Funds@Work AG

Strategy Consultant

We are an internationally operating, and specialized strategy consulting firm and accompany numerous market participants of the investment industry in the ongoing change process.

Among our clients are mainly asset management companies (including ETF providers) and fiduciary managers, portfolio managers, stock exchanges, technology and information providers, and other relevant entities of the asset management industry´s value chain. Since our establishment by Murat Ünal at the end of 2001 we have carried out over 150 projects in 14 countries.

Based on our unique analytic approach we develop highly customized strategies with our clients for the relevant markets, specifically market entry and development, differentiation, and positioning strategies, and implement them holistically, i.e. covering relevant functions such as marketing, sales, and communication. We hereby also assist in developing organizational structures, setting the agenda in a highly distinct manner, and use a variety of complementary partners to offer an end-to-end service, being a one stop shop for our clients in their international and local activities. Throughout this process we can count on our unparalleled market intelligence which we have built up systematically and consistently over the last 8-9 years. This among others helps us to speed up the market entry and development process by years, saving our clients substantial opportunity costs but also creating great value added by guiding them through the relevant investor, intermediary, and multiplier networks in the individual target markets.

Our unique and model based market intelligence, covering more than 13,000 market participants in all investor, intermediary and multiplier groups (such as investment consultants) in over a dozen of countries, has now more than a seven year track record based on "24,000 hours +" of consistent screening. Our strong link to academia, employees who have studied and worked abroad with an investment industry background are only some of the additional factors that clearly differentiate us.

"Our concept" about the modularization of the investment industry´s value chain and the importance of specialization among market participants as well as the development of network structures and organizations has very much influenced the developments over the last 8-9 years in our industry. Experts know that this concept stands for the pioneering work of our organization.

Funds@Work - The Pioneer

We see the fact that our business model has led to the creation of a whole industry of specialized consultants/providers in Germany and beyond as a compliment for Funds@Work and as a prove for our farsightedness. Since our establishment at the end of 2001 many organizations have tried to copy our activities, and positioning, and still do so, but our strategic fit remains unparalleled. It is the people that clearly differentiate our organization, well grounded scientific processes and models, that are continuously developed, and an international network that is unrivalled from a local perspective. Our great reputation for solid work and capability to innovate have been the basis for the development of our business. In those over 8 years we have never actively pitched for mandates despite huge demand but focused on our existing clients, with no conflict of interests, offering them exclusivity for the work that we provide. This sets us clearly apart from seeming competitors.

Our goal is to build up long term relationships and our clients have typically been working with us for 6 years and even more. In our short term projects we generally consult in take over activities related to the investment industry. Hereby we have so far advised the buying party (as well as their consultants, and investment banks) with regard to their take over target, looking at the feasibility of the take over candidate`s business model and bringing in our deep knowledge, experience, and unique market intelligence about the industry.

Over the last 8-9 years Funds@Work has put many important topics on the agenda based on the unique insights that we generate through our research engine and we were typically several years ahead of relevant developments. Under the link Insights@Work you will literally get insights into subjects that we adress and gain access to articles that we have co-authored or written ourselves.