What are Business Angels?
Business angels are investors who support business projects during the first development stages. The main difference between risk capital and business angels is that the latter also give advice and facilitate contacts to consolidate the business. They are executives who wish to take part in a new business venture applying their professional expertise. They look for capital share but do not usually participate in the management of the business..
To foster this pioneer experience aimed at spreading investment awareness, so that individuals with the necessary experience, knowledge and risk capital, support companies or emerging businesses that show an entrepreneurial spirit and use the best business methods.
This is a joint initiative of the Alumni community and the IAE Entrepreneurship Center. Making full use of the intellectual capital of our country, we seek to encourage the birth of a generation of businessmen, companies and investors with an ethics and social commitment, devoted to create jobs and new business opportunities.
Creating new and successful companies where those values are honoured will be a contribution to our country’s economic development.
We receive projects with good growth potential and present them at a monthly meeting. Our business angels invest on them and support them providing their experience and contacts.
Our work
We have founded the Business Angels Club, a civil association (*) devoted to:
- Searching and assessing projects (investment opportunities).
- Developing the conceptual frame for evaluating and following up investments, legal agreements, etc., jointly with the IAE Entrepreneurship Center.
- Creating bonds with project providers, incubators, venture capital funds et al.
- Identifying prospective business angels among the Alumni.
- Organizing monthly meetings to analyze the chosen projects.
- Supporting members on all stages of the investment.
(*) Expenses of this association are covered by all members
Participants
- IAE Alumni or Professors, IESE Alumni or Professors, judge/members of NAVE support network may be members.
- Must commit themselves to maintain a minimum investment capital.
- Must actively engage in the chosen project, providing experience, knowledge, contacts and time.
- Must actively participate in the monthly meetings where new projects are introduced
How to participate
- Contacting us to participate as investor member.
- Affording consultancy time or services.
- Sponsoring our activities.
- Presenting projects for us to invest on
Business Angels: Who are they?
They are successful entrepreneurs and businessmen engaged in economic areas, who are not satisfied with just affording capital as a simple financial investment.
They have a lot more to give. They wish to be part of the transformation of ideas into realities. They are willing to provide experience and knowledge from inside the project (Board) or from outside, advising, counselling and offering their vast contact network.
Investors with different viewpoints and profiles get together to reach a double objective: to increase the possibilities of success and to lessen the investment risk.
For some, this as a way of diversifying their investments; for the majority, this is a second career. After succeeding in the first one, they apply their experience to benefit new ventures which will generate jobs and wealth for the benefit of the community.
All this marks the difference between a business angel and an investor.
What the entrepreneur gets ?
- Access to capital to carry out his project.
- Investors’ advice, participation and time.
- Access to business contact networks
Project assessment
We evaluate projects from different sources, such as the IAE Entrepreneurship Center, other organizations related by reciprocity agreements and referrals from members of the entrepreneurs’ community.
An initial selection is made according to the business’ possibilities and to the Business Angels’ interests.
We invite the selected entrepreneurs to meet the Selection Commission -formed by Club members- in order to analyze the quality and importance of the project.
Assessment and feedback come next, followed by an invitation to attend the monthly investors’ meeting.
Investment process
The Club does not take sides or functions as an investment fund. Investing is a member’s individual decision.
After the monthly meeting, and if there are members interested in investing on a project, the Due Diligence process starts.
Once an agreement is reached, an investment trust is created.
Monitoring and supervision of the process are carried out by the Club to maintain rules of confidentiality, professionalism and respect among the parties.
| Meetings – Monthly Forums |
|
First Monday of each month, unless otherwise announced.
Hours: 18:30 a 21hs
Place: Check with mariano@BusinessAngelsClub.com.ar
Contents: Normally, 2 investment projects are presented.
Note: Any change may be due to special guests or projects
Contact: Mariano Ruani - mariano@BusinessAngelsClub.com.ar
WEB: www.BusinessAngelsClub.com.ar
INTRODUCTORY COURSES
Introductory courses for new angels, candidates and Alumni.
Information on functioning. Angels who have already invested share their experiences.
Agenda: Bimonthly. (Additional meetings, when necessary.)
BUSINESS ANGELS TRAINING PROGRAM
Training series. Main topics of the International Education Program plus own experiences.
Agenda: To be scheduled.
LEGISLATIVE BREAKFASTS
Business Angels Club members get together to discuss legislative questions. (Club members only.)
Agenda: Second Tuesday of each month, 9 a.m., in the Study.
BUSINESS ANGELS EDUCATION INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM PROGRAMA INTERNACIONAL DE FORMACION DE BUSINESS ANGELS
Agenda: October 9-11, 2007
ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES
Management Series, Risk Capital Forum, Endeavor Conferences.