Hedge fund giant DE Shaw is expanding its private markets platform with the launch of a second dedicated venture and growth equity vehicle, underscoring the firm’s continued push beyond traditional hedge fund investing, according to a report by Institutional Investor. Although DE Shaw is best known for its systematic and discretionary hedge fund strategies, it has invested in private companies since the 1990s through both its flagship funds and dedicated private investment vehicles. The latest fundraising comes as DE Shaw continues to deliver strong hedge fund performance. The firm’s flagship macro-oriented multi-strategy fund, Oculus, gained 27.4% through June, while its Composite fund returned 13.9% over the same period, according to people familiar with the results. The firm managed more than $100bn in investment and committed capital as of 1 June 2026 across its range of systematic, discretionary and private investment strategies.