How the Hedge Funds Club is Redefining Hedge Fund Networking

How Stefan Nilsson and The Hedge Funds Club is Redefining Hedge Fund Networking

Connecting fund managers and allocators in a meaningful way has long been a challenge in the hedge fund industry. Traditional conferences and panels often fail to facilitate genuine dialogue, leaving many professionals frustrated. Recognising this gap, Stefan Nilsson, Founder of the Hedge Funds Club and CIO & Co-Founder of Terrasias Capital Ltd, created a series of invitation-only events designed to foster authentic, productive networking.

In conversation with Tiffany Besnard, Head of Hedge Funds at 26 Degrees Global Markets, Stefan shared the origins of the Hedge Funds Club, its unique format, and why it has become a trusted forum for hedge fund managers and allocators across Asia and the Middle East.

From a Personal Challenge to an Industry Solution

Stefan launched the Hedge Funds Club over 20 years ago after moving from London to Tokyo. At the time, he struggled to find events tailored towards building connections with investors, industry peers, and service providers.

“I ran a global macro hedge fund in Tokyo, and I didn’t know anyone,” Stefan recalls. “I went to industry events, but usually I was the only fund manager and there were no investors. There wasn’t much going on, and I realised I needed to take action.”

Encouraged by his wife, Stefan decided to create his own event, which led to the birth of the Hedge Funds Club in June 2005. The first gatherings in Tokyo immediately attracted attention, including coverage by Business Week, highlighting the “secret club” where hedge fund professionals could meet in a private, curated setting.

Invitation-Only for Maximum Relevance

At the core of the Hedge Funds Club’s success is its curated, invitation-only model. Only fund managers and allocators are invited, ensuring every attendee is relevant, and the environment fosters meaningful engagement.

“By controlling who comes, we make sure the environment is valuable,” Stefan explains. “It’s not about filling a room or forcing meetings. The goal is to bring the right people together in a social setting where connections happen naturally.”

With support from sponsors like 26 Degrees, the Hedge Funds Club expanded beyond Tokyo to Singapore and Hong Kong, drawing professionals willing to travel to attend.

A Social, Unstructured Environment

Unlike conventional industry conferences with rigid agendas and mandatory presentations, the Hedge Funds Club emphasises informal interaction.

“There are no presentations, no forced meetings. It’s just social,” Stefan notes. “Everyone there is relevant. You’re not forced to sit through sessions you don’t care about. For me, the value is in free-flowing conversations, not structured meetings.”

Tiffany adds that this unstructured approach makes the events particularly valuable:

“I always enjoy these events, they’re packed, with a mix of familiar faces and new connections,” she says. “The low-pressure environment leads to truly interesting conversations.”

Stefan emphasises that the club is designed to create quality interactions over quantity:

“Some events give the illusion that meeting many investors automatically leads to allocations. That’s not how it works. You need to do your homework, identify the right investors, and create meaningful interactions. That’s why our events are free-flowing and social they produce real connections.”

Fostering Genuine Relationships

The Hedge Funds Club is built on the belief that authentic dialogue drives the industry forward. By curating attendees, maintaining a relaxed social atmosphere, and avoiding forced presentations, the events encourage fund managers and allocators to engage openly and form lasting relationships.

“It’s about putting the human element back into the hedge fund industry,” Stefan says. “If the managers and investors enjoy it, it works and the feedback shows it clearly does.”

At 26 Degrees Global Markets, we are proud to support initiatives like the Hedge Funds Club, which prioritise connection, dialogue, and engagement at the heart of hedge fund interactions.

If you’re a fund manager or hedge fund allocator and would like to find out more, explore our Fund Manager and Allocator pages, or get in contact with our team: