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Akuna Capital
Akuna Capital is a trading firm that focuses on collaborative technology, data-driven solutions, and automation. The firm has made 13 investments, including a...
Akuna Capital
Akuna Capital is a trading firm that focuses on collaborative technology, data-driven solutions, and automation. The firm has made 13 investments, including a Seed VC investment in Optimal Market Technologies on February 19, 2026. Akuna Capital has one portfolio exit, Deribit, which exited on May 08, 2025.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
2011
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Chicago
Corporate office
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Additional offices
Cambridge, MA, United States
Principals
Andrew Sheppard
Chief Executive Officer
Jared Rodriguez
Chief Technology Officer
Ivan Escobar
Chief Risk Officer
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Akuna Capital?
Andrew Sheppard is the CEO and drives the firm's strategic trading decisions. The firm operates as a partnership, with Jared Rodriguez leading technology and Ivan Escobar overseeing risk. The firm does not have a traditional CIO or PM structure — all key partners are active in daily trading.
Does Akuna Capital manage external capital or is it purely proprietary?
Akuna Capital is a purely proprietary trading firm. It does not accept or manage capital from outside investors, family offices, or institutional LPs. The firm is self-funded by its partners and reinvests all profits back into the firm.
What asset classes does Akuna Capital trade?
Akuna Capital primarily trades equity derivatives, focusing on US-listed options. It also trades volatility, futures, and ETFs. The firm is not a multi-asset shop — its expertise is concentrated in options and volatility products.
What is Akuna Capital's known posture on co-investments?
Akuna Capital does not engage in co-investments. The firm's model is entirely proprietary and it does not source deals or syndicate trade ideas to other investors.
Where does the underlying wealth at Akuna Capital come from?
The firm's capital originates from the personal wealth of its founding and current partners, augmented by retained earnings. There is no single family or outside endowment backing the firm.
Does Akuna Capital have any philanthropic or operating-company relationships?
No publicly known philanthropy, foundation, or operating entity is associated with Akuna Capital beyond the trading firm itself. The firm does not appear to operate a separate foundation or charitable trust.
How many people work at Akuna Capital?
Akuna Capital has not publicly disclosed its headcount. Based on job listings and public records, the firm has a few hundred employees, with significant representation in quantitative research, software engineering, and trading roles.
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