Key Takeaways
- • DE Shaw is seeking capital for Voltaic II, a closed-end fund targeting primarily post-seed venture and growth-stage private companies, according to regulatory filings cited by Institutional Investor.
- • The original Voltaic fund, launched in 2022, attracted more than $450m in investor commitments as DE Shaw's first standalone venture and growth equity strategy.
- • Oculus, DE Shaw's flagship macro-oriented multi-strategy fund, gained 27.4% through June 2026, while the Composite fund returned 13.9% over the same period, per people familiar with the results.
- • DE Shaw completed eight private investments in 2026 so far, including co-leading Anthropic's $30bn Series G and OpenAI's $122bn Series C, according to Crunchbase.
- • The firm manages more than $100bn in investment and committed capital as of 1 June 2026 across systematic, discretionary and private strategies.
Summary
Hedge fund manager DE Shaw is expanding its private markets platform with the launch of a second dedicated venture and growth equity vehicle, Voltaic II, according to a report by Institutional Investor citing regulatory filings. The closed-end fund will target privately held companies, primarily post-seed venture and growth-stage businesses. The firm declined to comment on the fundraising.
The new vehicle follows the original Voltaic fund, launched in 2022, which attracted more than $450m in investor commitments as DE Shaw's first standalone strategy focused exclusively on venture and growth equity. Although DE Shaw is best known for its systematic and discretionary hedge fund strategies, it has invested in private companies since the 1990s. Its venture and growth equity activities are led by DE Shaw Ventures, which operates within its Fundamental Equities business.
The firm has remained active in private markets in 2026, completing eight investments so far this year according to Crunchbase. Its highest-profile transactions include co-leading Anthropic's $30bn Series G funding round and OpenAI's $122bn Series C financing. DE Shaw also participated in Ramp's $750m Series F raise and last week backed cybersecurity company ThreatLocker in its $190m Series F round, having invested in the business previously.
The fundraising comes as DE Shaw's hedge fund performance remains strong. Oculus gained 27.4% through June, and the Composite fund returned 13.9% over the same period, according to people familiar with the results. Oculus has not recorded an annual loss since its launch in 2004. Earlier this year, the firm revised liquidity terms for its flagship funds: Oculus investors can redeem up to 8.3% of capital quarterly, implying a full redemption period of around three years, while Composite investors can withdraw up to 6.25% quarterly, extending a full exit to roughly four years.
The new vehicle follows the original Voltaic fund, launched in 2022, which attracted more than $450m in investor commitments as DE Shaw's first standalone strategy focused exclusively on venture and growth equity. Although DE Shaw is best known for its systematic and discretionary hedge fund strategies, it has invested in private companies since the 1990s. Its venture and growth equity activities are led by DE Shaw Ventures, which operates within its Fundamental Equities business.
The firm has remained active in private markets in 2026, completing eight investments so far this year according to Crunchbase. Its highest-profile transactions include co-leading Anthropic's $30bn Series G funding round and OpenAI's $122bn Series C financing. DE Shaw also participated in Ramp's $750m Series F raise and last week backed cybersecurity company ThreatLocker in its $190m Series F round, having invested in the business previously.
The fundraising comes as DE Shaw's hedge fund performance remains strong. Oculus gained 27.4% through June, and the Composite fund returned 13.9% over the same period, according to people familiar with the results. Oculus has not recorded an annual loss since its launch in 2004. Earlier this year, the firm revised liquidity terms for its flagship funds: Oculus investors can redeem up to 8.3% of capital quarterly, implying a full redemption period of around three years, while Composite investors can withdraw up to 6.25% quarterly, extending a full exit to roughly four years.
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