Tiger Global Management is a New York-based investment firm founded in 2001 by Chase Coleman III, a former analyst at Julian Robertson's Tiger Management hedge fund. The firm operates two parallel strategies: a long/short public equities hedge fund and a private equity and venture capital arm that has backed hundreds of technology companies across the globe. At its peak in late 2021, Tiger Global managed roughly $95 billion in combined assets, making it one of the largest technology-focused investors in the world. Following sharp losses in 2022, assets under management contracted significantly – the hedge fund alone lost an estimated 50–60% that year, erasing billions in value as high-multiple tech positions collapsed.
Tiger Global built its reputation on writing large checks quickly, often skipping traditional due diligence timelines to win competitive deals. This approach generated exceptional returns during the 2010s and the 2020–2021 bull run, but exposed the firm to concentrated risk when sentiment reversed. In crypto, the firm's record is mixed: an early stake in Coinbase delivered strong returns through the 2021 IPO, while a high-profile investment in FTX – made at inflated valuations during the 2021 cycle – resulted in a near-total write-off after the exchange collapsed in November 2022.
Beyond crypto, Tiger Global has backed some of the most valuable private technology companies of the past two decades, including ByteDance, Stripe, Robinhood, Nubank, Klarna, and Spotify. The breadth of that portfolio illustrates the firm's appetite for global consumer and fintech bets, which overlaps with its approach to blockchain-adjacent infrastructure and digital asset exchanges.
Notable Investments
- Coinbase – pre-IPO venture stake; Coinbase went public on Nasdaq in April 2021 at a direct listing valuation above $85 billion, delivering meaningful returns for early backers including Tiger Global. (coinbase.com)
- FTX – Tiger Global participated in the $420 million Series B round in 2021 at an $18 billion valuation. FTX's collapse in November 2022 resulted in bankruptcy and a full write-down of the position.
- Fireblocks – institutional digital asset custody and infrastructure. Tiger Global joined a funding round as blockchain infrastructure investment grew in 2021.
- Robinhood – the retail brokerage with crypto trading features received Tiger Global backing prior to its 2021 IPO. (robinhood.com)
- Nubank – Brazilian neobank with crypto product offerings; Tiger Global was an early and major backer through multiple rounds. (nu.com.br)
Team
Chase Coleman III founded Tiger Global after leaving Julian Robertson's Tiger Management, where he ran the technology book. Coleman is widely credited with establishing the firm's speed-first investment culture and its global expansion into India and Southeast Asia. Scott Shleifer, co-founder and president, leads the private equity operation and has driven the venture strategy since the firm began making private bets in the early 2000s. The broader investment team has shifted in composition after the 2022 downturn – several senior portfolio managers and partners departed as the firm restructured its hedge fund operations. Public information about current managing directors beyond Coleman and Shleifer is limited, as Tiger Global does not publish extensive team disclosures. (SEC filings)
Recent Activity
After the 2022 drawdown, Tiger Global shifted to a more selective deployment pace. The firm slowed new commitments in 2023, focused on supporting existing portfolio companies through down rounds, and worked to return capital to hedge fund investors. In 2024 and into 2025, Tiger Global showed renewed interest in AI infrastructure and fintech, areas where its historical pattern – backing category leaders at scale – remained intact. Crypto-specific deal flow has been more cautious since the FTX episode, with the firm appearing to favour regulated and infrastructure-layer businesses over exchange or token-native plays. Specific deal announcements from 2025–2026 are not publicly confirmed at the time of writing. (Crunchbase profile)
Tiger Global remains a significant force in global technology investing despite its 2022 losses. The firm's ability to write large checks fast and its deep network across US, Indian, and Latin American markets give it deal access that few peers match. In crypto, the FTX loss has made the team more cautious, but the Coinbase stake shows the firm can identify durable winners early. Investors and founders watching Tiger Global should expect a continued focus on profitable or near-profitable businesses rather than the growth-at-any-cost bets that defined the 2021 er
