Developing Markets Accociates
Developing Markets Associates is a UK-based trade and investment promotion consultancy organizing investment summits, trade missions, and forums for sovereign governments of emerging and frontier economies, serving 50+ governments, multilateral institutions, and a 5,000+ investor network to facilitate capital flows into developing markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Developing Markets Accociates does
Developing Markets Associates (DMA), operating through DMA Invest Ltd and DMA Global Ltd, is a UK-incorporated private limited company founded in 2007 and headquartered in Stanmore/London with an additional Sydney office. The firm functions as a multi-service development consultancy and trade and investment promotion body, organizing investment summits, trade missions, forums, and roundtables for sovereign governments of emerging and frontier economies. Its flagship products include the West & Central Francophone Africa Forum (WCAF, currently in its fifth edition), the UK-Caribbean Trade & Investment Forum (UKCTIF), the UK-Kenya Business Forum, country-specific bilateral trade and investment forums, the London Sustainability Forum, and the Africa Cocoa Finance & Investment Forum, alongside extensively researched investment reports produced with full government endorsement.
DMA serves a concentrated base of over 50 sovereign government clients, multilateral institutions including the World Bank, IMF, and DFID, as well as 5,000+ institutional and private investors and UK businesses seeking emerging market exposure. Its core value proposition is the ability to convene heads of state and cabinet ministers at high-level events, with the company reporting it has hosted 300+ heads of state and cabinet ministers and facilitated over US$15 billion in investment and capital flows into developing markets since 2007. The business does not operate a proprietary technology platform; its offering is fundamentally a relationship-driven professional services and convening franchise with no disclosed AI/ML capability.
Revenue is generated through professional services fees for event management and investment advisory mandates, including FDI promotion strategy, market research, and investor matchmaking, with pricing structured as custom, quote-based engagements rather than standardized tiers. GTM is enterprise field sales and event-driven, engaging directly with heads of state, heads of government, ministers, and government trade and investment promotion bodies. The company is privately held with no external PE or VC ownership indicated and reports no publicly disclosed financial figures.
Developing Markets Accociates firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Developing Markets Accociates
- Legal name
- DMA Invest Ltd
- Website
- https://developingmarkets.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Developing Markets Associates is a UK-based trade and investment promotion consultancy organizing investment summits, trade missions, and forums for sovereign governments of emerging and frontier economies, serving 50+ governments, multilateral institutions, and a 5,000+ investor network to facilitate capital flows into developing markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Developing Markets Accociates industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Trade and Investment Promotion Services
- NAICS
- Miscellaneous Intermediation (52391), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Investment Advice (6282), International Affairs (9721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Investment Promotion & FDI Facilitation (BPADAMAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Development Finance & Blended Finance Facilities (BPADAOAD)
Keywords
Where Developing Markets Accociates is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Developing Markets Accociates business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Event Management Services: DMA generates revenue by organizing and delivering investment summits, trade missions, forums, and roundtables for governments of emerging and frontier economies. Events include UK-country specific trade forums, investment missions to frontier markets, and regional summits like the West & Central Africa Forum (WCAF).
- Investment Advisory Services: DMA provides investment promotion services including FDI attraction strategy, market research reports, and investor matchmaking. The company maintains a network of 5,000+ institutional and private investors.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Developing Markets Accociates product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DMA Invest is a multi-service development consultancy that organizes investment summits, trade and investment forums, trade missions, and roundtables for sovereign governments of emerging and frontier economies. Services also include investment reports, FDI attraction strategy, investor matchmaking, and access to a proprietary network of 5,000+ institutional and private investors. The company operates events led by heads of state or government to generate tangible investment outcomes for clients in developing markets.
Product overview
Developing Markets Associates (DMA Invest) is a multi-service development consultancy organized as a single unified service offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offering centers on investment summits and trade missions for sovereign governments of emerging and frontier economies, complemented by specialized forums (WCAF, UKCTIF, London Sustainability Forum, Africa Cocoa Forum), investment reports, and a network of over 5,000 institutional investors. These products operate together as an integrated investment facilitation ecosystem: summits and missions provide the primary platform for deal-making, supported by research reports, sector-specific forums, and the investor network to drive capital flows into developing markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Investment Summits
- Trade & Investment Forums
- Trade & Investment Missions
- Investment Reports
- Francophone West & Central Africa Forum (WCAF)
- UK-Caribbean Trade & Investment Forum (UKCTIF)
- London Sustainability Forum
- Africa Cocoa Finance & Investment Forum
- Investor Network
Quantifiable outcome
- Over US$15 billion in new investment and capital flows generated into developing markets since 2007
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Developing Markets Accociates
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Developing Markets Accociates technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Developing Markets Accociates partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Government of GuineaflagshipGuinea serves as the host nation for WCAF V, with the event anchored by Guinea's Simandou 2040 vision and the globally significant Simandou project.
- UK-Ghana Chamber of CommercecoreThe UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce is hosting the UK-Ghana Trade and Investment Mission in collaboration with DMA, with full support from both governments.
- Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)coreFCDO collaborated closely in delivering the UK-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum III.
- Department for Business and TradecoreDBT collaborated with DMA in delivering the UK-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum III.
- UK Export FinancecoreUK Export Finance participated in the UK-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum III with CEO Tim Reid delivering a keynote address.
- IntellibuscoreIntellibus served as the headline partner for UK-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum III, with generous support instrumental to the event's success.
- AcrowminorPartner supporting the UK-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum III.
- Associated AsphaltminorPartner supporting the UK-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum III.
- Dints InternationalminorPartner supporting the UK-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum III.
