Interview with Angel Gambino, Keynote Speaker at the EBAN Annual Congress 2023

Angel Gambino is a renowned entrepreneur, investor, and keynote speaker who is set to take the stage at the highly anticipated EBAN Congress 2023. With an impressive career trajectory spanning diverse industries such as entertainment, sports, media, music, and gaming, Gambino has developed a unique approach to entrepreneurship that transcends traditional boundaries. Her ability to navigate multiple sectors and bring a fresh perspective to problem-solving has been instrumental in her success as both an entrepreneur and investor.

One of Gambino’s notable entrepreneurial ventures is the co-founding of Sensai, an AI-powered content-generating app that has revolutionised social media marketing and engagement. Sensai empowers creators, influencers, and businesses to effortlessly create engaging and brand-aligned social media posts. The inspiration for Sensai stemmed from discussions with her co-founder, Saman, within their venture studio called Co-created. They recognised the tremendous work required to create social media content that cuts through the noise and achieves sustainable growth. Sensai leverages AI to help users identify real-time, on-brand topics to post about, easing the burden of content creation. With access to existing media libraries and insights from social feeds, Sensai pre-populates posts that users can easily edit, eliminating the need to start from scratch. Gambino’s belief in the transformative power of AI and its role in communication and content creation has made her a sought-after thought leader in the industry.

Beyond her interest in AI, Gambino finds great excitement in technology trends that foster community-driven experiences and advancements in mental health. She passionately embraces technologies that improve well-being, elevate human consciousness, and promote joy. Her investment thesis centres around making the world healthier and happier, and she actively seeks opportunities to invest in companies that align with this mission. Having worked extensively in sports, media, music, gaming, and entertainment, Gambino profoundly understands the value chain, user behaviour, and effective monetisation strategies. This invaluable knowledge allows her to guide and support the teams she invests in, helping them navigate competitive landscapes and scale their businesses adeptly.

As a seasoned investor, Gambino holds an optimistic view of the Greek ecosystem for angel investment. She sees immense potential for growth and development in Greece, recognising the country’s appeal to global talent and the opportunity for local and international collaboration. Gambino believes that Greek entrepreneurs will play a vital role in driving economic growth and emphasises the attractive investment opportunities in the current climate. She notes that investors are increasingly open to cross-border investments, which can help founders secure funding even during challenging economic times.

Gambino’s insightful perspectives and experiences make her a compelling speaker for the upcoming EBAN Congress 2023. Her keynote address promises to provide invaluable guidance for founders seeking funding and will shed light on technology trends shaping the future of business and society. Attendees can expect to gain a deeper understanding of the transformative potential of generative AI, community-driven technologies, and advancements in mental health. Gambino’s unwavering commitment to positively impacting the world will undoubtedly inspire and motivate aspiring entrepreneurs.

Don’t miss the opportunity to hear from Angel Gambino at the EBAN Congress 2023. Her entrepreneurial journey, experiences, and insights will unlock a world of possibilities for attendees. Register now to secure your place at this highly anticipated event and embark on a transformative entrepreneurial journey alongside a visionary entrepreneur and investor. Visit the official EBAN Congress 2023 website to reserve your spot and be part of a truly inspiring experience.

