Markets and Meetings in Miami: Reflections from iConnections Global Alts

Late last month, I had the pleasure of attending the iConnections Global Alts Conference in Miami on behalf of Prosek. Now in its sixth year, the event has grown into the world’s largest capital introduction event, combining thought leadership and brand building with two days of dedicated one-on-one meetings for GPs and LPs.

While I could list 100 things I learned during my time there, here are my top three takeaways as a first (but not hopefully not last!) time attendee:

1. Tides Could Be Turning in Private vs. Public Markets: One of the most talked-about trends at the conference was the pendulum swinging back toward public markets amid growing concerns around private credit. In recent years, the spotlight has shone brightly on private credit and private markets more broadly, but managers and investors debated how bright (or dim) the asset class will continue to be. Time will tell…

2. “Short Selling is Back”: According to legendary investor Dan Loeb of Third Point. During a standing-room-only fireside chat with our very own Jen Prosek, Loeb confidently told the audience that “the lost art of short selling has come back,” signaling a shift in market dynamics and investment opportunities. He noted that “this is the first time in a long, long time where we’ve [Third Point] generated both profits and alpha on our longs and our shorts.”

3. In-Person Connection Matters: It was evident that both managers and allocators alike highly value in-person meetings and human connection, even in this era of AI, social media and Zoom. Dozens of attendees on-the-ground (including reporters) told us how important face-to-face meetings are, reinforcing the competitive edge that iConnections has via its online platform and app, which allows attendees to arrange one-on-one meetings on-site. Even the first NYC blizzard in several years couldn’t stop folks from making the trip down to Miami!

In this fast-paced, ever-changing news cycle, it will be interesting to see what the financial markets look like in a month – let alone a year from now. I look forward to seeing what iConnections Global Alts brings in February 2027!