About
the EMA
The North American network for entrepreneurs in asset management.
Educate.
Connect.
Support.
Founded in 2014 to support Quebec’s emerging portfolio managers, the Emerging Managers Board (EMB) expanded across Canada over 10 years to establish credibility within a network of 100 emerging manager firms.
In 2026, the organization expanded its reach to North America through a partnership with Fuel, pairing a decade of growing community trust across Canada with a strong Cap Intro platform. To reflects the new chapter, the organization was renamed the Emerging Manager Alliance (EMA). Today, EMA connects entrepreneurs in asset management with the institutional allocators, sponsors, and partners who support their growth across North America.
We aim to convince institutional asset allocators to invest 1% of their AUM in portfolio management firms owned by entrepreneurs.
Our mission
To support the growth of North American emerging managers by educating allocators on the value of investing in them, and entrepreneurs on the standards to build a business worth investing in.
Our vision
Small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of any economy, and asset management is a key part of it. Our vision is a North American financial industry conducive to the creation of new portfolio management firms, helping emerging managers meet institutional investor standards.
Our Board of Directors
Committed to promoting our members and propelling the North American portfolio management industry.
Brennan Basnicki
Ruken Family Office
Thierry Elmaleh
FAX Capital
Jeffrey Veilleux
Investissements Rivemont
Mathieu Cardinal
Morningstar
Philippe Hynes
Tonus Capital
Naomie Bourduas-Mailhot
Innocap (Non-voting external member)
Gabriel Cefaloni
Nymbus Capital
Secretary of the EMB
Montana Mortimer
Langdon Equity Partners
Julian Klymochko
Accelerate Financial Technologies
Thierry Claveau
Evovest
Philippe Pratte
Pratte Gestion de portefeuilles
Our Team
Decades of experience bridging emerging managers and institutional allocators across North America.
Charles Lemay
President of the EMA & Partner at Walter Global Asset Management
Yon Perullo
Founder of Fuel
Lisa Vioni
CEO and Co-founder of Hedge Connection
Violaine Trudeau
EMA Manager and Coordinator
EMB’s four mandates
Events and
networking
Plan training and networking activities that allow emerging managers and asset allocators to meet, and that showcase the talent of its members.
Education and mentoring
Help emerging managers align their practices with the requirements of institutional investors and develop an optimal infrastructure for their business development.
Sponsorships and partnerships
Develop partnerships with sponsors and other private and public organizations to ensure the EMA’s financial viability and to contribute to the achievement of its mission and objectives.
ESG, diversity and inclusion
Make emerging managers more aware of sustainable investment issues and encourage diversity and inclusion best practices within their firms, welcoming minority- and women-owned managers across every asset class.
Emerging manager definition
The EMA defines emerging managers according to the following criteria:
- Headquartered in North America
- Majority employee-owned
- Less than $2 billion in assets under management
- Registered with local authorities
- Geared to developing strategies adapted to institutional investors
The four stages of an emerging firm’s life cycle
The cycle below is modelled on the New York State Comptroller’s Office Emerging Managers Program.
Key allies and partners
The EMA is proud to have an active partnership with the Quebec Emerging Manager Program. The QEMP gives significant investment mandates to a number of our members after a rigorous evaluation process. This one-of-a-kind program offers institutions investment strategies that diversify their sources of alpha, while encouraging local firms.
We are also working on building active partnerships with leading U.S. programs, including the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, CalPERS, and NYCRF, and we continue to seek new alliances with emerging manager programs across North America.
Get involved!
Does our mission speak to you?
Drop us a line if you’re interested. We’ll be in touch.
Violaine Trudeau
EMA Manager and Coordinator
[email protected]
Charles Lemay
EMA President
[email protected]