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Key people at Clocktower Group.
Clocktower Group is an alternative investment advisory and asset management firm that builds global macro and commodity hedge fund portfolios for institutional clients. The organization primarily serves pensions, endowments, family offices, and asset managers through its core consulting and advisory services. Additionally, the firm operates Clocktower Technology Ventures, a dedicated venture capital arm led by General Partner Ben, who previously co-founded Artivest, to invest in early-stage financial services technology. Through this specialized venture division, the firm has backed numerous fintech startups, including prominent portfolio companies such as Alloy, Arbor, and Flychain. The venture portfolio has also experienced several notable market exits, including Brace being acquired by Stavvy, Bread being acquired by Alliance Data Systems, and Capbase merging with Deel. Clocktower Group, whose leader also advises global intelligence firm Ergo, was founded in 2007 by Steve Drobny.
Key people at Clocktower Group.
Clocktower Group is an alternative asset management and investment advisory firm headquartered in Santa Monica, California, founded in 2007, with additional offices in Shanghai and London.[1][2][3] Its mission centers on delivering customized investment products to institutional clients through hedge fund seeding (focusing on global macro and China strategies), manager selection, hedge fund advisory services, and financial technology venture capital via its Clocktower Technology Ventures arm launched in 2015.[1][2][3] The firm's investment philosophy emphasizes fostering alignment between clients and invested businesses via a curated ecosystem of global investors, policymakers, technology founders, CEOs, and academics to share insights and opportunities, particularly in fintech innovation from seed to growth stages.[1][2][3] Key sectors include global macro hedge funds, commodities, China-focused strategies, and fintech venture capital, contributing to the startup ecosystem by partnering with entrepreneurs reinventing financial services and providing early-stage capital alongside strategic networks.[2][5]
Clocktower Group was established in 2007 by Steve Drobny in Santa Monica, California, initially as a hedge fund manager specializing in global macro and commodities strategies.[1][4] The firm evolved from a hedge fund focus to a broader alternative asset platform, expanding into hedge fund seeding (including China strategies), advisory services, and launching Clocktower Technology Ventures in 2015 as its fintech venture capital arm.[2][3][5] This growth reflects a shift toward opportunistic strategies, building a premier network of institutional investors, managers, and market thinkers, with key figures like Managing Director Adriana Saman, Partner Ben Savage, Venture Partner David Lofthouse, and Principal Josh Zoffer driving the venture side.[3][5] Early traction came from its client-focused approach to portfolio design, scaling to offices in Shanghai and London.[2][3]
Clocktower Group rides the wave of fintech disruption and global macro volatility, timing its 2015 VC launch amid rising demand for innovative financial services amid digital transformation and regulatory shifts.[2][5] Market forces like accelerating fintech adoption, China market exposure, and hedge fund strategies amid geopolitical tensions favor its multi-strategy approach, enabling it to bridge traditional asset management with early-stage tech investing.[1][3] It influences the ecosystem by seeding hedge funds and funding fintech startups worldwide, fostering information flow that accelerates innovation in payments, lending, and beyond, while its network amplifies startup visibility to institutional capital.[1][2]
Clocktower Group is poised to expand its fintech VC footprint, with a new fund in market as of April 2025, capitalizing on AI-driven finance, embedded fintech, and sustainable macro strategies amid evolving global economics.[5] Trends like decentralized finance, cross-border payments, and China reopening will shape its trajectory, potentially growing its 51-employee base and international presence.[1] Its influence may evolve toward deeper operating partnerships, solidifying its role as a nexus for macro insights and tech disruption—echoing its founding mission to align clients with high-potential opportunities in an increasingly interconnected investment world.[1][3]
