Alex Yamini has built a reputation for himself as a creative social entrepreneur, and the president and CEO of Sarmaya Capital Corp. is attracting the attention of socially responsible investors.
Yamini co-founded Sarmaya in 2018 on an investment strategy of “community betterment.” The Vancouver-based investment fund focuses on multi-family residential assets in the U.S. by providing additional amenities, structures or services for people living in Sarmaya’s buildings, based on the notion of “doing well while doing good.”
“The aim is to better the lives of the communities in which we invest while simultaneously differentiating Sarmaya investments within the marketplace and increasing overall returns for investors,” he said.
Yamini, responsible for all aspects of Sarmaya’s operation, growth, strategic acquisitions and fundraising, said he believes safer and better--managed communities improve both lives and returns in the long run.
“This is a unique business where you can directly change people’s daily lives and make money in the process,” he said.
Yamini, who got his start working as an assistant in a law firm, has 15 years of experience in financial operations, managing investment portfolios, new client procurement, public-private partnerships and capital markets. He was one of the youngest top investment advisers at Berkshire Securities Inc. in Montreal. He later co-founded Vancouver-based engineering consulting firm Tala Enterprises, where he was director of finance.
With Sarmaya Capital, he drew on his wealth of experience to focus on disrupting the investment funds landscape and the meaning of impact investing. In less than two years, Sarmaya completed its first acquisition of a 164-unit multi-family asset in Atlanta, Georgia, projected to give returns of more than 90% in the first six years for investors and change the lives of 400 people through its community betterment plan. Sarmaya also acquired a successful multi-family residential purchaser and property management company in Georgia.
Birthplace: Tehran, Iran
Where you live now: Vancouver
Highest level of education: Bachelor of arts, economics and political science, McGill University
Currently reading: Profiles in Courage by John F. Kennedy
Currently listening to: Prince
When you were a kid, what you wanted to be when you grew up: Lawyer/general
Profession you would most like to try: Teaching
Toughest business or professional decision: Knowing when to stop and reposition
Advice you would give the younger you: Don’t be scared
What’s left to do: Everything. It has just started
“This is a unique business where you can directly change people’s daily lives and make money in the process”
Join us to celebrate the 2019 Forty under 40 Awards on January 30, 2020, at the Westin Bayshore. For tickets and event information visit https://www.biv.com/forty-under-40
