Alternative Investment Management Association

What Alternative Investment Management Association does

The Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA), founded in 1990, is the global trade body for the alternative investment industry, registered in England as a Company Limited by Guarantee and headquartered at 167 Fleet Street, London. AIMA represents over 2,000 member firms across 60 countries spanning hedge fund managers, fund of hedge fund managers, private credit managers, prime brokers, legal and accounting firms, institutional investors, fund administrators, and independent fund directors. Its membership collectively represents approximately $4 trillion in hedge fund assets under management, and the organization operates through 10 offices in London, New York, Hong Kong, Sydney, Singapore, Dubai, Toronto, and other financial centres.

AIMA's product set centers on industry advocacy, content, and member services rather than software. Core deliverables include the AIMA Journal and The Long-Short podcast for thought leadership, a Compass library of practical guides and standardized Due Diligence Questionnaires (DDQs), the AIMA Tech Vendor Directory, and the AIMA Regulatory Horizon Scan for tracking global policy developments. The Alternative Credit Council (ACC), launched in 2015 as a wholly-owned affiliate, extends AIMA into the US$3.5 trillion private credit and direct lending sector. AIMA publishes ongoing research with partners including PwC, Houlihan Lokey, and Hedgeweek, and runs more than 270 events annually. AI/ML and digital-asset themes are addressed through research output and member guidance rather than proprietary technology development.

AIMA is funded primarily through tiered membership dues (corporate subscription model) paid by member firms, supplemented by event sponsorships from a network of major service providers (Citco, EY, KPMG, Man, State Street, Clifford Chance, and others). The organization is led by CEO Jack Inglis and governed by an AIMA Council and an AIMA Global Investor Board. With a small employee base of 11-50, AIMA functions as a high-leverage advocacy and standards-setting body whose product is essentially the collective voice, education, and operational infrastructure of the alternative investment industry.

Name

Alternative Investment Management Association

Legal name

The Alternative Investment Management Association Limited

Website

https://aima.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA), founded in 1990 and headquartered in London, is the global membership trade body for the alternative investment industry, representing over 2,000 member firms across 60 countries through advocacy, regulatory engagement, research, and events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: AIMA generates revenue through membership fees paid by alternative investment managers, fund administrators, prime brokers, legal and accounting firms, and other industry participants. The membership provides access to regulatory guidance, educational materials, industry research, events, and networking opportunities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

AIMA is a global membership association representing the alternative investment industry, delivering regulatory advocacy, professional education, industry research, networking events, and standardized industry tools such as Due Diligence Questionnaires. Its members include hedge fund managers, private credit managers, prime brokers, legal and accounting firms, institutional investors, fund administrators, and independent fund directors. Through its Alternative Credit Council affiliate, AIMA extends dedicated services to the private credit and direct lending sector.

Product overview

AIMA is the world's largest membership association for alternative investment managers, offering a comprehensive suite of services centered around industry advocacy, education, and professional resources. Rather than a unified software product, AIMA's offering consists of multiple interconnected services: the AIMA Journal and The Long-Short podcast provide thought leadership; DDQs and Practical Guides under AIMA Compass deliver due diligence and sound practices resources; the Alternative Credit Council (ACC) serves as a dedicated sub-brand for private credit; and AIMA Events & Conferences facilitates industry networking. AIMA also provides regulatory responses, newsletters, and the AIMA Tech Vendor Directory. The organization primarily serves its 2,000+ member firms across 60 countries with $4tn in hedge fund AUM, functioning as an industry body rather than a commercial technology platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Alternative Credit Council (ACC): AIMA's private credit affiliate providing guidance, research, and advocacy for the private credit and direct lending industry.
• The Long-Short

