Over the last two weeks Clayton Heijman and Vanessa Hemavathi took the opportunity to kickstart Privium’s activities in the US with a visit to iConnections in Miami and roadshow of meetings in New York. It was an enlightening and experience filled two weeks giving us a good idea how (emerging) managers or allocators are looking to expand their activities.
It was a first experience for Privium to attend the iConnections conference in Miami Beach, Florida end of Janaury. We had our participation on the agenda when Covid hit. The fact that this conference was going ahead this year had a big impact on the number of people that attended. With more than 5,000 alternative investment managers of various HF, PE and VC strategies and investors; it was the place to be networking at. Other draws were Kim Kardashian, Mark Cuban and Anthony Scaramucci. More notably, Kim Kardashian had the room filled up as she shared on her private equity firm -Skky partners which she cofounded with a former partner from the Carlyle group.
Four of Privium portfolio teams were present at the conference: Savin, Swarm, Token Bay Capital and Varadero. All of them had many productive meetings and met up with various existing and potential investors.
As for Vanessa and Clayton they met with various industry contacts, ranging from service providers, new potential portfolio managers and allocators. It also allowed them to reconnect with people they had not seen for years….even before Covid. As always the dress code was vary relaxed….and particular in the Miami Beach setting very colourful. Since Clayton’s luggage did not make it over until midway during the conference it allowed him to go shopping and come back with a new Miami-styled wardrobe.
