Technology continues to reshape the global economy, and the companies leading that shift are now among the largest and most valuable in the world. From NVIDIA and Microsoft to TSMC and Apple, among others, tech giants are driving market returns, innovation, and long-term growth.
For investors who want exposure to this global trend but without building it stock by stock, there are funds built specifically for the job.
One of the most widely held among them is the BGF World Technology Fund, managed by BlackRock. With a focused portfolio of around 70 companies, it offers direct exposure to the tech sector across the U.S., Asia, and Europe.
Over the past five years, this global fund has delivered ~13.9% annualised returns (net of fees and expenses), and it remains a popular choice among investors exploring global opportunities through Vested.
In this edition, we break down how the fund works, what’s inside, and how it fits into a modern global portfolio.
Why BlackRock, and What Makes This Fund Special?
If you’re investing in a global tech fund, who’s managing your money matters. BlackRock is the world’s largest asset manager, with over $9 trillion in assets under management. Their Global Funds (BGF) platform is one of the most widely used UCITS fund ranges globally, known for its institutional-quality strategies that are available to everyday investors.
The BGF World Technology Fund isn’t new to this space. It’s been around since 1995, giving it a nearly 30-year track record through every major tech cycle from the dot-com boom to AI-driven chip rallies. That kind of longevity is rare, especially in sector-focused funds.
What sets this fund apart is how it’s managed: it’s actively run by Tony Kim and Reid Menge, both seasoned tech investors at BlackRock. Rather than tracking an index, they take a high-conviction, research-driven approach backing their strongest ideas across software, semiconductors, and digital platforms.
The result is a portfolio of about 70–75 stocks, with a clear tilt toward category leaders and structural growth themes like AI, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise software. Its largest positions include NVIDIA, Broadcom, Microsoft, Apple, and Meta – companies at the heart of today’s innovation wave.
In short, this is a concentrated, global, forward-looking tech fund run by one of the world’s most experienced investment houses, with a clear focus on long-term returns.
What’s Inside: Strategy, Exposure, and Performance
Strategy
The BGF World Technology Fund is designed to do one thing well: invest in companies whose main business is technology. That includes everything from semiconductors and software to cloud computing and digital platforms. At least 70% of the fund’s assets must be in tech-focused stocks at any given time.
It is an actively managed fund, which means the portfolio managers aren’t following an index as they are selecting stocks based on their own research, conviction, and long-term view. This gives them room to adjust exposures, take positions in emerging winners, and avoid overvalued names when needed.
Regional and Sector Exposure
While it’s a global fund by mandate, its current portfolio is heavily skewed toward the U.S. so around 85–90% of holdings are U.S.-listed companies. That said, some important international names are included, such as TSMC (Taiwan), Advantest (Japan), and SoftBank (Japan) .
By sector, the fund is tilted toward two core areas:
- Semiconductors and equipment
- Software and cloud services
Together, these account for the majority of the portfolio. The rest is spread across internet platforms, enterprise tech, and select hardware players. Compared to a typical tech index, the fund tends to allocate more toward growth-stage software and less toward mega-cap hardware alone.
Top Holdings
As of the latest factsheet, the top 5 holdings are:
- NVIDIA – 9.8%
- Broadcom – 9.6%
- Microsoft – 7.8%
- Apple – 5.6%
- Meta Platforms – 4.0%
The top 10 names together make up over 53% of the portfolio , which tells you this is a high-conviction fund, not one trying to own everything.
Performance
Over the last 5 years, the fund has delivered an annualised return of ~13.9% (net of fees and expenses). Its 3-year annualised return is even higher, at ~34.4%, due to the rebound in 2023–24 following the tech correction in 2022.
Like most tech-focused strategies, this fund is volatile. But it has previously shown an ability to bounce back, especially when major themes like AI or cloud gain momentum.
In short: this is not a passive index tracker. It’s a concentrated, actively managed bet on long-term tech leadership designed for investors who want more than just the usual mega-cap exposure.
