Agenda

Monday, 3 November 2025

08:30 - 09:15

Registration & Networking Coffee

09:15 - 09:45

Opening Remarks

Welcome Addresses:

Maria Panayiotou, President, Cyprus Investment Funds Association (CIFA)
Marios Tannousis, CEO, Invest Cyprus

CYPRUS: Bridging Innovation and Investment

Theodoros Loukaidis, Director General, Research & Innovation Foundation (IDEK)

THE REGULATORS’ AGENDA

09:45 - 10:15

Keynote Address by Dr. George Theocharides, Chairman, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)

Keynote Address by Michael Fekkas, A' Vice-Chair of the Hellenic Capital Market Commission

Fireside Chat with the Regulators

Moderator:
Panikkos Vakkou, Vice-Chairman, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission

THE EUROPEAN ALTERNATIVES MARKET – INVESTMENT OUTLOOK 2026

10:15 - 10:45

An expert outlook on the trends shaping the European alternatives market, from growth drivers to asset class performance and investor sentiment heading into 2026.

Navigating the Macro Environment and the Role of Non-Traditional Asset Classes
The presentation will examine key macroeconomic trends shaping the global investment landscape and highlight how non-traditional asset classes can enhance diversification, risk-adjusted returns, and resilience within portfolios.
Rishi Muktidoot, Director, Investment Strategy, BlackRock

Private Markets – Where are we, and where are we going?

Presentation will cover the subdued state of private markets, highlighting ongoing sluggishness in deal activity, fundraising, and liquidity, with some green-shoots emerging and poised to extend into 2026. It also explores the significant growth and diversification of evergreen funds, the continued strength of co-investment opportunities, and the evolving landscape of fundraising.

Antony Anastasiadis, Managing Director, Hamilton Lane

Positioning for 2026: Building Resilient European Portfolios with Private Market Evergreen Solutions
Apollo will present a high conviction outlook on private markets—why alternatives are becoming core to European portfolios, where private credit and multi asset strategies can deliver durable income, diversification, and downside protection, and how evergreen, semi liquid structures can be practically implemented across wealth, retirement, and insurance channels. We will take a look at the opportunity for individual investors and what we mean by democratising private markets: individual investors remain under allocated to private assets even as listed markets have become more concentrated and volatile; it’s time to rethink the outdated public vs private and risky vs safe labels and thoughtfully incorporate private markets across portfolios to enhance resilience, diversification, and long term outcomes.
Marine Duverger, Director, Client Portfolio Management, Apollo Global Management

Moderator:
Michalis Vasiliou, Board Secretary, Cyprus Investment Funds Association (CIFA)

10:45- 11:00

Questions & Answers

11:00 - 11:40

Networking Coffee Break

AIFs: CAPITAL RAISING & CROSS-BORDER DISTRIBUTION

11:40- 12:20

A strategic discussion on attracting and managing private capital in an increasingly interconnected marketplace. Experts will assess how fund managers can enhance their capital raising efforts, optimise cross-border strategies, and adapt to decentralised and digital distribution models.

Capital Raising:

Trends in capital raising and cross-border distribution
Strategies to increase the flow of private capital to funds
Securing capital for organic and acquisitive growth

Cross-Border Distribution:

Insights into the evolving global distribution landscape
The rise of decentralised finance (DeFi) and its impact on fund access
Emerging platforms and technology-driven distribution channels

The Role of Platforms in Unlocking Private Markets Potential
Private markets are no longer niche. They’re becoming a core part of investor portfolios — but access, scalability, and operational complexity remain major hurdles. Karolina will discuss how platforms like Clearstream are enablers of scale, efficiency, and access for a wider adoption of private market vehicles.
Karolina Gosz-Renzi, VP, Head of Business Development Asset Managers, Clearstream Fund Services

Enhancing Cross-Border Access to Alternative Funds
An overview of how evolving platforms like FundsPlace support more efficient access to hedge funds, private equity, and other alternative vehicles. The discussion will explore practical approaches to improving execution, custody, and distribution, and the role of integrated solutions in facilitating cross-border capital raising.

Nicolas Hausseguy, Global Head of Fund Distribution, Euroclear

Empowering Growth in Private Markets
Clearstream has introduced a digital solution for private market distribution, leveraging FundsDLT technology to improve efficiency and transparency. This service combines order routing, asset servicing, and granular reporting, while enabling transaction management at the investor level.
Dita Jagosova, Vice President, Sales & Relationship Management, Investment Funds Services – Asia, Middle East & Africa, Clearstream Banking S.A. (Singapore Branch)

Transforming AIF Capital Raising and Onboarding Through Digital Innovation
An overview of how digital solutions, such as Sophic are modernising the capital-raising and onboarding process for Alternative Investment Funds. The discussion will examine how technology enhances investor access, streamlines compliance and improves liquidity management, enabling a more connected and efficient investment ecosystem
Eleni Constantinou, CFΑ, Head of Institutional Solutions, Athlos Capital

Αlternative Investing: The Future of Wealth Management
The future of wealth management integrates probabilistic goal attainment with adaptive factor intelligence. We replace return maximization with probability maximization - the probability of each investor achieving their stated financial goals.
Harrys Michaelides, General Manager, ECOMMBX Investment

Moderator:

Konstantinos Xanthis, Board Member Cyprus Investment Funds Association (CIFA)/ Head Fund Services, Eurobank Private Bank Luxembourg S.A.

12:20- 12:35

Questions & Answers

PRIVATE EQUITY & VENTURE CAPITAL SPOTLIGHT

12:35- 13:15

Private Equity & Venture Capital – Asset Classes and Investment Strategies

A comprehensive discussion exploring the opportunities and challenges shaping Europe’s private markets. The panel examines private equity, venture capital, and growth strategies across sectors, highlighting ESG, impact investing, and investor appetite.

