The most important convergence of angel investors of Russia hosted more than 50 global investors from more than 20 countries today in Samara
Drawing together world’s top business leaders today in Samara, Volga Angels will shape the regional agenda of the early and post-early stage equity markets in the year ahead. For the first time ever, the Volga angels, the Russia’s biggest annual gathering of early stage equity and investment markets is hosting more than 50 global investors from around the world.
The official partner of the Volga Angels 2018 is the Government of Samara Region. Samara Government supports the regional efforts to work together towards economic, social and cultural development. Alexey Ilmetov, Head of the Department of Investment, Innovation Policy and Foreign Economic Relations and Victor V. Kudryashov, Interim First Deputy of the Chairman represented the Government of the Samara Region in the Grand Opening Ceremony of the Volga Angels 2018.
Vitaly Polekhin, President of the Russian Trade Association for Business Angels & EBAN Board Member in Brussels & Co-chair of the Volga Angels 2018 says ”The Volga angels 2018 will focus on angel investors partnering with family offices and wealth management institutions. The best of the region’s start-ups, scale-ups and angel investors will be able to connect at the summit today. This convergence aims to empower the regional economic development of Samara and connect the best startups of Samara with the best angel investors of the world.
Baybars Altuntas, Chairman of the World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF) says ”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 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.
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. So WBAF is proud of supporting the global efforts of the Russian Trade Association for Business Angels and Government of Samara Region to connect the best startups of Samara and the region with global highly qulified angel investors”
The congress will host the Volga Angel Excellence Awards 2018 tonight with the opening speech of the Governor of Samara in the VIP Gala Dinner.
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 €9.7 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.
