Lee Ainslie’s Maverick Capital is expanding for the first time in years, launching a semiconductor-focused vehicle and actively raising capital for its hedge funds – moves that mark a rare growth initiative for the $10bn firm founded over three decades ago, according to a report by Bloomberg.

The Dallas-based Tiger Cub is now marketing Maverick Silicon, a private fund targeting late-stage semiconductor and AI-related growth companies. Initially seeded with internal capital, the fund opened to external investors earlier this year, according to filings and sources familiar with the matter.

This strategic expansion follows a strong multi-year performance stretch. Since appointing Ben Silver and David Tykocinski as co-CIOs of the firm’s public equity funds in 2021, Maverick’s flagship hedge fund has posted cumulative gains of over 70% through H1 2025 – outpacing peers across the Tiger Cub ecosystem.

For comparison, Coatue Management gained roughly 34% during the same period, while Tiger Global Management reportedly posted a 35% loss through 2024. First-half 2025 figures for Tiger Global were not available.

While a Maverick spokesperson declined to comment, regulatory filings highlight notable positions in large-cap tech names including Nvidia and Microsoft. However, firm commentary emphasises that alpha generation has not been concentrated solely in mega-cap plays. As of year-end 2024, the median market cap of Maverick’s top 20 contributors was $22bn – significantly smaller than the S&P 500’s $37bn median.

Since halting proactive fundraising in 1998, Maverick has long maintained a conservative capital base strategy, only replacing redemptions. That stance shifted about 18 months ago, with the firm now actively seeking new inflows – a notable pivot for a veteran long-short equity shop.