World Business Angels Investment Forum
An affiliated partner of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI), the World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF) is an international organisation aiming to ease access to finance for businesses from start-up to scale-up, with the ultimate goal of generating more jobs and more social justice worldwide. It is committed to collaborating globally to empower world economic development by creating innovative financial instruments for innovators, start-ups, and SMEs. The Forum interacts with leaders in all areas of society, first in business and political spheres, to help assess needs and establish goals, bearing in mind that the public interest is of paramount importance. WBAF engages a wide range of institutions, both public and private, local and international, commercial and academic to help shape the global agenda of early and post-early equity and capital market. The four missions of WBAF are:
  • Easing access to smart finance for entrepreneurs and angel investors
  • Promoting gender equality
  • Increasing financial inclusion
  • Enhancing digital inclusion
It advances its agenda at the G20 level through its affiliation with the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI), chaired by Queen Maxima of the Netherlands. The WBAF also hosts World Business Angel Investors Week, which is celebrated every third week of October, under a global theme. The World Business Angels Investment Forum has an important new initiative—Diplomacy in Action for Entrepreneurs, a platform where policymakers, investors and entrepreneurs can share their ideas and interact with WBAF’s Economic Development Commissions, who prepare reports to be presented to G20 leaders. Around 30 country presidents, prime ministers, ministers and other government dignitaries sit on the board of this initiative. WBAF also has an angel investment fund, partnerships with global institutions, and economic cooperation agreements with governments. WBAF accomplishes its missions through various parties and channels including (1) WBAF Financial Inclusion Center (2) WBAF Business School (3) WBAF Publication House (4) WBAF Global Startup Investment Promotion Agency (WIPA) (5) 10 Country Offices in 5 continents.

Purpose

The World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF), an affiliated partner of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI), supports economic development of countries by (1) stimulating and supporting the establishment and growth of early-stage ventures, (2) easing access to finance for entrepreneurs, (3) assisting digital transformation of startup ventures and SMEs in ‘the new normal’, (4) accelerating the life cycle of early-stage companies by compressing years’ of learning by doing, (5) easing access to quality education, mentorship, coaching and consultancy for entrepreneurs, startups and SMEs, (6) introducing new markets for global entrepreneurs, (7) easing access to world-class investments for world-class startups and qualified investors, (8) supporting countries in creating national champions of their startup ecosystems, (9) increasing financial inclusion, and (10) contributing to job creation and economic development around the world.

Baybars Altuntas

Executive Chairman, World Business Angels Investment Forum

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