Most networking in the online trading industry happens around conferences. Conversations are squeezed between panel sessions, scheduled meetings and exhibition stands, often competing with packed agendas and hundreds of other attendees. Finance Beach Mixer was built around a different idea: remove the conference altogether and make networking itself the main event.
The inaugural edition took place on July 10 at Lasmari Beach Bar in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, bringing together professionals from across the brokerage, liquidity, payments and financial technology sectors for an afternoon centred entirely on relationship building. FinanceFeeds served as the exclusive media partner, while Broctagon Prime and 26 Degrees supported the event. The concept was developed by Sonata Naujokaitė through expo-consulting, a consultancy specialising in exhibition and event strategy for financial services companies.
Video recap:
Moving Industry Networking Beyond Limassol
Cyprus has long been one of the industry’s principal hubs, with most brokerage events, conferences and networking gatherings taking place in Limassol. Finance Beach Mixer deliberately broke with that pattern by moving to Ayia Napa, asking attendees to leave the familiar conference circuit behind in favour of a more relaxed setting on the island’s eastern coast.
The change of location was intended to do more than provide a different backdrop. Rather than arriving between meetings at a large expo, participants travelled specifically for the event, creating an environment where conversations became the day’s primary focus instead of something fitted around a conference schedule.
“I picked Ayia Napa because this side of Cyprus never gets shown properly; everyone knows the touristy image, not the real beauty of it. And I knew if people committed to driving over an hour each way, they’d arrive in a completely different mindset,” said Naujokaitė, founder of expo-consulting and creator of Finance Beach Mixer.
That approach appeared to resonate with senior executives. Around 70% of attendees were founders, chief executives and other senior decision-makers, producing a guest list weighted towards professionals responsible for strategic partnerships, commercial development and business growth across the online trading ecosystem.
Designing Networking Rather Than Leaving It To Chance
Unlike traditional conferences, where networking often develops organically between sessions, Finance Beach Mixer introduced a structured networking challenge at the start of the afternoon. Every participant received colour-coded wristbands identifying their area of the industry, together with networking cards encouraging them to meet representatives from different business segments.
The objective was simple: encourage attendees to step outside their existing professional circles. Many participants already recognised one another from previous conferences or knew each other only through emails, LinkedIn or business meetings. The challenge provided a practical reason to begin conversations that might otherwise have been postponed or overlooked.
Because attendees represented a broad cross-section of the industry, conversations naturally extended across multiple disciplines. Brokers met technology providers, payment companies connected with liquidity specialists, infrastructure firms spoke with commercial executives, while media representatives, consultants and service providers were equally drawn into the networking activity.
Three participants shared the Best Networker title after each introducing themselves to at least 14 new industry contacts during the challenge. Hana Dobrecka of YCM Invest, Antonis Nicholas of Broctagon Prime and Nick Assimenos of Finance Magnates shared the top prize, earning a jet ski experience after finishing level on points.
From Introductions To Longer Conversations
Once the networking challenge concluded, the structured element of the event gave way to a buffet lunch overlooking the Mediterranean before attendees continued discussions throughout the afternoon on the beach. The progression from organised introductions to informal conversations formed a central part of the event’s design, allowing relationships established during the challenge to develop naturally without the interruptions typically associated with conference programmes.
With no presentations, keynote speeches or exhibition booths competing for attention, participants remained focused on conversation. Instead of moving between meeting rooms or rushing to the next session, attendees were able to continue discussions at their own pace, creating an atmosphere that differed from the shorter interactions often associated with large industry expos.
For companies operating across brokerage, fintech, liquidity, payments and trading technology, those conversations often represent the starting point for future partnerships. Finance Beach Mixer sought to create more opportunities for those introductions by reducing many of the logistical constraints found at larger industry events.
A Different Addition To The Industry Calendar
The online trading industry continues to rely heavily on conferences to bring together brokers, technology providers, service firms and institutional participants. Finance Beach Mixer explored a different format, one built around a curated audience and a schedule where networking was not a secondary activity but the event’s primary purpose.
Whether similar formats become a more regular feature of the industry’s calendar remains to be seen. The inaugural edition nevertheless demonstrated demand for smaller gatherings focused on meaningful introductions, bringing together a predominantly senior audience in an environment designed to encourage longer conversations than the exhibition floor typically allows.
