Bridging Traditional Asset Management with Blockchain Innovation

THE LEADERSHIP TEAM

Klumi Ventures is led by a globally recognized team of financial executives, digital asset pioneers and asset management executives, combining decades of expertise in traditional finance, wealth management, and blockchain-native investments. With deep experience managing multi-billion-dollar funds, structuring complex financial products, and pioneering tokenized asset investments, our leadership upholds institutional-grade standards, ensuring Klumi Ventures remains at the forefront of the digital asset investment landscape.

Kristiina Lumeste
Founding Partner & SEO

Kristiina Lumeste is the Founder and Senior Executive Officer of Klumi Ventures and a Startup Reviewer & Evaluation Board Member for Hub71, Mubadala backed accelerator. She regularly advises governments and corporate regulatory entities on digital asset frameworks and works closely with Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) to shape the region’s regulatory landscape. Kristiina was behind the first Binance Labs-backed NFT marketplace, launching over 200 projects in a single year, playing a pivotal role in expanding the NFT ecosystem. With a profound dedication to accelerating adoption of digital assets, her expertise extends beyond venture capital into regulatory strategy, ecosystem development, and digital finance.

Marshall Stephen
Founding Partner

Marshall Stephen, Founding Partner of Klumi Ventures, is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience in asset management, wealth services, and financial technology. He has played a pivotal role in launching and scaling leading investment firms while successfully managing multi-billion-dollar financial platforms. Marshall is the former Asia Pacific CEO of FNZ Group, a global wealth management platform with $1.5 trillion in AUA, serving 650+ financial institutions and 12,000 wealth managers. Prior to that, he was the CIO of MLC, Australia's largest Wealth and Insurance Group, where he managed $86 billion in assets. Additionally, Marshall was the co-sponsor of NABTrade, the online investment platform for National Australia Bank (NAB), one of Australia’s top four banks.

Alper Esen
COO

Alper Esen, Chief Operating Officer of Klumi Ventures, specializes in digital asset fund operations, risk management, and blockchain-native investments. With a background in operations at Amazon, he previously co-led a Binance Labs-backed incubator, overseeing the launch of over 300+ startups. Alper is also a Selection and Evaluation Board Member at Hub71. His expertise span in structuring, tokenized assets, and venture building, ensuring efficient investment selection and regulatory compliance. Having managed multiple blockchain incubators, he has optimized capital deployment strategies across DeFi, real-world assets (RWA), gaming and tokenized finance, making him a key player in scaling digital asset startups.

Giles Heyring
Venture Partner

Giles Heyring, Partner at Klumi Ventures, is a seasoned financial executive with 20 years of experience in financial services, capital markets, and institutional trading. He has held senior leadership roles at Baring’s, ING Barings, and Macquarie, operating across London, Singapore, Korea, and Hong Kong. As the former Senior Managing Director and Head of Cash Equities (Asia & Middle East) at Macquarie, Giles spearheaded multi-billion-dollar institutional investment operations, overseeing equity trading, asset allocation, and market expansion strategies. With deep expertise in global financial markets and an extensive network across top-tier financial institutions, he is a key figure in institutional investment and capital markets strategies.

THE KLUMI WAY

Klumi Ventures is uniquely positioned at the intersection of traditional and digital asset fund management. We provide regulatory clarity, streamlined fund structuring, and secure access to high-growth digital assets investments. Klumi empowers asset managers and institutional investors to seamlessly launch and scale regulated digital asset funds.

With its first-mover advantage, institutional expertise, and a strategic foothold in the Middle East’s rapidly expanding financial ecosystem, Klumi Ventures presents a rare and compelling investment opportunity. Investors and partners gain early access to high-growth digital asset funds, tokenized real-world assets, and a rapidly maturing regulatory framework that supports institutional-grade investments

MARKET OPPORTUNITY IN THE UAE

As asset managers seek regulated, scalable solutions to structure and launch tokenized investment vehicles, the UAE has emerged as a premier global hub for digital asset fund management. The Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) alone saw a 226% increase in assets under management (AUM) in 2023, solidifying its position as a top destination for institutional capital and fund structures.

With its exclusive licensing and regulatory waivers, the UAE provides a fast-track entry for global fund managers, enabling them to seamlessly launch digital asset funds, integrate RWA tokenization strategies, and access a rapidly expanding institutional investor base. As the Middle East attracts record-breaking investments in blockchain and digital finance, fund and asset managers who establish a presence in the region now stand to gain a significant first-mover advantage in this next era of financial innovation.