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Emerging Markets Entrepreneurs
Emerging Markets Entrepreneurs (EME Myanmar) was co-founded by Hitoshi Ikeya and Dr.
Emerging Markets Entrepreneurs
Emerging Markets Entrepreneurs (EME Myanmar) was co-founded by Hitoshi Ikeya and Dr. Yit Fan Wong to back early-stage, post-revenue companies in one of Asia’s last frontier markets. Operating from MICT Park in Yangon, the firm draws on a network of regional and international investors who share the thesis that profitable, sustainable businesses can anchor Myanmar’s long-term economic development. The firm makes 5–7 investments each year, typically writing initial checks of US$50–250k into technology-enabled startups. EME operates as a permanent capital vehicle, which allows it to stay in its best companies longer and reinvest up to two times. Confirmed portfolio exposures include AdsZay and Ezay, with co-investor Seiji Kurokoshi participating in those rounds. Beyond capital, EME’s model layers in a tailored mentorship program and commercial partnerships with established Myanmar corporates to improve client acquisition and unlock new customer segments for its portfolio companies. EME lists six professionals, anchored by Ikeya as Investment Director and Joshua Morris, who serves as CEO of Emerging Markets Investment Advisers and oversees operations. The firm is a full member of the Myanmar Private Equity and Venture Capital Association and also participates in the Asia Venture Philanthropy Network and the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs. Philanthropically, it is linked to the Sasakawa Peace Foundation. In Cambodia, Investment Manager Matt Viner helped launch the Cnai Accelerator, extending EME’s operational footprint across the Mekong subregion. EME’s structural differentiator is its permanent-capital design inside a frontier market still isolated from mainstream institutional flows. Rather than chasing a traditional 10-year fund lifecycle with forced exits, the vehicle recycles gains and maintains the ability to double down on winners — a governance choice that aligns the firm with the multi-decade economic opening of Myanmar.
General information
Firm type
Generalist
Year founded
—
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Asia
Country
Myanmar
City
Yangon
Corporate office
Floor 5, Building 15, MICT Park, Yangon, Myanmar
Principals
Hitoshi Ikeya
Investment Director
Altss tracks 5 additional named team members for this firm — including direct investment leads, IR, and operating principals not listed on the public website.
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Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Emerging Markets Entrepreneurs?
Hitoshi Ikeya serves as Investment Director and leads decision-making from the Yangon office. He works alongside a small team that includes Investment Manager La Woon Yan and Portfolio Growth Advisor Claire Lim. The Executive Board of Directors provides oversight, but day-to-day investment selection and portfolio management rest with Ikeya and the local investment team.
Is Emerging Markets Entrepreneurs structured as a single family office or a venture fund?
EME is structured as a permanent capital vehicle, not a single family office nor a traditional closed-end venture fund. It invests off its own balance sheet rather than calling capital from limited partners on a fixed schedule. This structure allows EME to hold positions longer and reinvest follow-on capital without a fund-life pressure point.
What sort of startups does EME typically target?
EME targets post-revenue, technology-enabled startups operating inside Myanmar. The firm looks for companies that have already started generating income and want to scale using technology. Its initial check size runs from US$50,000 to $250,000, and the firm can reinvest up to two additional rounds in its strongest portfolio companies.
What networking and industry affiliations does EME hold?
EME is a full member of the Myanmar Private Equity and Venture Capital Association, which anchors its local regulatory and industry dialogue. The firm also participates in the Asia Venture Philanthropy Network and appears as a stakeholder in Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs ecosystem reports, linking it to larger development-finance and impact-investing conversations across Southeast Asia.
Does EME make direct investments only, or does it also commit to other funds?
EME makes direct investments exclusively. The firm does not market itself as a fund-of-funds or allocator to external GPs. Its model is to find, fund, mentor, and partner directly with startups in Myanmar, supplementing equity with commercial contracts and mentorship rather than spreading capital across multiple managers.
How is Emerging Markets Entrepreneurs related to the other affiliates in its group?
Joshua Morris runs Emerging Markets Investment Advisers, which oversees operations, while Trent Eddy chairs Emerging Markets Group Holdings, the wider holding group. Matt Viner operates as Investment Manager at EME while also helping launch the Cnai Accelerator in Cambodia. These overlapping roles create an operational network but do not pool a single pot of investable capital.
What philanthropic entities are tied to EME?
The Sasakawa Peace Foundation is the primary philanthropic name linked to EME. Although the firm itself is a for-profit asset manager, its membership in the Asia Venture Philanthropy Network and Sasakawa Peace Foundation relationship signal a broader commitment to development outcomes alongside financial returns.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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