The Hype Fund
BootstrappedInvest in sneakers like stocks
A hedge fund that treats limited-edition sneakers as tradable commodities, using data analytics to predict resale value.
About
The Hype Fund is an investment vehicle that pools investor capital to purchase limited-edition sneakers projected to appreciate in value, then resells them for profit while distributing returns to investors. Founded by UC Berkeley undergraduates, the fund uses data analytics — analyzing historical performance, media attention, and projected market value — to predict which newly-released sneakers will command the highest resale prices. With a minimum investment of just $100, The Hype Fund democratizes access to the booming sneaker resale market, which is projected to reach $30 billion by 2030. During COVID-19, the fund returned 7% while the Dow Jones fell 10% in the same period, demonstrating the asset class's low correlation with traditional markets. The team is also developing machine learning models to further enhance their price prediction capabilities.
DailyDropout Take
The Hype Fund spotted an opportunity at the intersection of streetwear culture and finance, turning sneaker reselling from a side hustle into a structured investment vehicle. With the sneaker resale market on track to hit $30B by 2030, their data-driven approach to predicting which drops will appreciate shows how alternative asset classes are being democratized for everyday investors.
Discovery signal: Novel asset class, strong COVID-era performance uncorrelated with public markets, UC Berkeley founding team
What Makes Them Unique
Treats sneakers as an investable asset class with fund-style pooled capital and data-driven selection, rather than individual reselling.
$100
Min Investment
7%
COVID-19 Return
$30B
Market Size (2030)
Target Markets
Founders
Max Shiau
Co-Founder
UC Berkeley undergraduate and co-founder of The Hype Fund.
Michael Wang
Co-Founder
UC Berkeley undergraduate and co-founder of The Hype Fund.
Tyler Wu
Co-Founder
UC Berkeley undergraduate and co-founder of The Hype Fund.
Nathan Ju
Co-Founder
UC Berkeley undergraduate and co-founder of The Hype Fund.