Summits Day
How is AI transforming data analysis, operational efficiency, and customer experience in private equity? What steps can firms take to move beyond pilot projects and implement scalable, high impact AI use cases? What are the key barriers, such as lack of understanding and security concerns, preventing firms from unlocking AI's full potential?
What are the most common reasons for initiative failures, such as poor implementation and unrealistic business cases? How can firms prioritize initiatives ruthlessly and ensure full ownership and resourcing behind them? What strategies can be employed to build stakeholder buy-in and reduce resistance to improve execution success?
- Josko Grljevic - Chief Technology Officer, Mayfair Equity Partners
How can private equity firms balance the need for immediate expertise with the long-term benefits of upskilling their workforce? What factors should influence the decision between hiring external specialists and investing in internal talent development for digital transformation? Is a hybrid approach combining hiring and upskilling the most effective strategy for driving sustainable digital transformation in private equity?
How can private equity firms leverage high-quality data as a growth engine to enhance decision-making and value creation? What tools, strategies, and governance frameworks are essential for overcoming data integration challenges and improving analysis processes? In what ways can generative AI and advanced analytics drive efficiency, uncover unique insights, and accelerate growth in private equity?
- Tola Kibbey - Principal, Data Scientist, CVC Secondary Partners
What challenges do private equity firms face in assessing companies quickly and accurately during due diligence? How can automation improve the speed and accuracy of evaluations? What role does deep integration of technology play in enhancing outcomes throughout the investment lifecycle?
How can private equity firms adapt value creation plans to review them every 3-6 months for better responsiveness? What steps can be taken to ensure value creation plans guide real decisions rather than just reporting cycles? How can agile methodologies be leveraged to optimise portfolio performance throughout the investment lifecycle?
How can private equity firms effectively drive generative AI adoption across portfolios? Top-down mandates with KPIs vs advisory-led approaches: Which strategy yields better results? What are the key success factors in implementing generative AI across portfolio companies?
How can private equity firms support founders in scaling their businesses from Series A to IPO? What strategies can be employed to address gaps in the market, such as the lack of funds bridging Series B? How can firms balance flexible frameworks with institutionalized support to optimize portfolio performance?
How are major firms leveraging dedicated tech strategies to transform traditional sectors? What are the critical steps in implementing software solutions to streamline processes, optimise workflows, and enable market expansion for traditional companies? What are the broader implications of turning traditional sectors into tech-enabled growth engines for long-term sustainability and market leadership?
- Gurpreet Manku - CEO, Level 20
How are fund managers demonstrating differentiation and skill to enhance deal flow and fundraising?
Are there “bubble-like" attributes for private credit? Do they pose potential systemic risks, particularly in an economic downturn, or does the industry have longevity by responding to the real capital needs of private enterprise?
Where are the real solutions? How can LPs manage risk, and what is the current appetite for PE? Why are LPs focusing on Europe?
Utilising talent and leaders to unlock sustainable growth
- Rehana Farrell - CEO, 100 Women in Finance
Hosted roundtables Join one of 7 topic-focused roundtables. Spaces are first-come, first-served. 2 hosts per roundtable Opportunities with mid/lower mid market funds Expansion of GP interest in wealth/retail investors – how will this market segment disrupt PE? Leadership, confidence, and the human side of performance Secondaries: outlook for fundraising, deals and performance In today’s climate, where do ESG goals and returns coalesce? AI/Tech Value Creation: How much do LPs and GPs look at the use of AI in their operations – do they believe this could help future-proof firms? Private credit – what is the future?
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- Cecilie Søndergaard Nielsen - Managing Director, CN8 Leadership Confidence
Which sports areas are positioned for sustainable growth? What are the headwinds that investors should be most mindful of? What are the macro socioeconomic trends with potential for outsized impact on the sports industry?
The business of sport is entering a new era: How will private equity be impactful withing sports?
