Marex survey shows investors engage earlier with emerging hedge fund managers without easing due diligence bar
MRX•Costs, fundraising and operations remain key hurdles
Managers increased spending on compliance, risk, technology and investor relations, lifting breakeven levels to support scalability and reporting demands.
Fundraising stayed difficult despite stated appetite, with prime broker capital introduction networks gaining importance for investor access.
Operational due diligence intensified; AI adoption skewed toward operations and reporting, with governance and data security a key constraint.
Survey finds earlier engagement with emerging managers
Marex analysis of its Emerging Manager Survey 2026 flagged rising investor engagement with earlier-stage hedge fund managers, despite continued high diligence standards.
Allocators showed more flexibility on track records, fund size and hurdles, supported by stronger institutional set-ups at launch.
