In the world of investments, there are those who follow the trends — and those who create them. George Dimopoulos, Founding Partner of VentureFriends, clearly belongs to the second category.
With a career that bridges global finance and startup innovation, Dimopoulos has become one of Europe’s most recognizable names in venture capital — an investor who doesn’t just fund ideas, but helps build them from the ground up. And this November, he’s heading to Limassol for the 11th International Funds Summit 2025 (2–3 November, Parklane Resort & Spa) to share his perspective on how Europe’s next generation of founders and investors can co-create a more connected, resilient, and outward-looking ecosystem.
From Wall Street to the Startup Streets of Europe
George Dimopoulos’ story reads like a modern business playbook. After four years in Investment Banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in London, he made a bold move: leaving behind the world of large-cap deals to become one of the early-stage investors shaping the future of European entrepreneurship.
In 2015, he co-founded VentureFriends, a then up-and-coming fund with a big vision — to back ambitious founders early and help them scale across borders. Today, ten years later, VentureFriends is one of the most dynamic early-stage VCs in Europe, with offices in Athens, London, Barcelona, and Warsaw, investing through its fourth fund (VF4).
With more than 65 portfolio companies spanning PropTech, FinTech, SaaS, EnergyTech, and B2C, VentureFriends has left its mark across Central and Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, and the MENA region.
Venture Capital, European-Style
The European venture capital scene is changing. The days of “growth at all costs” are over. The new era is all about resilience, sustainable scaling, and value creation — and Dimopoulos is among the voices defining this evolution.
At the Funds Summit 2025, he will delve into the forces reshaping the VC landscape, with a focus on emerging markets and the founders driving them. His insights will touch on:
- The shift from “growth” to “sustainability” — why profitable growth is the new gold standard.
- The rise of new innovation hubs in CEE, SEE, and MENA, where talent meets opportunity.
- The evolving role of venture capital as the bridge between institutional investors (LPs) and visionary entrepreneurs.
- And how technology — from FinTech to EnergyTech — is becoming the main engine of differentiation and disruption for the funds of the next decade.
Cyprus: The New Crossroads of Innovation
Cyprus is not just a beautiful island in the Mediterranean — it’s rapidly becoming a gateway for innovation and capital. With its strategic position between Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and its growing ecosystem of funds, fintechs, and family offices, the island is transforming into one of the region’s most dynamic financial and business hubs.
The 11th Cyprus International Funds Summit, organized under the auspices of Invest Cyprus and the Cyprus Investment Funds Association (CIFA), reflects exactly that shift. This year’s edition will host top-tier decision-makers and thought leaders from across the investment spectrum — from UBS Asset Management and Apollo Global Management to BlackRock, Brookfield, Franklin Templeton, Goldman Sachs, and many more.
Among these global powerhouses, George Dimopoulos will bring the entrepreneurial energy and forward-thinking spirit of the venture capital world — the part of the financial universe that thrives on vision, disruption, and optimism.
Beyond the Panels – Where Connections Turn into Opportunities
Like every year, the Summit is not only about speeches and panels — it’s about building relationships. From the welcome cocktail on the opening evening to the networking sessions and coffee breaks between discussions, the atmosphere at Parklane Resort buzzes with possibility. It’s the kind of event where a sovereign fund can meet a venture investor, a VC can meet a future co-investor — and sometimes, where a startup founder gets their first “yes.”
For more information and registration, click here.
Event Details
Organisers: Cyprus Investment Funds Association (CIFA) and Invest Cyprus
Coordinator: IMH
Platinum Sponsor: ECOMMBX
Gold Sponsors: Athlos Capital, Bank of Cyprus, Eurobank Cyprus, KPMG Cyprus, PwC Cyprus
Silver Sponsors: Alter Domus, Alpha Bank
Innovation Partner: Cyprus Research and Innovation Foundation
Technology Partner: ASBIS
Supporters: Association of Cyprus Banks (ACB), Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), Cyprus Bar Association, CFA Society Cyprus, Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI), Cyprus Fiduciary Association (CYFA), Cyprus Integrity Forum, The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus (ICPAC), The Institute of Internal Auditors Cyprus
Media Sponsors: IN Business magazine, CBN portal, GOLD magazine
Contact IMH:
Tel: +357 77777741
Email: events@imhbusiness.com
Website: www.cyprusfundssummit.com
