Kurankye Sekyi-Otu on what it takes to succeed as an emerging alternative asset manager

In this episode of Beyond the Exchange, Ben Sinclair talks with Kurankye “Krunch” Sekyi-Otu, founder and CEO of Capoeira Partners and former Chief Strategy Officer at Polar Asset Management Partners, where assets grew from US$700 million to US$7 billion during his time there. Krunch explains why culture, long-term partnerships, and multi-dimensional support are critical to building founder-led alternative asset managers, and how his firm helps with strategy, operations, branding, talent, and fundraising. They explore how emerging managers can stand out against global firms in the Canadian wealth and institutional channels by offering more than performance numbers and engaging allocators in ways that make them better at their jobs, such as bespoke farmland tours that bring investors directly onto the land. The result is a playbook for founder-led managers and advisors who want to raise stickier capital, build resilient organizations, and turn their unique edge into durable growth in alternatives.