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Heartisans
Founded in 2014 by data scientist and quantitative investor Timothy Li, Heartisans Limited operates from Hong Kong as a dedicated systematic fund.
Heartisans
Founded in 2014 by data scientist and quantitative investor Timothy Li, Heartisans Limited operates from Hong Kong as a dedicated systematic fund. The firm emerged during a period when machine-learning applications were still nascent within Asia's hedge fund community, giving it a rare, multi-year head start on the region's algorithmic learning curve. Li structured Heartisans to operate less as a discretionary platform with quant overlays and more as a pure-play AI-native manager, training models on market microstructure data across multiple regional exchanges. The firm runs liquid equity market-neutral and directional strategies focused primarily on developed and emerging Asian markets, including Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, and mainland China share classes. While the firm has not publicly disclosed its full track record, its concentrated emphasis on applying machine learning at every layer of the research stack sets it apart from quant funds that rely on traditional statistical factor models. Heartisans maintains a lean operational profile typical of early-stage systematic managers, with investment and engineering talent concentrated in its Hong Kong headquarters. No adjacent vehicles, philanthropic structures, or co-investment club affiliations have been publicly reported, reflecting a tightly held, strategy-first organizational design. Structurally, Heartisans represents a small but distinct cohort of Asia-based AI-native hedge funds that compete for talent and capital primarily against larger global quants such as Two Sigma or WorldQuant. Its differentiator lies in a region-specific model-building culture: training models on fragmented Asian market data with local market-access infrastructure.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
2014
Location
Region
Asia
Country
China
City
Hong Kong
Corporate office
Hong Kong, China
Principals
Timothy Li
Chief Investment Officer
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Does Heartisans manage a single fund or multiple vehicles?
Heartisans has not publicly disclosed its fund structure beyond operating as a quantitative investment manager based in Hong Kong. Its regulatory filings and corporate registry indicate it is structured as a limited company, which is typical for Asia-based hedge fund management entities.
How does Heartisans apply machine learning in its investment process?
The firm builds proprietary deep-learning models that train on granular market data, including order book dynamics, across Asian equity exchanges. This signals-first approach uses machine learning at the core research stage, rather than as a risk-management overlay, differentiating its process from managers that layer AI onto traditional factor models.
What markets and asset classes does Heartisans focus on?
Heartisans concentrates on liquid equity strategies in Asia-Pacific markets, covering developed exchanges such as Japan and Australia alongside emerging and onshore Chinese markets. The firm has not disclosed allocation to fixed income, private assets, or digital assets.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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