An affiliated partner of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI), the World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF) is an international organisation aiming to ease access to finance for businesses from start-up to scale-up to exit, with the ultimate goal of generating more jobs and more social justice worldwide. It is committed to collaborating globally to empowering world economic development by creating innovative financial instruments for entrepreneurs, innovators, start-ups, scale-ups, high-growth businesses and SMEs. We spoke with WBAF Chairman Baybars Altuntas to find out more about WBAF’s worldwide representation programme.
Please could you tell us more about the World Business Angels Investment Forum?
The World Business Angels Investment Forum interacts with leaders in all areas of society — first and foremost in business and political spheres — to help assess needs and establish goals, bearing in mind that the public interest is of paramount importance. WBAF engages with a wide range of institutions — public and private, local and international, commercial and academic — to help shape the global agenda. WBAF holds that, with the participation of individuals and institutions from multiple sectors and from all parts of society, real progress can be achieved.
What is the purpose of the G20, The Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion?
The Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) is an inclusive platform for all G20 countries, interested non-G20 countries, and relevant stakeholders to carry forward work on financial inclusion, including implementation of the G20 Financial Inclusion Action Plan endorsed at the G20 Summit in Seoul. Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands is the Honorary Patron of the G20’s Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI).
In what way does the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion contribute to society?
The G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion makes a considerable and unrivalled contribution to society, in particular it aims to strengthen collaboration and coordination between a variety of stakeholders, albeit it being national, international or regional stakeholders. This is mentioned in the
Action Item 6 of the G20 Financial Inclusion Action Plan.
To achieve this effectively, in addition to WBAF’s affiliated partnership many other numerous organisations have joined forces to partner the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion including:
- The Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP)
- The International Finance Corporation (IFC)
- The Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI)
- The World Bank Group
- The SME Finance Forum
- The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
All of the organisations have the same aim to assist countries across the globe put into practice the G20 Principles for Innovative Financial Inclusion. The main mission is to strengthen data for measuring financial inclusion, alongside developing methodologies for countries wishing to set such targets.
How are the partnership agreements and joint projects developed with international institutions?
Until now, WBAF has made agreements with the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank Group (IFC), the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), the International Science Parks Association (IASP), the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA), the European Trade Association for Business Angels (EBAN), the African Business Angels Network (ABAN), and the Middle East Trade Association for Business Angels (MBAN).
How can someone get involved in WBAF’s worldwide representation programme?
WBAF engages individuals and institutions through its High Commissioners, Commissioners, and Senators. You can represent your country as a High Commissioner, Commissioner, or Senator at the Grand Assembly.
Becoming a WBAF High Commissioner, Commissioner, or Senator involves embracing activities that are designed to serve the global community and WBAF members. By combining regular, small contributions from the many dynamic High Commissioners, Commissioners, and Senators around the world, we all benefit from shared learning, better networks and increased exposure.
- High Commissioner: One High Commissioner is appointed for each country.
- Commissioner: One Commissioner is appointed for each city.
- Senator: An unlimited number of Senators can be appointed from a given country.
Each High Commissioner, Commissioner, and Senator will take a role in one of the many WBAF Committees: the Global Women Leaders Committee, the Academic Committee, the Innovation & Science Parks Committee, the Impact Investment Committee, the International Fintech Committee, the World Crowdfunding Committee, the Global Incubation Centers Committee, the Global Co-Working Spaces Committee, the Private Equity Committee, the Wealth Management Committee, the Banking Committee, the Start-ups Committee, the Scale-ups Committee, the Exits Committee, the ICO Committee, the Artificial Intelligence Committee and so on. For a complete list of committees, please contact WBAF headquarters
What are the benefits of High Commissionership, Commissionership and Senatorship?
There are many benefits of High Commissionership, Commissionership and Senatorship, for example you will have an active part in the world investment community where you will have the opportunity to network with the main players of the world’s early and post—early stage equity market. Additionally, you will be helping to connect local entrepreneurship ecosystems with global investment markets, as well as benefiting from our free membership package.
High Commissionership, Commissionership and Senatorship will provide you with an introduction into the world community of investors. Furthermore, taking such an active role in the World Congress of Angel Investors will mean you will join international working groups, have the ability to communicate with the world audience through the Angel Investor Review and will receive a licence to run WBAF Academy course programmes back in your country.
What is the application process to represent a country at the Grand Assembly?
You can apply now or nominate a colleague to represent your country at the Grand Assembly of the World Business Angels Investment Forum. To apply you would need to submit your CV/the CV of your nominee or a one-page biographical summary. After reviewing the information you provide, we will let you know the most suitable option for you or your nominee — High Commissioner, Commissioner, or Senator. We will also send a document that outlines the responsibilities of the relevant position and WBAF’s expectations.
In your opinion why should people apply to be a High Commissioner, Commissioner or Senator?
Personally I believe now is the perfect time to apply as the WBAF board have waived the WBAF membership and the annual fees for High Commissioners, Commissioners, and Senators, in recognition of their valuable efforts to empower the economic development of the world through entrepreneurship and angel investment. As a High Commissioner, Commissioner or Senator you will have the opportunity to join our global efforts to ease access to smart finance to create more jobs and more social justice worldwide. Your efforts to convert the world economy into a smart economy in cooperation with the World Business Angels Investment Forum will be highly valued.
By working together across borders, with a common vision, and with these smart dynamics in mind, you will be well placed to bring about positive change in the global economy!
Where can I find out more information about the programme?
To find out more please visit the www.wbaf-leaders.world where you can apply for senatorship, commissionerhip or committee membership.
