Alternative investment conference Uncorrelated Cayman is returning for its second year of talks, panel discussions and networking next month.
The event, which brings together institutional investors, fund managers, tech CEOs and service providers, will be held at Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman on 2 and 3 November.
The inaugural Uncorrelated Cayman was held at the same location last November.
Nate Whigham, an events partner at Uncorrelated, said this year’s agenda will once again feature a mix of broad alternative investment topics, and those more specific to the Cayman Islands.
“Probably half the content is what I would call the basic groups of alternatives,” including global macro issues, private credit, venture capital, real estate and hedge funds, he told Cayman Independent.
“The other half is more location specific.”
Digital assets and tokenisation will also feature prominently, with a session examining the practicalities of tokenised funds and whether regulated stablecoins could be used for capital calls and distributions.
A separate panel will consider the role of crypto and blockchain in institutional portfolios.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is another major theme. Sessions will look at AI as an investment opportunity and at how fund managers are already using AI tools for research, deal screening and operational workflows.
Cayman specific content includes discussion around the jurisdiction’s position as a leading funds domicile, looking at issues including economic substance, director registration and beneficial ownership, as well as how it compares with other locations competing for fund business.
There will also be a session titled, ‘Why tech should come to Cayman’, examining the practicalities of relocating technology businesses to the islands, including hiring, work permits, concessions and operating from Grand Cayman.
Whigham said the conference will also look at Cayman as a place to live and do business, with a session on residency, relocation and lifestyle covering areas such as housing, schools and healthcare.
The conference will begin with a dedicated single-family office session on the morning of 2 November, before opening to the wider audience that afternoon.
The invitation-only session is aimed at family office principals and chief investment officers and will cover issues including governance, liquidity, investment and capital flows, and tax and residency.
Whigham said Uncorrelated had introduced the format because family offices often benefit from sharing information and experiences without fund managers pitching investment strategies.
Attendees are also being encouraged to stay in Cayman for a fun excursion on 4 November (last year’s trip included feeding the island’s stingrays) and the CFA Society Cayman Islands annual conference on 5 November.
Uncorrelated events are designed to be smaller and more curated than large alternative investment conferences.
Whigham said last year’s Cayman event attracted about 175 people and organisers are targeting about 215 this year.
“I actually like the smaller events more, because they’re a lot more intimate,” he said. “It’s a little less of a madhouse.”
The Cayman event is part of a series of Uncorrelated conferences held in locations including Miami, Puerto Rico, Beverly Hills, Newport and New York.
The company is also expanding into Europe, with its first European event taking place in London this year.
Whigham said he is particularly looking forward to returning to Cayman after attending last year’s event, which was his first visit to the islands.
“I had high expectations, and I would say they were not only met, but were exceeded,” he said.
He explained he had been struck by both the quality of the conference attendees and by Cayman itself.
“I was just very impressed with the island. It’s beautiful, the services were excellent and the food was fantastic.”
For the full agenda and to buy tickets visit the Uncorrelated website here.
