Key Takeaways
- • DPM Capital, a $160 million hedge fund backed by former SoftBank COO Marcelo Claure, delivered a 124% return in 2019, significantly outperforming broader market indices and demonstrating strong performance by the ex-tennis professional managing the fund.
- • Marcelo Claure is expanding his investment portfolio beyond hedge funds into venture capital, targeting $500 million for a new VC fund (Bicycle Capital) with $440 million already raised from his family office and other commitments.
- • Claure, who departed SoftBank as Chief Operating Officer, is leveraging his network of former SoftBank executives to build new investment vehicles focused on emerging markets and diversity-focused tech investments.
- • Claure has returned to the Open Opportunity Fund as vice chair and general partner, reinforcing his commitment to backing Black- and Latino-founded technology companies in the venture capital space.
Summary
Marcelo Claure, the former Chief Operating Officer of SoftBank Group Corp., has emerged as an active investor and fund manager in the post-SoftBank era, with multiple investment vehicles generating significant returns and capital commitments. Most notably, DPM Capital—a $160 million hedge fund in which Claure is a backer and investor—surged 124% in 2019 according to a client letter reviewed by Bloomberg. The fund's outsized performance during the year positions it as a notable outlier in the hedge fund industry during a period of mixed results across the sector.
Beyond his hedge fund interests, Claure is pursuing a broader venture capital strategy. He is spearheading Bicycle Capital, a new venture fund targeting $500 million for its initial close, with $440 million already raised as of the announcement date. This capital largely stems from Claure's family office alongside other institutional commitments, reflecting confidence in his investment thesis and track record. Claure is recruiting former SoftBank executives to support the fund's operations and deal sourcing, leveraging his institutional network built during his tenure at the Japanese conglomerate.
Claure's venture activities are not limited to Bicycle Capital. He has returned to the Open Opportunity Fund in the capacity of vice chair and general partner, positioning himself as a key decision-maker in the firm's mandate of backing Black- and Latino-founded technology companies. Additionally, Claure and entrepreneur Paul Judge are jointly raising a new $200 million fund focused on diversity-backed founders, and Claure launched a fund concentrating on Latin American startups with initial commitments of approximately $440 million.
These parallel investment initiatives underscore Claure's transition from corporate executive to multi-platform investor and fund manager. His ability to mobilize capital across hedge funds, venture capital, and geography-specific strategies reflects sustained confidence from institutional and family office capital sources following his departure from SoftBank.
Beyond his hedge fund interests, Claure is pursuing a broader venture capital strategy. He is spearheading Bicycle Capital, a new venture fund targeting $500 million for its initial close, with $440 million already raised as of the announcement date. This capital largely stems from Claure's family office alongside other institutional commitments, reflecting confidence in his investment thesis and track record. Claure is recruiting former SoftBank executives to support the fund's operations and deal sourcing, leveraging his institutional network built during his tenure at the Japanese conglomerate.
Claure's venture activities are not limited to Bicycle Capital. He has returned to the Open Opportunity Fund in the capacity of vice chair and general partner, positioning himself as a key decision-maker in the firm's mandate of backing Black- and Latino-founded technology companies. Additionally, Claure and entrepreneur Paul Judge are jointly raising a new $200 million fund focused on diversity-backed founders, and Claure launched a fund concentrating on Latin American startups with initial commitments of approximately $440 million.
These parallel investment initiatives underscore Claure's transition from corporate executive to multi-platform investor and fund manager. His ability to mobilize capital across hedge funds, venture capital, and geography-specific strategies reflects sustained confidence from institutional and family office capital sources following his departure from SoftBank.
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