The World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF), an affiliated partner of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI), coordinated the World Business Angel Investors Week 2025 from 23 to 29 June 2025, uniting global leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors under the theme: “Entrepreneurship Without Borders: Advancing Partnerships for a Sustainable Future.”
The official launch of this global initiative took place on 16 May at the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, with Baybars Altuntas, Global Chair of the Week 2025, and Country Chairs from around the world leading the proceedings. The momentum carried into the Grand Opening Ceremony on 22 June, which attracted an impressive global audience of 96,258 participants online.
The Week concluded on 29 June with the highly anticipated World Excellence Awards and the traditional bell-ringing ceremony, marking the culmination of a record-breaking series of global events.
Monaco was honoured as the standout celebration of the year, earning the prestigious “World Celebration Excellence Award 2025” for its remarkable efforts in advancing entrepreneurship and fostering cross-border collaboration throughout the Week. The Monaco celebrations commenced with an opening keynote by H.E. Pierre-André Chiappori, Minister of Finance and Economy of the Principality of Monaco.
The ceremony also honoured distinguished national events with Special Recognition Awards, spotlighting excellence in advancing financial inclusion and fostering entrepreneurial ecosystems worldwide.
WBAF, 29 June 2025 — The World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF), an affiliated partner of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI), announced the winners of the World Excellence Awards 2025, honouring the most impactful national celebrations of the World Business Angel Investors Week 2025 — the world’s largest gathering of the global startup economy.
With over 115,000 participants across 160 countries, this year’s celebrations showcased an extraordinary commitment to advancing entrepreneurial diplomacy, innovation, and financial inclusion.
Following a remarkable global showcase of impact-driven events, Monaco has been officially recognised as the Best Celebration of 2025, receiving the prestigious World Celebration Excellence Award 2025.
The Monaco 2025 celebrations were chaired and organised by Kevin Hin, Secretary General (2020-2024) of the Junior Chamber International (JCI) and Director General of WenCHAM – the World Chamber of Entrepreneurs for Economic Development, WBAF’s global initiative promoting entrepreneurial diplomacy and inclusive growth.
The Monaco event, hosted by MonacoTech – Monaco’s start-up incubator and accelerator program – distinguished itself through its high-level speakers, impactful dialogue, and strong engagement with international investors and ecosystem leaders. Key highlights included:
- Keynote Speech: The Role of Monaco’s Government in Promoting Entrepreneurship Without Borders
Pierre-André Chiappori, Minister of Finance and the Economy, Principality of Monaco - Keynote Speech: Promoting the Monegasque Economy to Foreign Companies and Investors
Guillaume Rose, Chief Executive Officer, Monaco Economic Board - Keynote Speech: The Role of Young Entrepreneurs in Boosting the Start-Up Ecosystem in Monaco
Hanna Derrien, President, Jeune Chambre Économique de Monaco (JCI Monaco)
The Monaco panel sessions were expertly moderated by Justin Highman, Deputy CEO of the Monaco Economic Board, with additional contributions from Sandrine Sauval, Director of MonacoTech, highlighting Monaco’s growing role as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.
In addition to Monaco’s global honour, WBAF presented Special Recognition Awards to two outstanding national celebrations:
- Côte d’Ivoire —Awarded Africa’s Signature Event 2025
Chaired by Gnoungo Mariam Koné, Head of Mission of the WBAF National Office in Côte d’Ivoire, this event demonstrated exceptional leadership in promoting entrepreneurship and inclusive economic growth across the African continent. - Mexico — Awarded Latin America’s Signature Event 2025
Led by Mónica Albarrán, WBAF International Partner, Mexico’s celebrations were recognised for their impactful efforts in fostering cross-border collaboration and strengthening the Latin American startup ecosystem.
All award-winning sessions, along with hundreds of other high-impact panels, keynotes, and global dialogues from the Week, are now available to watch online at the WBAF Financial Inclusion Center: www.id.wbaforum.org
The following national events were successfully organised online as part of the World Business Angel Investors Week 2025, led by their respective Country Chairs:
- Bangladesh – S. M. Zillur Rahman
- Belgium – Prof. Rudy Aernoudt
- Cameroon – Dr. Marie-Paule Niat
- Côte d’Ivoire – Gnoungo Mariam Koné
- Georgia – Mariam Chikopaidze
- Ireland – Tony Moroney
- Italy – Enrico Fiore
- Kyrgyzstan – Vitalia Shutova
- Malaysia – Royston G. King
- Mexico – Mónica Albarrán
- Monaco – Kevin Hin
- Panama – Arletty Pinel
- Switzerland – Dr. Birgul Cotelli
- Tanzania – Tuti Mwambenja
- Togo – Olatokunbo Ige
- United Arab Emirates – Dr. Harris Kovoor
- United States of America – Bhuva Shakti
- Venezuela – Fernando Ríos Díaz
All sessions are available online now at the WBAF Financial Inclusion Center: www.id.wbaforum.org
