Reflecting on 2024, it was a transformative year for investors who explored emerging markets, new asset classes, and revisited past decisions. This section highlights their insights and the impactful shifts in the investment landscape, underscoring the year's strategic triumphs and challenges.

Werner Schuenemann, Founder at Xandance & Partners, Switzerland: "In 2024, I engaged in momentum trades in the U.S., particularly in tech sectors like chips, quantum technology, and AI. Those proactive in this area likely saw their investments increase significantly, potentially by five to ten times."

Martin Fritsch, Group Chief Financial Officer at Vfs Global: "This year was phenomenal for me; practically everything I touched turned into gold. My focus was on venture capital, primarily in AI and related fields, with a growing interest in space tech and defense. These sectors are not just interesting—they're booming. It's been a year of spectacular successes, and I'm always eager to hear about new projects in these areas."

Lisa Morris, Managing Director at AKS Family Partners LP, US: "This year, we capitalized on opportunities to invest in undervalued companies, despite a general capital drought that limited broader investment activities. These investments have been promising, secured at good valuations."

Deniz N. Erkus, Partner & UNDP International Consultant at Leonie Hill Capital, Switzerland: "Despite encountering inspiring projects, we faced significant challenges in closing deals this year. Issues ranged from unconvincing pitches to stringent due diligence processes and banking obstacles, which hindered the transfer of funds to promising companies."

Jon Bennion Padley, CEO at Investment Owl, Uganda: "2024 has predominantly involved managing the repercussions of earlier decisions, specifically keeping portfolio companies operational or discreetly winding them down. These tasks from my past investments have consumed a significant portion of my time throughout the year."

Depinder S. Grewal, Managing Member at Tiger Alternative Investments LLC, US: "We made two or three minor investments this year, but the highlight has been watching some of our earlier investments mature and yield returns far exceeding our initial projections."

Hoay Beng Ooi, Managing Director at Falconcrest Limited, Singapore: "This year, we faced some financial setbacks with certain deals not recovering their value. Additionally, we missed opportunities in the cryptocurrency market, which, in retrospect, would have been profitable ventures."

Anthony Jarrin, President & CEO at The Cannaregio Group, US: "2024 was a peculiar year; it was successful in terms of the growth and expansion of our projects in the flexible living sector, which significantly boosted our revenue. However, it was also a challenging year financially, as we struggled to maintain strong earnings."

Ambuj Mathur, Managing Partner at Indite Ventures LLP, India: "In 2024, we've seen strong performance in several sectors, particularly in eldercare in India, which is promising as a business. There's a lot of activity in this area, although perspectives vary. For instance, real estate professionals primarily view it as an opportunity for profit, focusing on construction and high-margin sales."

Nadia Seemuth, Managing Director at Jambaar Capital, Senegal: "2024 experienced what many called a funding winter, making it challenging for companies to raise capital. Despite these conditions, we're satisfied with the investments we've made. The key takeaway has been the importance of thoroughly evaluating the founders and their teams. It's crucial to distinguish between those who merely present an inspiring vision and those who have the capability to actualize it."

Mustafa Hasan, Founding Partner at Value.vc, UK: "This year, we managed three wallets dedicated to funding startups, resulting in investments in 15 startups with 5 successful exits. Our approach has evolved in how we mentor and assess these startups, aiming for a more impactful guidance strategy."

Kevin R. Smith CMT, CFTe, Managing Director & Portfolio Manager at Forte Capital Group, US: "2024 has been a remarkable year for us, especially with investments in AI companies like OpenAI and XAI, which have seen valuations double approximately every six months. Our only regret is not being able to involve more people in these lucrative opportunities."

David Watts, CEO at Crypto Custody Trust, US: "2024 marked a pivotal year with the launch of Crypto Custody Trust. We've completed building out our platform and continued to expand, capitalizing on the significant rise in the cryptocurrency sector, where we're actively engaged."

Sahith Aula, GP at Katha VC, US: "This year has been exhilarating as we observed significant improvements in logistics and infrastructure across several countries, including South Africa, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Mexico. These developments have facilitated greater access to diversified financial products, enhancing our investment landscape."

Ian George, Managing Director at George Wicks Limited, US: "My focus remains strictly on deal-based activities, with a consistent inflow of opportunities, especially in the global professional sports arena. Notably, the professional football sector stands out as the most commercially lucrative in the global sports market."

Yisroel Rabinowitz, Founder at Well4Tech, US: "In the past, I initiated an accelerator program for tech startups in the health and wellness sector, which I later perceived as a mistake. However, I've come to regret not pursuing those investments more aggressively, recognizing the missed opportunities."

Ron D Vari, Managing Partner & Founder at NewOak Capital / Asset, US: "2024 was pivotal for us as we ventured into emerging markets, particularly forming partnerships in India and Africa. This year, we also discovered the potential of a new asset class that I had previously overlooked: blue carbon in ocean sectors. The sheer availability and critical need for investment in this area was a revelation."

Shawn Reid, CEO & Founder Capital Relief Financial, LLC, US: "Business-wise, we've had a successful year, although our focus shifted slightly due to significant achievements in our real estate department. We expanded into a new market niche—foreclosures—helping clients secure funding for properties under foreclosure, which has shown promising results."