WBAF 2018 shapes the global agenda of the world early and post-early stage equity markets in the year ahead

Wednesday, 20 December 2017

Drawing together hundreds of the world’s top business leaders, WBAF 2018 shapes the global agenda of the world early and post-early stage equity markets in the year ahead. For the first time ever, The World Business Angel Investors Forum World Congress 2018, the world’s biggest annual gathering of early stage equity and investment markets, will have 5 important summits running concurrently and will host more than 1000 delegates from around the world.

The WBAF Annual Conference 2018 will focus on angel investors partnering with family offices and wealth management institutions. Start-ups, scale-ups and angel investors will be able to connect at the TAKE INVEST SUMMIT. The CEO-PRENEURSHIP SUMMIT will focus on transforming CEOs into angel investors, while the FINTECH SUMMIT will deal with issues of financial inclusion and ways to democratise access to finance. And don’t miss the opportunity to generate innovative ideas to mobilise private and public capital for the social good at the IMPACT INVESTMENT SUMMIT. WBAF will also salute the global successes of the year at the World Excellence Awards & VIP Gala Dinner at the Swissotel The Bosphorus Istanbul.

As a global organisation, the World Business Angels Investment Forum brings together key players of the equity market to discuss the benefits and challenges to the angel investment community’s achieving successful growth for their businesses and to discuss what more can be done to connect the early-stage market ecosystem.
In the wake of the global economic crisis, it was far from easy to reach out for any kind of finance, smart or otherwise. The importance of the early-stage investment market in the creation of new jobs and social justice in their countries has encouraged the implementation of new regulations that provide tax incentives for angel investors, corporate ventures and start-ups. The World Business Angels Investment Forum focuses on developing innovative financial instruments for entrepreneurs and SMEs as a part of its global agenda.

As a global organisation, the World Business Angels Investment Forum brings together key players of the equity market to discuss the benefits of and the challenges to the investment community’s achieving successful growth for their businesses and to discuss what more can be done to facilitate the democratization of finance by expanding access to and participation in every level of society.

WBAF 2018 invites delegates to join in their global effort to ease access to smart finance, which will help create more jobs and more social justice worldwide. Collective efforts to convert the world economy into a smart economy in cooperation with the World Business Angels Investment Forum are very important.

ANGEL INVESTMENT IS BOOMING WORLDWIDE

More than 90% of the early-stage investments in Europe come from angel investor capital. The angel investment market size is more than €9.8 billion in Europe and more than US$26 billion in the US and Canada. The total size of the world’s early-stage investment market is expected to exceed $50 billion by 2020. The $50 billion market for angel investment promises a $150 billion exit in the next 5 to 7 years.

OECD reports show that more than 96% of the world’s economy is driven by SMEs, entrepreneurs and start-ups. Many governments have understood the importance of the early-stage investment market in the creation of new jobs and social justice in their countries and have therefore implemented new regulations that provide tax incentives for angel investors, corporate ventures and start-ups.

Promoting how innovation and sustainable industrialisation requires easy access to finance and financial services that facilitate investment, the panelists will provide a regional focus by discussing the V4 early stage investment market and the importance of connecting the international Visegrad Fund with Global Capital Markets. Also discussed is WBAF’s excitement on being a new investment instrument for Islamic finance, revealing their 100% compatibility with the Islamic investment principles, and the possibility of co-investment funds with Islamic finance in the future.

Speakers at the WBAF Annual Conference include Harry Tomi Davis, Inderjit Singh, Peter Jungen, Carsten Borring, Paul Doany, Candace Johnson, Kenan çolpan and Varol Civil. The head of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, Dr. Hashim S.Hussein, with 22 years of experience in the fields of Industrial Development and Investment and Technology Promotion, alongside Baybars Altuntas, the Chairman of the World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF).

There is also an impressive list of global leaders and industry experts speaking at the TAKE INVEST SUMMIT, the CEO-PRENEURSHIP SUMMIT, the FINTECH SUMMIT and the IMPACT INVESTMENT SUMMIT, all of which can be found at the event website - http://www.wbaf2018.istanbul/

Speaking ahead of the event, WBAF Chairman Baybars Altuntas comments:

“Building on the success of the 2017 World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF), this year’s forum will focus on the theme ‘Unlocking the Potential for Innovation: Angel Investors Partnering with Family Offices and Wealth Management Institutions.’

The discussions will explore how family offices and wealth management institutions can foster open innovation and deliver more business value through partnerships with angel investors, start-ups, scale-ups, high-growth businesses and SMEs.

“By working together across borders, with a common vision, and with these smart dynamics in mind, we are well placed to create positive change in the global economy.”

-ENDS -


Editor’s Notes

TICKETS: Prices range from €250-€500 with a range of add-ons including Hotel Bookings, Spouse Bookings and VIP Gala Dinner/VIP Lunches. More information at http://www.wbaf2018.istanbul/buy-ticket/

EVENT AND SPEAKER DETAILS: Further details on the event, including the event agenda, speakers and proposed topics call all be found at http://www.wbaf2018.istanbul/

PRESS ATTENDANCE: A limited number of fully-funded press passes are available. If you are interested in attending the event and require a press pass, please contact the WBAF 2018 Press Team on +44(0)1603 743 363 or email elizma@mediajems.co.uk for further details and to confirm your place.