Stergios Voskopoulos: Understanding Impact Investing | SALT Talks #111 | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Stergios Hoskopolis, CEO of Canoe Capital, discusses his global experiences and investment strategies for family businesses, international investing, and impact innovation in a thought-provoking interview.

Key Insights

• ✋ Canoe Capital follows a strategic and high conviction approach to investing, aligning with the Canoe family's vision.
• ❓ Governance is a crucial aspect of Canoe Capital's operations, ensuring consensus and optimal decision-making.
• 💯 Impact investing and sustainability are at the core of Canoe Capital's investment philosophy, focusing on long-term viability.
• 🖐️ Technology plays a significant role in Canoe Capital's investment strategy, bringing innovation and efficiency to traditional sectors.
• 👨‍💼 Canoe Capital is actively involved in supporting the regional ecosystem by attracting businesses and supporting entrepreneurs.
• 👪 Stergios Hoskopolis values mentorship within the Canoe family, guiding young family members to find their interests and future roles.
• 🎓 The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of technology and highlighted the importance of sectors like healthcare, education, and logistics.
• 🍉 Canoe Capital remains cautious in the short term but optimistic about mid to long-term investment opportunities.

Transcript

hi everyone and welcome back to salt talks my name is rachel pether and i'm a senior advisor to sky bridge capital based in abu dhabi as well as being the emceep assault a thought leadership forum and networking platform that encompasses business technology and politics salt talks as many of you know is a series of digital interviews where we aim t... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the governance structure like within Canoe Capital and how does it align with the larger Canoe family?

Canoe Capital operates within the larger Canoe family's governance framework, with clear divisions, board oversight, and consensus-driven decision-making. It ensures alignment between family members and the senior management team.

Q: Does Stergios Hoskopolis's background in entrepreneurship and technology influence Canoe Capital's focus on startups and venture capital?

Yes, Stergios's personal experiences in entrepreneurship and technology make him comfortable investing in startups and venture capital. However, the key focus is to assess the founders, the product/service, and the go-to-market strategy for sustainable long-term returns.

Q: How does Canoe Capital approach impact investing and innovation?

Canoe Capital believes in investing in sustainable businesses that generate long-term financial returns and have a positive impact. Areas of interest include waste-to-energy, renewable energy, digital transformation, and education.

Q: How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted Canoe Capital's investment strategy?

Canoe Capital remains cautious amidst the uncertainty caused by the pandemic. They are looking for opportunities in sectors such as travel, hospitality, sustainable investing, logistics, and technology, while being mindful of market dislocations.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Stergios Hoskopolis shares his personal background growing up in Greece and his journey to becoming the CEO of Canoe Capital.

• Canoe Capital, a division of YBA Canoe, is a longstanding family conglomerate focused on international investments across various asset classes.

• Stergios emphasizes the importance of governance, impact investing, and strategic diversification in the family business.