On Tuesday the 9th of October at the Bank of Cyprus Headquarters, at Ayia Paraskevi, Nicosia, an event is being held to share insights and practical experiences with business owners, operators and executives considering expanding their businesses in the USΑ. The event is organized by Kinisis Ventures Limited, the Department of Hotel and Tourism Management of the Cyprus University of Technology, IDEA incubator/Accelerator and Chrysalis LEAP. It is supported by CCCI, invest Cyprus, Climate-KIC Hub Cyprusand sponsored by the Law Firm Georgiades and Associates.

Who is Kinisis Ventures

Kinisis Ventures is a boutique business acceleration company working with Cypriot organisations that can benefit from its USA experience, expertise and business networks. It is looking to work with Cypriot organisations   that demonstrate growth potential, differentiated value propositions and are relevant to the US business market and investor networks.  Kinisis’ mission is to take a leadership role in creating growth opportunities for Cypriot companies that previously were unable to benefit from access to U.S.A based networking, business insights, and capital.

Kinisis Ventures Limited [KV], is led by co-founders US-based Andreas Panayi, CY-based Yiannos Georgiades and a six US based Managing Partners with 200 years of combined   experience in marketing, technology, finance, accounting, legal and entrepreneurship.

Previous Events organized by Kinisis Ventures

In May (2018) – Six Cyprus based companies with a focus on American expansion presented their vision to nearly 100 US investors and business leaders in New York City.  The six companies also participated in a variety of follow-up private investor meetings and Cyprus-US Chamber of commerce events that further exposed them to numerous American businesses with expertise in each’s specific field during their week-long visit to New York.

Current Event being organized:

On the 9th of October at 4.30 pm an event is being organized with the aim to primarily focus on helping business people who wish to expand in the US Market and to assist them in thinking through three critical components of a US expansion strategy:

1. Know ‘why’ you’re different and  why are you relevant to the US market, what is your differentiated value position, how do you develop your go-to-market strategy
2.  ‘What structure’ do you plan for an efficient operational structure that legitimizes your company, supports scalable growth and prepares you for raising capital
3. ‘How to Capitalize’ and raise capital in the US is different and the rules of engagement shift within industry segments and economic swings, but the foundational variables are always the same.

Who are the speakers?

Andreas Panayi  brings invaluable perspective, strategic insight and hands-on experience in building companies and realizing shareholder value. He is a serial entrepreneur and throughout his career he founded, developed, operated and sold companies in the professional services and information technologies areas. Since the sale of Kinesis Marketing, a Digital Tech Services company he founded and operated, he co-founded TKI a successful Information Technology development company with offices in the USA and India. He is currently leading TKI’s marketing, sales and product strategy. He also serves as a board member at TK Partners, a technology holdings company. Panayi also teaches entrepreneurialism & new venture development classes as an adjunct professor at Drew University. Prior to focusing his career in been an entrepreneur, Panayi worked in a number of Madison Avenue Advertising Agencies and also spent a year with a NY technology incubator and early stage private fund.   Andrea’s talk has the title “Why you’re different”

Nicolas Nicolaou is the CFO of MANA Products, the world’s leading contract and private label cosmetics manufacturer. Prior to Mana, Nicolas held positions with increased responsibility with Unilever and Deloitte. Nicolas brings a wealth of diversified, dynamic and action-oriented leadership experience in consumer products companies. His expertise include strategy development and execution, performance management, process reengineering, operational excellence, M&A, internal controls, innovation and new product launches, organization design and talent development. Nicolas is the President of the Cyprus-US Chamber of Commerce and serves on the Foundation Board of LaGuardia Community college. Nicolas has an MBA in Finance and is a CPA. Nicola’s will discuss the “Operational Structures for Success”

Chris Droussiotis was responsible for building long-term relationships with middle market and large cap private equity firms as well as asset managers who invest in the leveraged loan space in the USA He also worked at many New York money center banks, such as Bank of America Merrill Lynch, CIBC Oppenheimer, Mitsui Nevitt Merchant Bank, Mizuho Financial Group and Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, specializing in the financing and structuring of merger & acquisition, leveraged buyout and recapitalization transactions. Finally, Mr. Droussiotis is also an adjunct professor teaching Investment Analysis and Quantitative Analysis at Fordham University, Baruch College and Seton Hall University. He will discuss the very important topic of “Raising Capital”.

A moderated panel discussion will follow where KV, Chrysalis Leap, and Idea/BoC will discuss their experiences and insights and take questions from the audience.  Before the networking cocktail there will be a workshop on valuation models.