Meet the Manager: Tony Kim’s Long-Term Tech Vision
The BGF World Technology Fund is managed by Tony Kim, a senior portfolio manager at BlackRock who has led the fund since 2013. He is supported by Reid Menge, a technology analyst and co-portfolio manager focused on innovation trends across enterprise software, AI, and cloud platforms.
Together, they bring more than two decades of experience in global tech investing—and their track record reflects it.
Tony Kim has been publicly recognized for:
- Early and sustained conviction in NVIDIA: long before the recent AI surge. Under his leadership, the fund significantly overweighted NVIDIA, which became one of the fund’s top contributors to performance over multiple years.
- Positioning in Broadcom and Microsoft, which he’s described in interviews as “core infrastructure bets” that support long-duration compounding.
- A multi-year thesis on cloud software and enterprise IT, including strategic exposure to names like ServiceNow, Snowflake, and Oracle, often before they became consensus holdings.
Reid Menge, who joined the team in 2019, has driven research on AI infrastructure, data platform companies, and semiconductor supply chains – key to the fund’s exposure to firms like TSMC, Advantest, and ASML in past allocations.
Why It Belongs in a Global Portfolio and on Vested
Adding global technology exposure isn’t just about chasing growth; it’s about owning the companies shaping the future of everything from infrastructure and communication to commerce and AI. The BGF World Technology Fund gives investors access to that future, in a way that’s structured, diversified, and actively managed.
Here’s why it fits into a modern global portfolio:
- Thematic strength: This fund gives you focused exposure to the most transformative themes in the market such as AI, semiconductors, cloud computing, and digital platforms, without the need to stock-pick or time trends.
- Global access, local simplicity: While the fund’s holdings are global, Vested makes access simple. You can invest in the same share class offered to international investors, starting at just $10, and manage it alongside your U.S. stocks and ETFs all in one place.
- Diversification beyond the usual names: Many investors already own U.S. tech stocks. But this fund goes further, with names like TSMC, SoftBank, and Advantest, which are important players that don’t always show up in standard U.S.-focused funds.
- Active allocation, not just indexing: Unlike passive tech ETFs, the portfolio here is actively managed. That means positions are chosen based on conviction, not just market cap. It also means the manager can adjust for risk, valuation, or theme exposure as needed.
For investors using Vested to build an internationally diversified portfolio, the BGF World Technology Fund can act as a growth-oriented satellite – a way to lean into innovation without overconcentrating in just one region or style.
It’s one of the most held global tech funds in the world for a reason, and now it’s easily accessible from India through a platform that handles the cross-border mechanics for you.
When to Invest and When Not To
When it makes sense to invest:
- You want long-term exposure to global tech leaders and themes like AI, cloud, and semiconductors.
- You prefer an actively managed fund over a passive index, with the potential to adjust for valuations and trends.
- You already hold broad global or U.S. equity funds and want to add a focused, high-conviction tech layer.
- You’re comfortable with volatility and can stay invested through cycles in pursuit of higher long-term growth.
When it may not be the right fit:
- You are looking for short-term returns or capital preservation.
- You are already heavily allocated to tech or U.S. growth stocks.
- You prefer low-cost, passive strategies and don’t want manager-driven exposure.
- You want a fund that includes sectors like energy, healthcare, or financials as this fund is tech-only.
Like most thematic funds, this one appears to work best as a satellite position in a well-diversified portfolio and not as the entire core.
Conclusion
The BGF World Technology Fund is built for one purpose: to give investors structured access to the world’s most influential technology companies. With a 25+ year track record, active management, and a focused portfolio, it remains one of the most widely used global tech funds out there.
And now, through Vested’s Global Funds platform, it’s accessible in a way that’s seamless and low-friction without the paperwork or complexity global investing used to involve.
If you are looking to add long-term global tech exposure to your portfolio, this fund is worth a closer look. Just make sure it fits your time horizon, risk appetite, and overall allocation plan.
Disclosure:
This post includes information sourced from Bloomberg, Morningstar, Financial Times, and BlackRock Funds Factsheet. It is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. All investments carry risk, including the possible loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investors should review a fund’s prospectus and risk factors before investing. Securities offered through VF Securities, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC.
