ume

ume.solutions is a RegTech firm that provides a collaborative, digital platform for the asset management industry, specifically designed to streamline the exchange of due diligence information. The company was founded in Luxembourg in February 2017 by Laurent Denayer. Denayer, who currently serves as CEO, drew upon over two decades of experience in the financial industry, including roles in risk management and as Global Fund Distribution Leader at EY, to address what he saw as a significant inefficiency in the manual, non-standardized due diligence process between fund managers and distributors. He identified a market need for a standardized, automated solution to reduce the burden of regulatory oversight.

The company's core offering is a platform that connects hundreds of investment fund managers with thousands of fund distributors across more than 100 countries. It operates on a mutualized data model where users collectively agree on and maintain a standard set of due diligence information requirements. This standardization is a key benefit, as distributors only need to complete a comprehensive questionnaire once, which can then be shared with multiple counterparties, drastically reducing repetitive administrative work. For investment managers, the platform automates the collection, evaluation, and risk scoring of this information, providing a full audit trail and deep analytical capabilities to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory obligations such as MiFID II, AML, and KYC. This efficiency accelerates the time-to-market for fund products by shortening the traditionally lengthy due diligence cycle.

The platform's business model is centered on providing this shared infrastructure to a global network of clients, which includes 14 of the top 20 global investment managers. Revenue is generated through this centralized utility, which offers a secure, efficient alternative to using Excel and Outlook for due diligence. Ume has garnered significant industry recognition, including being named Luxembourg's Startup of the Year in 2017 and RegTech of the Year in 2018 and 2022.

Keywords: fund distribution, due diligence, RegTech, asset management, compliance automation, investment managers, fund distributors, regulatory compliance, KYC, AML, counterparty risk, financial crime compliance, standardized questionnaire, distribution oversight, data mutualization, risk scoring, audit trail, financial services, FinTech, Luxembourg