About
Empowering the Next Generation of Business Angels
ESIL is aiming to boost the innovation and investment ecosystems in the European Union by creating thriving, connected, and diverse angel investment communities, particularly in countries where angel investing still lags behind. The vision of the initiative is to enable the changing face of the whole European angel investment, reinforce the gender parity of investors and strengthen angel investing in Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Romania.
A strong European angel investing community, given the involvement of Business Angels in investing and coaching, will strengthen the innovation and investment ecosystems for startups and increase the high quality deal flow for European strategic technologies such as Digital technologies and deep-tech innovation, Clean and resource efficient technologies, Biotechnologies.
ESIL is supported by funding from the European Union through the European Innovation Council and SME Executive Agency EISMEA. ESIL will be delivered by a consortium of highly experienced ecosystem players, deeply embedded in European investment and innovation ecosystems, composed of META Group, BAE and Bpifrance.
Angel Ecosystem
Focus 1
Strengthening the Angel Ecosystems in key target countries where angel investment is less developed
Our research has enabled us to identify and focus on 6 countries in the European community.
All of these countries offer the potential to further strengthen their Business Angels investment capacity to invest in technology champions in their economy, enhancing their innovation ecosystems, whilst increasing their connections and cross-border investment partnerships across Europe.
Our actions in these countries will be supported through our cohort of experienced men and women Angel investors, acting as “Archangels”, working in partnership alongside key investment leaders in the target countries, designed to achieve maximum impact and long-term sustainability.
Their actions will include:
- Building skills and knowledge: providing aspiring and existing angels with the knowledge and skills they need to be effective lead investors through face to face workshops and online deep dive sessions.
- Building Syndication: Seasoned investors guide new and existing angels through the Syndication process from sourcing new deal flow through key European acceleration and innovation programmes to effectively closing deals.
- Mapping the ecosystem to help strengthen the infrastructure for angel investment investment to build.
- Exploring new co-investment funding potential to leverage public -private investment
BA Investment
Focus 2
Building a connected and dynamic European Angel Investment market
Our work will also focus on the following actions:
- Matchmaking: Exploring co-investment opportunities, helping angels share risks and amplify returns.
- Creating new standardised documents to streamline cross-border angel investment deals across Europe.
- Establishing new partnership agreements between the angel communities from the 6 target countries and angel groups in more developed parts of Europe.
- Learning Without Limits: Access to a new comprehensive online e-learning platform (MOOC) packed with resources for aspiring and experienced angels alike.
2017-2019, empowering early stage investors across Europe
ESIL program started in 2017 with a first round of funding to develop and connect networks of business angels and crowdfunders across all 40+ Horizon 2020 countries and to increase cross-border investments between European countries.
ESIL’s success hinged on its comprehensive approach, combining online networking, matchmaking platforms, and a rich repository of best practices and training materials from Business Angels leaders and early-stage investors. This program not only strengthened the European investment community through international collaboration and idea exchange but also tailored its support to cater to both less developed and advanced markets, addressing specific challenges like illiquidity and co-investment strategies.
As we moved forward, these insights underscored the importance of selecting knowledgeable local leaders, fostering connections across networks, and promoting government engagement and incentives, laying a robust groundwork for our forward-looking vision.
2023 – 2025, young and gender-diverse angel focus
Starting in 2023, the new funding framework of ESIL focuses on young and gender-diverse investors to build the next generation of European Business Angels.
The initiative will mentor future investors across Europe and will propose a programme of capacity-building opportunities with a particular focus on women investors and selected widening countries. ESIL will partner with them to create a connected and dynamic European angel community through syndicate identification and creation.
EU Business Angels landscape
Europe lags behind the United States in terms of angel investment and crowdfunding. Nevertheless, there has been a significant rise in the number of startups and entrepreneurial ventures across Europe lately. Cities are turning into startup hubs, accelerators, and incubators are popping up everywhere. Business angel networks are becoming increasingly popular – pooling funds allows angels to spread out the costs of expensive due diligence, and when active investors combine their expertise, they contribute to better guidance for the startups.
However, Europe continues to struggle to find incentives to facilitate access to finance, to attract, and keep young entrepreneurs. In Europe, there are still large differences between countries, regions, and cities, and the ratio between investors and high-net-worth individuals is extremely low.
Initiatives like ESIL aim to improve this ratio. By developing cross-border networks of business angels and crowdfunders, ESIL contributes to increasing opportunities for entrepreneurs and innovative startups, which in turn will boost Europe’s economy. A particular focus on boosting women investors will be given thanks to the Women Angel Leaders Taskforce supporting female investors across Europe.