyst as an early Apple hawk. He's a regular guest on CNBC and other national outlets.
After 21 years with Piper Sandler, in 2017 he launched investment firm Deepwater Asset Management, originally Loup Ventures. Deepwater now has more than $250 million in assets under management invested in both public and private growth companies through a series of funds and an ETF (exchange-traded fund).
Munster watches tech trends closely and wants to invest ahead of the curve in what he calls "frontier tech." He's optimistic about the future of artificial intelligence, for example, but acknowledges that it could pose a threat to his own profession.
"From a markets perspective if AI cracks the markets there's really no need for asset managers," Munster said.
Munster sat down in his Uptown office last month to talk about what's ahead for tech. The following has been edited for length and clarity
Q: You predicted in 2018 Amazon might buy Target. That obviously hasn't happened, but could a deal still make sense even though you are no longer predicting the match?
A: Ultimately I feel that Amazon wants to do more with groceries, and they also want to do more around logistics. I think that the Target piece still lines up with them. I think it's an important customer base that lines up with the demographics of Prime.
Long term, I think it does line up. I think there is enough synergy between the two that it makes sense.