Products and services

• AIMA Membership Recurring membership program for alternative investment firms, hedge fund managers, prime brokers, legal and accounting firms, institutional investors, fund administrators, and independent fund directors. Provides access to regulatory advocacy, sound practices guidance, the AIMA Journal, the Long-Short podcast, DDQs, Compass practical guides, member committees, and over 270 annual events.
• Alternative Credit Council (ACC) AIMA's dedicated private credit and direct lending affiliate, providing thought leadership, sound practices guides, regulatory engagement, and the ACC Quarterly Update for private credit managers. Operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of AIMA.
• AIMA Conferences and Events Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of hedge fund managers now use generative AI, up from 86% in 2023
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Alternative Credit Council (ACC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Alternative Credit Council is AIMA's dedicated private credit affiliate, operating as a global body for the private credit and direct lending space. ACC provides thought leadership, educational materials, sound practices guides, and regulatory engagement specifically for private credit managers. The ACC has published research showing the global private credit market reached US$3.5 trillion in AUM.
• PwCflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPwC collaborates with AIMA on annual surveys including hedge fund research and crypto adoption studies. The partnership produces industry-leading research on alternative investment trends, regulatory developments, and market sizing.
• Houlihan LokeycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIMA's Alternative Credit Council partners with Houlihan Lokey for private credit market research, including the annual assessment of the global private credit market reaching US$3.5 trillion in AUM.
• HedgeweekcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIMA partners with Hedgeweek to produce the annual Mid-Year Allocator Sentiment Report, providing insights into institutional investor allocation intentions and strategy preferences.
• ACA GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerACA Group is a sponsoring partner of AIMA, providing compliance and technology solutions to the alternative investment industry.
• CitcominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCitco is a sponsoring partner of AIMA, providing fund administration and operational services to alternative investment managers.
• Clifford ChanceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerClifford Chance is a sponsoring partner of AIMA, providing legal services to the alternative investment industry.
• DechertminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDechert is a sponsoring partner of AIMA, providing legal services to the alternative investment industry.
• EYminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEY is a sponsoring partner of AIMA, providing professional services including audit, tax, and advisory services to alternative investment managers.
• KPMGminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKPMG is a sponsoring partner of AIMA, providing audit, tax, and advisory services to alternative investment managers.
• Simmons & SimmonsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSimmons & Simmons is a sponsoring partner of AIMA and has collaborated on guides including the Separately Managed Accounts (SMAs) industry guide.
• State StreetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerState Street is a sponsoring partner of AIMA, providing asset servicing and investment services to alternative investment managers.
• ManminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMan is a sponsoring partner of AIMA, providing investment management services to the alternative investment industry.
• MarexminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarex is a sponsoring partner of AIMA, providing prime services and capital access solutions to hedge funds.
• MaplesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMaples is a sponsoring partner of AIMA, providing legal and fiduciary services to alternative investment funds.
• Travers SmithminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTravers Smith is a sponsoring partner of AIMA, providing legal services to the alternative investment industry.
• K & L GatesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerK & L Gates is a sponsoring partner of AIMA, providing legal services to the alternative investment industry.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• TheCityUK: TheCityUK represents the UK-based financial and professional services industry. It is comparable to AIMA in industry advocacy and policy engagement but covers the full UK financial services sector rather than alternatives specifically.
• Asia Securities Industry & Financial Markets Association (ASIFMA): ASIFMA is the regional trade association for capital markets in Asia Pacific. It is comparable to AIMA's advocacy and policy engagement work but limited to Asia and broader capital markets rather than alternatives specifically.
• European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA): EFAMA represents the European investment management industry at the EU level. It is comparable in advocacy and research mission to AIMA but focused on the European region and the traditional asset management sector.

Broad incumbents

• Institutional Limited Partners Association (ILPA): ILPA represents institutional investors and limited partners in private equity, with overlap to AIMA through investor-side engagement and industry standards. ILPA is comparable in scale and mission but focused on PE rather than hedge funds.
• Investment Company Institute (ICI): ICI is the leading association representing regulated investment companies, including mutual funds, ETFs, and closed-end funds. It is comparable to AIMA in structure and mission but focused on traditional long-only funds rather than alternatives.
• Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA): SIFMA represents the broader securities industry in the US, including broker-dealers, banks, and asset managers. While overlapping with AIMA on capital markets advocacy, SIFMA covers a wider portfolio beyond alternatives.
• CFA Institute: CFA Institute is the global professional association for investment professionals, providing the CFA charter. While broader than AIMA, it overlaps in professional education, ethics standards, and thought leadership for the investment management community.

Direct peers

• Global Financial Markets Association (GFMA): GFMA is a global alliance of financial market associations (including SIFMA, AFME, and ASIFMA) focusing on capital markets and wholesale banking. It overlaps with AIMA on global regulatory advocacy and serves similar institutional members.
• CAIA Association: CAIA Association is the global credentialing body for the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst designation. It overlaps with AIMA's educational and professional development mission specifically for the alternative investment industry.
• Managed Funds Association (MFA): MFA is the leading US-based trade association representing the hedge fund industry, directly comparable to AIMA's core mission. Both organizations provide advocacy, research, and educational resources for alternative investment managers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AIMA_org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-alternative-investment-management-assocation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alternative Investment Management Association