Initiatives to Increase the Number of Angel Investors in Widening Countries

An EU-funded initiative seeks to boost equity investments by private individuals in small companies in Eastern Europe, aiming to increase the capital flow necessary for deep tech start-ups to scale. The Early Stage Investing LaunchPad (ESIL) has chosen six countries where local leaders will conduct two-day training sessions for aspiring angel investors. The first session will be in Poland, followed by workshops in Romania, Bulgaria, Czechia, Croatia, and Hungary later this year.

The countries were selected based on an analysis identifying the largest gaps between demand and supply for start-up funding. The objective is to train around 20 new angels per country, aiming for gender equality. These individuals are expected to join or form syndicates to pool their cash and provide more substantial financial backing for start-ups.

Resources to support these groups include mentorship, a library of template agreements for structuring deals, and connections to business angels across Europe to encourage co-investment opportunities.