Mala Gaonkar’s Hedge Fund Assets Skyrocket to $6 Billion
Mala Gaonkar’s SurgoCap Partners has made a remarkable impact in the hedge fund industry since its inception. Within just three years, Gaonkar has tripled her assets to an impressive $6 billion, establishing one of the fastest-growing hedge funds in history.
Rapid Growth of SurgoCap Partners
– Launch Year: SurgoCap Partners started trading in January 2023, debuting with $1.8 billion, making it the largest-ever woman-led debut in the hedge fund sector.
– Current Assets: By January 2026, the fund’s assets have soared to $6 billion, placing it alongside notable names such as Bobby Jain’s fund, which launched with $5.3 billion in 2024, and Diego Megia’s firm at $7 billion.
– Investment Strategy: Gaonkar employs data science to identify investments that leverage technology within various sectors, including financial services, industrials, healthcare, and enterprise data.
Building a Small Yet Effective Team
Mala Gaonkar, 56, emphasizes collaboration through a small investment team. In a recent podcast, she shared her thoughts on team size:
– Team Philosophy: “Jeff Bezos has discussed two-pizza-box teams,” she stated. “We prefer to fit within one pizza box to foster idea generation.”
– Benefits of Smaller Teams: A streamlined team promotes innovation and effective communication, allowing for speedy decision-making and creativity in strategy development.
Industry Context
Many startups in the hedge fund space face challenges, particularly due to a pullback from U.S. pensions and endowments that still have cash tied up in private equity. However, a few have thrived:
– Successful Comparisons: Divya Nettimi’s Avala Global doubled its assets since its 2022 launch and now oversees $2 billion.
– Historical Context: Michael Gelband opened ExodusPoint Capital Management with $8 billion in 2018, which now manages $11.9 billion, illustrating the competitive landscape in hedge fund launches.
Gaonkar’s Background
Mala Gaonkar’s impressive career spans over two decades at Lone Pine Capital, where she became one of three portfolio managers. After a successful tenure, she left the firm in 2022 to establish SurgoCap.
Conclusion
Mala Gaonkar’s rapid asset growth at SurgoCap Partners demonstrates not only her skill but also a significant shift in the hedge fund industry towards female leadership. With $6 billion in assets, Gaonkar’s innovative approach is changing the game. Her story serves as inspiration for future fund managers and showcases the potential for growth in this competitive sector.