1Sharpe Capital collects $500m for fund
Oakland, Calif.–based 1Sharpe Capital, a global asset manager, today announced the initial capital raise of $500 million. The income generating strategy attracted strong support from global pension plans and foundations and will focus its investments on real estate related loans that can deliver superior risk-adjusted returns.
The firm’s co-founders, Rob Bloemker and Gregor Watson, have vast experience investing in mortgage-backed securities, originating real estate–related loans, as well as acquiring, renovating, and managing real estate across the country.
Rob Bloemker leads 1Sharpe’s investment committee and is a member of its operating committee. Before co-founding 1Sharpe, Bloemker was a portfolio manager at Cerberus Capital Management within their $5 billion mortgage hedge fund. Bloemker also co-founded Dwell Finance, which originated more than $500 million in loans and was sold to a unit of The Blackstone Group, as well as Five Ten Capital where he raised, invested, and successfully liquidated three private equity funds. He also managed over $60 billion at Putnam Investments, and previously worked at Salomon Brothers and Lehman Brothers.
Watson is a member of 1Sharpe’s investment and operating committees. Prior to co-founding 1Sharpe, Watson co-founded and is chairman of Roofstock, an online marketplace for single-family rental homes. A true entrepreneur, he is the founder of 643 Capital, a real estate private equity firm, and co-founder of Dwell Finance. Watson spent the early part of his career purchasing and developing land and apartments throughout California.
