Case study

Technology as a long-term investment: Why 3 Capital Partners chose Addepar

3 Capital Partners is a Hong Kong–based investment office grounded in a simple conviction: client portfolios should be driven by purpose and shaped by each client’s goals. Its mission is to be a conflict-free, goal-focused partner — maximising the probability of meeting long-term targets rather than chasing possibilities. The firm was founded to address two persistent industry issues: sell-side conflicts and product-driven investing models.

With clear objectives in place, 3 Capital Partners designs plans to take investors reliably from Point A to Point B and operates on a fully discretionary, fee-based model. Its approach is simple and practical, with return quality and repeatability as central tenets of the firm’s philosophy. In line with this, the firm sought a technology provider that is modern, efficient, and positioned to grow alongside it over the long term.

FIRM NAME

3 Capital Partners

LOCATION

Hong Kong

PARTNERS

4

TEAM MEMBERS

12

ESTABLISHED

2016

THE CHALLENGE

Evaluating technology partners in a limited market

When it opened its doors in 2016, 3 Capital Partners did so with a handful of anchor clients, each with multiple accounts across several custodians. Data aggregation and reporting was based in Excel and demanded the focus of two analysts for three to four days each month. 

While this process got the firm through its early days with a very high degree of accuracy and reliability, Partner and Chief Executive Officer Alex Yu knew it had an expiration date. He recalls, “The entire time we were exploring possible technology enablers. We knew that was needed.”

As he assessed his options, the solution offering in the firm’s location proved challenging. Many technology providers did not serve the APAC market in the mid-2010s. Those that did weren’t the right fit.

We really need to implement a technology solution. Solving this is essential if we want to scale down the road, and to ensure we can continue reinvesting in building and expanding our infrastructure.

Alex Yu, Partner and Chief Executive Officer

The newer APAC-based tech providers had appealing UX and UI but lacked full functionality and the backend infrastructure. Plus, Yu had concerns about what their business models meant for long-term growth potential. “We all know that if you don't have a massive market, and the right business and fee model, it’s extremely hard to scale, and then it’s difficult for them to reinvest in their offering,” he says.

Meanwhile, the established European players had institutional-grade infrastructure but left something to be desired in terms of UX.

Increasing pressures on outdated processes

So, the team forged ahead with their existing workflow, sacrificing many hours each month to manual reporting and verification processes. As the firm’s book of business grew, the complexity increased until the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic became a turning point.

The ensuing market volatility increased the analysts’ workload significantly. They spent hours each morning updating portfolio data so the investment team would have the most relevant and up-to-date information. It was one of those analysts who approached Yu about the bottleneck created by these manual efforts. Yu says that’s when he knew, “We really need to implement a technology solution. Solving this is essential if we want to scale down the road, and to ensure we can continue reinvesting in building and expanding our infrastructure.” 

THE RESULT

This led Yu to give Addepar a closer look. “We wanted a technology provider that was a good partner when we’re small and would remain the right fit as we grew,” says Yu. Identifying a platform positioned to grow alongside the firm was critical.

He brought a checklist of desired attributes to the table: direct API connections to support a client base with multiple custodians; a modern interface; customisation options, especially around asset allocation; client report generation; and — perhaps most critically — scalability.

Upon assessing Addepar’s technology, he found it checked all the boxes.

An implementation process with substantive support

While Partner and Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Shelley was not yet part of 3 Capital Partners when Addepar was implemented in 2021, he notes that colleagues were positive about the onboarding and implementation experience. “There was a dedicated implementation team to help. It wasn't once the contract was signed, Addepar hands it over to you to figure out how it's done,” he says.

Likewise, Yu notes that Addepar presented a clear process for the 3 Capital Partners team to follow. “The client success team basically set a timeline, step-by-step, of what needs to be done,” he says. Shelley adds, “It seemed like the whole process of onboarding was very well thought out.”

Find a solution that can grow with you, then take that first step. Don't wait.

Alex Yu, Partner and Chief Executive Officer

Addepar five years on: a partner to power daily operations

It’s been nearly five years since that implementation process, and today 3 Capital Partners finds Addepar serving an integral role in its day-to-day operations.

Addepar’s ability to aggregate data across multiple custodians is a critical feature. With 70 accounts across seven custodians, bringing that information together quickly into one place is an essential part of the firm’s daily work. “We can see our clients’ portfolios from a bird's eye perspective and are able to make the high-level decisions that we need to make because we do manage it on a discretionary basis,” says Shelley.

Analytics is also a crucial component. Addepar allows users to put in specific metrics that matter most to their decision-making processes. Given the firm’s unique investment philosophy, this flexibility is key.

Finally, Shelley highlights that Addepar’s reporting tools have transformed the firm’s operations and enabled it to scale more effectively. “Before, when we had fewer clients, there were two people spending three to four days a month doing the client reporting,” he says. “Right now, it's about 15 to 20 hours a month in total and this frees them up to focus on other areas that benefit our clients.”

Technology as a catalyst for growth — for all stakeholders

Bringing on a technology partner that’s poised to scale has done more than save 3 Capital Partners’ time. Those hours translate into far greater efficiency and an ability to focus on delivering better client outcomes without increasing headcount.

The analysts that used to spend days on reporting have reallocated time to tasks that better serve clients, with one exploring private equity fund investments and the other hedge funds and private credit. A third analyst looks at  portfolio management functions and system optimisation within Addepar.

This shift in the analysts’ work also translates into career-building skills. Yu notes that the right technology can be a talent retention tool. “Once you can be more efficient, your junior talent can actually spend more time growing and learning, and then they will stay,” he says.

Another way Addepar has transformed the team’s way of working is in democratising access to data. Before, client questions needed to be directed through an advisor to the investment or investment operations team. Now, everyone can access all relevant data and information.

This also means the firm hires differently. Yu says, “Before we had to think, ‘Oh, is this person going to be in the front office or back office?’ Now, it’s less of a concern because Addepar is there.” There’s no longer a need to silo talent into discrete roles. Instead, 3 Capital Partners can recruit smart, driven people with the flexibility to work across all functions.

While moving from Excel to a new technology platform required a commitment to identifying the right provider and time to manage implementation, Yu sees the rewards as well worth the effort. And he encourages other firms to make the move, too. His advice? “Find a solution that can grow with you, then take that first step. Don't wait.”