Workshop | How Business Angels and other Innovation Actors can support European Innovation Council activities

About Big Angels Day

Join us for the inaugural Big Angels Day in Croatia, organised by Hamag Bicro and Bpifrance.

Over a two-day event taking place on 9 and 10 December in Zagreb, Croatia, angel investors, Innovation actors, EIC representatives, startups, and players from the European innovation ecosystem will be brought together. More than 80 innovative startups will showcase their solutions, participating in matchmaking sessions with a network of business angels. Big Angels Day aims to elevate the visibility and impact of business angel investments in early-stage entrepreneurship across Europe.

On Day 1 of the event, ESIL will be running the workshop on How Business Angels and other Innovation actors can support European Innovation Council activities.

Dates: 9-10 December 2024
Location: SECCEL, Radoslava Cimermana street No. 88, 10000, Zagreb

✅ Click to access registration form.

About the workshop

ESIL was invited to run a workshop on How Business Angels and other Innovation Actors can support European Innovation Council activities on Day 1 of the event, Monday 9 December from 9.00 am to 2.00 pm.

Date: 9 December 2024
Time - 9.00 am - 02.00 pm
Location: SECCEL, Radoslava Cimermana street No. 88, 10000, Zagreb

The ESIL workshop will run as a core part of the Big Angels Day and will include dynamic discussions on the evolving role of angel investors and Innovation Actors in accelerating European innovation and better understand the opportunities to collaborate with the EIC.

Objectives of the workshop

The ESIL workshop is designed to equip Business Angels and Innovation Actors with the insights and tools needed to effectively support early-stage innovation across Europe. Key objectives include:

  • Establishing a Strategic Connection Between BAs, IAs and the EIC
  • Identifying Best Practices for Driving BAs Investment into the EIC
  • Understanding EIC support mechanisms for various innovation actors
  • Building Sustainable Investment Pipelines for the EIC
Who can participate?

Big Angels Day and the ESIL workshop are designed for a broad range of participants across the European startup and investment ecosystem:

  • Angel Investors and innovation actors
    Both new and experienced angel investors and innovation stakeholders, especially those interested in investing in the innovation and deep tech sectors, and those keen to learn more about supporting EIC projects.
  • Researchers: Experts working on high-potential, cutting-edge research projects within the EIC Pathfinder and Transition programmes, as well as those developing transformative ideas that need support to move from lab to market. These participants will explore how Business Angels can play a role in bridging the gap between research outcomes and commercial success.
  • Startup Founders: Entrepreneurs, particularly those working in transformative sectors such as deep tech, life sciences, and green technologies, who are seeking not only funding but also mentorship and strategic partnerships to scale their ventures and increase their chances of securing EIC support.
  • Venture Builders, Accelerators, Venture Capitalists and Investment Professionals: Individuals within the broader acceleration and investment ecosystem, including venture builders, accelerators, venture capitalists, family offices, and institutional investors, looking to understand how Business Angels can complement their funding strategies and contribute to building successful early-stage companies.
  • Policymakers: Government officials and representatives from European institutions involved in developing and implementing policies that promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment across Europe, and who wish to facilitate better cooperation between private investors and the EIC.
Agenda Day 1

Agenda summary: (speakers tbc)

ESIL Workshop

  • 9.00 am – 9.30 am: Registration and welcome coffee
  • 9.30 am – 9.45 am: Welcome and introductions
    Luigi Amati, Director of META Group
    Mirna Marovic, President of the Croatian Venture Capital Association (TBC).
    Ante-Janko Bobetko, HAMAG-BICRO Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors.
  • 9.45 am – 10.15 am: EIC introduction
    Stephane Ouaki, EIC Head of Department
  • 10.15 am – 10.30 am: How Business Angels and other Innovation Actors can support EIC initiatives
  • 10.30 am – 11.15 am: Workshop 1 - Business angels, Innovation Actors and Pathfinder – Transition
    Moderator: 
    Jana Drzkova – Euroquity-Bpifrance
    Panellists:
    Luca Pellegrino, OXiNEMS  coordinator.
    Lorenzo Valeriani – OXiNEMS exploitation partner
    Massimo Alfano – PHIRE  coordinator.
    Francesca Natali – PHIRE exploitation partner
  • 11:15 am – 11.30 am: Short break
  • 11.30 am – 12.15 am: Workshop 2 - Business angels and Accelerator
    Moderator: Marc Ranchon, EuroQuity - Bpifrance 
    Panellists:
    Anna Tampieri, Greenbone founder.
    Alain Pujol, Angels Santé 
    Elizabeth Pauchet, Femmes Business Angels
    Kata Feher, Lynxes CMO  
    Paulina Mazurek, BEIT CEO
    Tajana Barancic, EIC evaluator
  • 12.15 pm – 1.00 pm: EIC and BAs collaboration
    Moderator: Luigi Amati, Director of META Group
    Panellists:
    Stephane Ouaki, EIC Head of Department

    Reginald Vossen, BAE president
    Giles Le Cocguen, EuroquityBpifrance Director
  • 1.00 pm – 2.00 pm: Networking lunch

*** end of workshop ***

  • 2.00 pm - 5.30 pm: Hamag Bicro Pitching sessions
  • 5.30 pm - 7.00 pm: BAE e-pitch

Location: SECCEL, Radoslava Cimermana street No. 88, 10000, Zagreb

Agenda Day 2
  • 9.30 am – 1.00 pm: BAE Board meeting & BAE Club meeting
  • 2.00 pm – 5.30 pm: Hamag Bicro pitching sessions
Registration form