Focusing on fandom and engaged consumers from lifestyle products to recreational activities and innovative technologies to broaden momentum: How are industry leaders exploring new models aimed at driving growth, liquidity, and global reach in an era of escalating franchise valuations?
How do LPs evaluate sports investments? Where does the asset class fit into their portfolio compared to others? What is the tangible perceived ROI in sports?
End of the Investing in Sports Summit
Location: Forum
What strategies can GPs use to overcome hurdles in securing exits amidst pricing mismatches? How can continuation funds be leveraged effectively in the current market? What steps can be taken to unlock the theoretical exit pipeline and improve trading momentum?
- Giovanna Maag - Partner, Altor Equity Partners
Why are fundraising cycles extending, and what are the key factors driving this trend? How can GPs attract international capital and address LP concerns about German PE? What can smaller funds teach us about resilience in challenging fundraising environments?
How can LPs navigate prolonged holding periods and limited exit opportunities in the German PE market? Which sectors in Germany offer the most promising opportunities for LP investment, such as healthcare, defense, or infrastructure? Is ESG still a priority for LPs, or has fatigue shifted focus to other investment criteria?
- Verena Kempe - Head of Investment Management, KENFO
- Volker Wende - Partner, SwanCap Partners GmbH
What makes healthcare and medtech attractive sectors for long-term PE investment? How can PE funds support innovation and growth in these industries? What role does healthcare play in the German economy, and how can PE capitalize on it?
How can German PE navigate high corporate taxes and recessionary pressures effectively? What impact do government spending programs have on defence and infrastructure investments? What reforms are needed to make Germany more attractive for private equity investments?
- Philippe Roesch - Managing Partner , RIAM Alternative Investments
- Holger Rossbach - Partner, Vorsprung Partners
How can private equity support the next generation of Mittelstand leaders in driving growth, innovation, and succession planning? What are the key challenges private equity firms face when engaging with family-owned Mittelstand businesses, and how can they build trust and long-term partnerships? How can private equity help Mittelstand companies adopt digital transformation and ESG practices to remain competitive in a global market?
- Tom Alzin - Spokesman of the Board of Management, Deutsche Beteiligungs AG
s ESG fatigue affecting the PE sector, and how can sustainability be made relevant again? How can PE funds balance returns with responsible investment practices? What is the future of ESG in German private equity, and how can it drive value creation?
- Helena Hausen - Senior Investment Manager, Head of ESG, Beyond Capital Partners
- Christian Schütz - Managing Director - Head of Sustainable Investing, Golding Capital Partners
- Anthony Fobel - CEO, Arcmont Asset Management
Larger deals and fiercer competition: what does this mean for the future of direct lending? Where are the opportunities in a growing market and which subsectors are gaining the most traction?
- Kevin Marchetti - Chief Investment Officer, Head of US Direct Lending, Man Group
What differences are we seeing between the European and US markets? How is the growth of BDCs / mass affluent and wealth affecting private credit?
How has investor demand for private debt developed over the last 12 months? Which sectors do LPs currently see as the most attractive and why? Sharing examples of where we are seeing innovation in the industry to overcome the challenges facing investors
- You-Ha Hyun - Principal, Perpetual Investors GmbH
- Robin Doumar - Managing Partner, Park Square Capital
How to identify the best assets and sources of alpha. What type of strategies are different LPs demanding? Which loan structures and strategies ae performing best in the current market?
- Timothy Jackson - Founder & Partner, Stormfield Capital LLC
New types of borrowers to lend to: Assessing growth in the market for the financing needs of retail investors and corporates. How can private credit provide the flexibility to structure financings to meet specific borrower requirements? Does regulation need to catch up on investor protection?
How has the growth of private credit and direct lending impacted investment opportunities within the mid market? Where do lenders see opportunity to unlock value and how do they view the value proposition of the upper versus core/lower middle market?
- Tyler Gately - Head of North America Private Credit, Barings
End of the Private Debt Summit