Successful Business Angels don’t just provide capital but can also play a role in identifying promising founders, evaluating opportunities, negotiating investment terms and supporting and mentoring companies as they grow. Developing those skills takes experience, but it also requires access to practical, high-quality learning.
The newly launched ESIL Angel Academy aims to provide those very first steps towards success.
Available free of charge and fully online, the Academy offers more than 20 hours of expert-led content designed for aspiring and existing Business Angels looking to strengthen their investment knowledge. Learners can complete the course at their own pace, on desktop or mobile, and receive a certificate upon successful completion of all eight modules.
The curriculum follows the full investment journey, from understanding the role of a Business Angel and identifying promising startups, through due diligence, valuations and deal negotiation, to supporting founders after investment and developing more advanced investment strategies. Dedicated modules also explore investing across sectors including deep tech, health, climate tech and fintech.
Alongside the video lessons, participants gain access to a practical toolkit featuring downloadable cap table templates, due diligence checklists, term sheets, shareholder agreements, convertible loan note agreements and other legal documents developed by experts from across Europe.
The Academy brings together more than 30 experienced investors and ecosystem leaders who have collectively invested over €400 million in early-stage companies, as well as insights from the likes of Stephane Ouaki, Director at the European Commission’s EISMEA.
Whether you are considering your first investment or looking to build on existing experience, the ESIL Angel Academy provides practical knowledge, proven tools and insights from investors who have spent years backing Europe’s next generation of innovative companies.