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Participants from 5 continents, meet in
Estoril, to fill the world equity gap
On 10th
October, 2007 in Estoril, Portugal,
the members that participated in the Business Angels Leaders Forum,
co-organized by FNABA (Portuguese Business Angels Federation), EBAN (European
Business Angels Network) and ACA (Angel Capital Association), from US, decided
to create the World Business Angels Association, effective January the 1st,2008.
The meeting was
sponsored by IAPMEI (Portuguese SMEs Agency), DNA CASCAIS (Entrepreneurship
Cascais Municipality Agency), INOVCAPITAL (Portuguese Venture Company), and
Gesventure (Portuguese Fund Raising Company).
Antonio d’Orey
Capucho, Mayor of Cascais, said “I am very happy to welcome this international
community, in Cascais Municipality, as part of our initiative to drive the
entrepreneurial economy in Europe”
This event took
place under the EU Portuguese Presidency, and Jaime Andrez, President of IAPMEI,
closing the event, declared “This is an important step for developing Business
Angels community worldwide, and the Portuguese EU Presidency, will promote this
movement in the next EU Competitiveness Ministers Council, to be held in Portugal, in
November”
The
following regions were represented by the associations : -North America, through ACA
-Europe, through EBAN
-Arab Countries, through ABAN (Arab Business Angels Network)
-North Africa
The
following countries/regions were present :
Angola
Australia
Brasil
Cape Verde
Chile
China
Finland
France
India
Italy
Japan
Malaysia
Poland
Portugal
Spain
United Kingdom
“To have
representatives from 5 continents, from more than 30 countries, was a big
challenge for FNABA, EBAN and ACA. I am very happy with the outcome, that
exceeded our best expectations. I am sure that this event and the outcome, will
increase the Business Angels Community in Portugal, and in the world”, said
Francisco Banha , FNABA’s founder and President.
The participants
considered that :
-The Business
Angels worldwide activity helps to build up the proper environment for financing
innovation and entrepreneurship.
-It
is important to know and disseminate the proper tools for financing innovation
and entrepreneurship, available worldwide, in order to promote start up
companies, with support of Business Angels.
- It is
important to establish partnerships between Angels networks from different
countries, including cross border investments.
- It is
important for policy makers worldwide, to use information gathered by the Business
Angels community, and to foster their capacity to create and develop financing
mechanisms, in a public-private partnership logic, to support innovation and
entrepreneurship.
“EBAN
considers that this event will become the cornerstone for development of a
vigorous Business Angel community at the international level. I would like to
thank FNABA, the Portuguese Government, and Cascais Municipality
and the sponsors who have made this event possible” , stated Anthony Clarke,
President of EBAN.
The World
Business Angels Association, will have the following objectives:
- Raise awareness across the
world, of the importance and practice of Business Angel investment;
- Support members in their
reflection, initiatives and statements, namely spreading the concept of
early stage investing in private companies by individuals;
- To hold an annual event for the
world membership;
- Create a web portal to
disseminate information and facilitate communication among the members;
- To scan, collect and
disseminate worldwide through the website, relevant information in order
to pursue worldwide best practices on business angel financing innovation
and entrepreneurship;
- Study the feasibility of
enhancing cross-border investments with the participation of several
Business Angels;
- Promote sharing of information
and knowledge on good practices by Business Angels;
- Contribute for the sustained
development of society, promoting all Business Angels resources available
to support innovation and entrepreneurship.
John May,
Chairman of the world largest association of Business Angels groups, stated :”
We recognize that no longer, can one country or one BAN (Business Angels
Network) of angels, stay on top of
innovation and entrepreneurial energy, without considering the rest of the
world. We welcome the opportunity, to be co-organizer of this innovative,
groundbreaking global event. We look forward to participating in future
organizational efforts”.
Portugal, Estoril, 10th of
October 2007
For more
information, please contact:
EBAN - claire.munck@eban.org
ACA - john@angelcapitalassociation.org
FNAB - info@fnaba.org
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