Key Discussion Themes:

Private equity trends and opportunities in 2026 and beyond
Growth equity, real estate, and continuation funds
Distressed assets and NPL investment strategies
Venture capital dynamics and emerging technology sectors
ESG & impact investing as drivers of long-term alpha
Fundraising trends and institutional investor sentiment

Growing European PE&VC Opportunity Set, Risks and Opportunities

Driven by historic performance and global macroeconomic tailwinds, the European PE and VC ecosystem is attracting strong interest from international investors. The fragmented nature of the European economy, maturing PE and VC market, and everchanging macro conditions, combined with the rise of AI and the increased ESG requirements from institutional investors, present challenges and opportunities LPs need to navigate.

Petros Krappas, CFA, Managing Director, Cambridge Associates

From Local Bets to Global Leaders: Backing Global Ambition Across Europe and MENA

The journey of a VC investor from Greece to internationalization—exploring investment criteria, the principles that define us as investors, and how the VentureFriends platform enables repeatable success. The presentation will conclude with three case studies of portfolio companies that began as local ventures in Europe and MENA and successfully scaled into global leaders.

George Dimopoulos, Partner, VentureFriends.vc

ESG Integration and Strategic Allocation in a Shifting Landscape
The presentation explores how ESG integration and impact investing transcend regulatory compliance to become strategic levers for long-term alpha. It highlights the role of thematic investing and SDG alignment in enhancing portfolio resilience and performance. It showcases how sustainability-driven capital allocation, like the CISCO Sustainable Portfolios for example, can generate financial returns while benefitting both the planet and people.
Spyros Ierides, CFA, Chartered MCSI, Manager, Asset Management, CISCO, Bank of Cyprus

Semi Liquid Private Equity: The most liquid access to an illiquid asset class
With the growing demand for customisation, transparency, and regular liquidity semi-liquid private equity is not just an option, but a strategic imperative for forward-thinking investors and should serve as an essential component in every investor’s toolkit. This presentation delivers an overview of how semi-liquid structures empower investors to access private equity markets, while maintaining the agility and liquidity needed to navigate today’s fast-moving investment world.

Dimitrios Batzis, Head of Southern CEE & Mediterranean countries, Schroders Investment Management (Europe) S.A.

Unlocking Investor Appetite: Bridging Capital and Innovation in the Venture Landscape
The presentation will examine how investor appetite can be unlocked for innovation-driven ventures in an evolving private equity and venture capital landscape, while also concentrating, on the current shifts in investor strategies and capital deployment and on how, innovation ecosystems and accelerators, such as the KPMG Startup Innovation Lab, play a pivotal role in driving this change and in positioning Cyprus, as a dynamic hub for venture capital and innovation.
Pangratios Vanezis, Board Member, Head of Enterprises and Startups, KPMG Startup Innovation Lab, KPMG Cyprus

Moderator:

Marios P. Charalambides, Board Treasurer, Cyprus Investment Funds Association (CIFA)/ Partner, Assurance, Grant Thornton (Cyprus)

13:15 - 13:30

Questions & Answers

13:30- 14:15

Networking Lunch

STRATEGIC DIALOGUE: THE INDIA DIMENSION

14:15– 14:45

Panel Discussion: “India & Cyprus – Building Bridges in Alternative Investments”

As India’s alternative investments sector continues to expand, Cyprus is becoming a key partner for cross-border fund structuring, distribution, and financial collaboration. This session highlights opportunities for joint growth and regulatory cooperation between two dynamic markets.

Key Discussion Points:
• The growth of India’s AIF market and new investment opportunities
• Cyprus as a gateway for Indian fund managers into Europe
• Cross-border fund structuring, tax efficiency, and investor access
• Institutional capital flows between India, Europe, and MENA
• Innovation, fintech, and fund administration synergies
• Regulatory and policy collaboration for sustainable growth

Panelists:

Rinkesh Devnani, Partner, Tax & Regulatory Services, KPMG India
Panayiotis Chrysostomou, CFA, Manager, Banking Services & Representative Offices, Eurobank Cyprus
Demetris Themistocleous, Director, Fund Services, PwC Cyprus

Moderator:

Petros Mavrommatis, Vice President, Cyprus Investment Funds Association

INNOVATION & GLOBALIZATION

14:45- 15:15

Panel Discussion: From Innovation to Investment: Scaling Funded Companies for Global Markets

Innovation alone is not enough — the true challenge lies in transforming ideas into scalable, investment-ready businesses that can thrive in international markets. In Cyprus, the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF), through flagship Innovation Programmes and blended finance Programmes such as DISRUPT and BOOST, has been instrumental in accelerating this transformation by backing a new wave of high-potential companies across PropTech, FoodTech, HealthTech, Digital Transformation, and DeepTech.

This panel brings together visionary founders who have successfully navigated the journey from early-stage innovation to investor readiness. They will share insights on:

How targeted public funding acted as a catalyst for private investment,
The strategies they employed to de-risk and strengthen their business models,
Their paths to global expansion and competitiveness.

Panelists:

Pavlos Loizou, Co-Founder & CEO, Ask Wire
Louiza Sofocleous, Co-Founder & CTO, The Mighty Kitchen
Angelos Gregoriou, CEO, Dynamic Works
Natallia Miranchuk, Founder & CEO, Mamatech

Moderator:
Theodoros Loukaidis, Director General, Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF)

15:15- 15:20

Closing Remarks by Petros Mavrommatis, Vice President, Cyprus Investment Funds Association

15:20- 16:00

Networking Reception