- Ramps LogisticsminorPartner supporting the UK-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum III.
- JAMPRO (Jamaica Promotions Corporation)minorPartner supporting the UK-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum III.
- British High Commission GaboncoreThe UK-Gabon Trade & Investment Mission was delivered in partnership with the British High Commission in Libreville.
- ARISE IIPcoreARISE IIP led the visit to the Nkok Special Economic Zone during the UK-Gabon Trade & Investment Mission, showcasing on-the-ground operations and investment opportunities.
- INVEST IN GABON (ANPI-Gabon)coreDMA met with the Director General of INVEST IN GABON during the UK-Gabon Trade & Investment Mission.
- GIEPA (Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency)coreGIEPA partnered with DMA for the UK-Gambia Trade and Investment Mission, providing in-country support and coordination.
- Africa Agenda NetworkminorAfrica Agenda Network provided partnership and support for the UK-Gambia Trade and Investment Mission.
- British Chamber of Commerce Kenya (BCCK)coreBCCK co-organized the UK-Kenya Business Forum in Nairobi with the British High Commission in Nairobi. DMA was a supporting partner, leading a UK business delegation to Kenya.
- Hi-Tec Construction LimitedminorHi-Tec Construction Limited provided generous support for DMA's Annual Christmas Reception at Middle Temple.
- UK Export FinancecoreAt WCAF IV, a renewed MoU was signed between the Government of Togo and UK Export Finance, building on over £2 billion facilitated by UKEF in recent years.
- Deutsche BankcoreDeutsche Bank hosted the WCAF V launch roundtable at their London HQ, with Maryam Khosrowshahi (Chair of Global Sub-Saharan Africa) speaking at the event.
- British High Commission NairobicoreThe British High Commission in Nairobi co-organized the UK-Kenya Business Forum with BCCK, with DMA as a supporting partner.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Developing Markets Accociates competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- EY (FDI and Economic Development Advisory): Global advisory firm with established FDI attraction and economic development practices serving national and sub-national government clients. Comparable on FDI advisory content but operates at much larger scale and across all geographies.
- PwC (FDI and Investment Promotion Advisory): Big Four advisory firm offering FDI attraction strategy, site selection and investment promotion services to governments globally. Comparable on the advisory/promotion services layer but as part of a much broader portfolio rather than an emerging-market specialist.
- Financial Times Live (FT Live): Global business events arm of the Financial Times producing flagship summits and forums. Comparable in the events/delegate-revenue layer, with strong institutional sponsorship and government audience reach, though not emerging-market-specialist.
- Economist Events: Events arm of The Economist producing high-level policy and trade summits globally. Comparable in convening senior government, investor and corporate audiences; overlapping event-driven B2B monetisation model.
Regional players
- UK-India Business Council: UK-government-supported bilateral trade and investment promotion body. Comparable in operating model (government-aligned convening) and B2B mission structure, though focused on India rather than African/frontier markets.
Direct peers
- Africa investor (Ai): Investment promotion and advisory firm running flagship Africa investor summits and capital-flow programmes. Comparable in serving institutional investors and African governments through high-level convening events.
- UK-ASEAN Business Council: Trade promotion body linking UK businesses with Southeast Asian governments. Comparable convening function, government-level access, and event-based deal-making model, though focused on ASEAN rather than African/frontier markets.
- Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC): London-based trade and investment promotion body focused on Commonwealth emerging markets. Most directly comparable peer — similar convening model, similar government and institutional client base, and overlapping investor network.
- Business Council for Africa: UK-anchored trade and investment facilitation organisation focused on Sub-Saharan Africa. Closely comparable in mission (promoting UK-Africa capital flows), client base (UK corporates and African governments), and event-driven delivery model.
Emerging players
- Sterling Capital (Africa-focused investment platform): Africa-focused investment facilitation platform connecting African governments and institutional capital. Comparable in investor matchmaking and FDI promotion, though more digitally native and earlier-stage.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Developing Markets Accociates social profiles
Digital presenceDeveloping Markets Accociates financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Developing Markets Accociates leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles19 records
Developing Markets Accociates subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Developing Markets Accociates funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Developing Markets Accociates M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Developing Markets Accociates
What does Developing Markets Accociates do?
DMA Invest is a multi-service development consultancy that organizes investment summits, trade and investment forums, trade missions, and roundtables for sovereign governments of emerging and frontier economies. Services also include investment reports, FDI attraction strategy, investor matchmaking, and access to a proprietary network of 5,000+ institutional and private investors. The company operates events led by heads of state or government to generate tangible investment outcomes for clients in developing markets.
Is Developing Markets Accociates a public or private company?
Developing Markets Accociates is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Developing Markets Accociates founded?
Developing Markets Accociates was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Developing Markets Accociates based?
Developing Markets Accociates is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Developing Markets Accociates make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Event Management Services are the primary driver. The others are investment Advisory Services.
Who are Developing Markets Accociates's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are EY (FDI and Economic Development Advisory), PwC (FDI and Investment Promotion Advisory), Financial Times Live (FT Live) and Economist Events. UK-India Business Council is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Africa investor (Ai), UK-ASEAN Business Council, Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) and Business Council for Africa. Sterling Capital (Africa-focused investment platform) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Developing Markets Accociates have an API?
No public API is recorded for Developing Markets Accociates.
What industry is Developing Markets Accociates in?
Developing Markets Accociates's product category is Trade and Investment Promotion Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAMAD, Investment Promotion & FDI Facilitation, with a secondary code of BPADAOAD, Development Finance & Blended Finance Facilities. Its NAICS code is 52391 and its SIC code is 8742.