Kurt Baker, former head of Morgan Stanley's Asia prime brokerage and a Millennium Management veteran, is reportedly seeking nearly USD3bn for his new multi-manager hedge fund firm, 30th Century Partners. Set to rival heavyweights like Citadel in the Asia region, the Hong Kong-based firm is in advanced discussions with potential backers and plans to commence trading by June 2024 with 8-10 investment teams. The majority of investments will target markets including India, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan. The firm will also occasionally venture into South-east Asia and Australia, with some strategies having a global reach. Amid the backdrop of recent challenges faced by niche hedge funds, Baker's firm emphasises diversification to navigate the complex financial landscape. He has already onboarded a chief risk officer, technology officer, and data scientist.