Interview Questions

1. How have your diverse career experiences shaped your entrepreneurship approach, such as working as an executive in the entertainment industry and sports? I am innately curious and love learning. Working across various sectors has allowed me to bring a fresh approach to problems unencumbered with the baggage of legacy that can block obvious solutions and more creative ways to innovate. As an entrepreneur and investor, having experience in multiple sectors has given me insights and an edge in identifying opportunities for growth and a network that allows me to build bigger faster. My investment thesis is focused on making the world healthier and happier, so having led global teams in sports, media, music, gaming, and entertainment allows me to bring more than just capital to the teams I invest in. Teams I advise and work with say they know my deep domain expertise and understanding of the value chain, users and audiences, and how to monetise them helps them navigate competitive landscapes more deftly while scaling. Emerging web3 companies are an exciting confluence of all of these sectors, so I’m excited to see how things evolve and help to make a positive impact.
2. Can you tell us about your founder experience with Sensai and what inspired you to create an AI-powered content-generating app? The inspiration for Sensai came from discussions with Saman, the co-founder of ro in our venture studio called Co-created. There is an incredible amount of work that goes into creating social media posts and engagement that cuts through the noise and grows fast and also sustainably over time. Organic content marketing was shifting when social platforms were moving into more algorithmic monetisation, making it even more difficult for individuals and businesses to get attention on social media, even though social media was their primary channel for marketing and advertising. We knew we needed to help creators, small business owners, influencers, athletes, musicians, celebrities, and others find easier ways to identify in real time what to post about that would be on brand and convert. With access to their existing media libraries and insights from their social feeds, we could pre-populate posts so they could simply edit rather than try to keep up from a cold start. AI wasn’t where it is now, so it was much more complicated then. I’m intrigued by how generative AI will continue transforming how we communicate, curate, create, share, consume, and monetise content.  
3. What technology trends do you find most exciting, and how do you see them shaping the future of business and society? I am excited by community-driven technologies and experiences, as well as psychedelics and other mental health technologies that improve well-being and elevate human consciousness and joy in the world. I am excited by AI across many sectors, especially in the content and creative industries. I am excited by technologies that improve economic equity and mobility. These trends contribute to my investment thesis of making the world healthier and happier.  
4. What advice would you give to aspiring founders just starting? Always stay curious and resourceful. Fall in love with the problem rather than the solution so that you can iterate and pivot along the journey. Know that all advice you receive depends on many variables, so at the end of the day, learn as much as possible through trial and error in resourceful and frugal ways of testing and discovery. Building formidable network founders, especially those just a few steps ahead of you in your sector but not directly competitive, will help with your learning curve. This network should also include investors who have been founders.
5. As an experienced investor, what are your thoughts on the Greek ecosystem for angel investment, and what do you see as the potential for growth and development in this area? I am excited to see how the ecosystem evolves in Greece. Everyone loves Greece, so there is an opportunity to attract global talent to co-create with local talent, similar to the success that Portugal is having through intelligent policies. Greece has seen some tough economic times, and the Greek entrepreneurs will drive economic growth. As an investor, some attractive deals are to be done right now. Investors are much more likely to make cross-border investments than before the Pandemic, which can help founders fundraise during the challenging economic climate we’re experiencing right now.

To get more insights from Angel and other amazing speakers (https://ebancongress.com/speakers-2023/), join us this May for the largest and most recognised angel investing event in Europe: #EBANCongress – get your ticket on: https://ebancongress.com/tickets/.

“The metaverse has emerged as a dynamic hub of innovation and investment, disrupting multiple industries such as gaming, entertainment, social media, e-commerce, and education,” stated Jess Ford, CEO and Chairman of ArrivalMeta. This disruptive potential goes beyond reshaping industries, as the metaverse also carries profound social and cultural implications, transforming how we interact and collaborate. Its development is driven by remarkable advancements in virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and cloud computing. 

“At the core of Web3, there lies an immense opportunity for creation, which history has shown to be a significant economic force multiplier,” Jess Ford continued. “With decentralized transparency and ironclad security, Web3 presents limitless possibilities, surging forward at the speed of innovation and illuminating every industry with awe-inspiring potential. ArrivalMeta is committed to turning those possibilities into reality.”

In the context of the metaverse, ensuring safety, security, regulations, and education are crucial factors that drive the widespread adoption of Web3 technologies. As the metaverse expands, safeguarding users’ data, privacy, and digital assets becomes paramount. Vandana Taxali, Art-Tech Entrepreneur and Intellectual Property Lawyer, CEO and Founder of Artcryption.com, emphasized this need, stating, “Web3 adoption requires a focus on safety, security, regulations, and education. Supporting and growing web3 companies aimed at addressing these are key to growing the evolution of the internet.” By actively supporting and investing in web3 companies, we collectively contribute to the development of a metaverse that upholds the highest standards of safety and security while empowering users with the necessary knowledge and skills to navigate this new digital landscape.

Axel – Georgian Business Angel Network also shares the enthusiasm for supporting Web3 and recognises the incredible opportunities it brings for transformation, “Web3 startups provide incredible opportunities for transformation. Our team firmly believes in the immense value and positive impact that Web3 can have. We’re excited to explore the possibilities it holds for angel investors. By embracing Web3, we can open up new doors for innovation and bring about significant change across a range of industries.” Amidst this transformative landscape, it becomes essential to closely monitor the investment potential within the metaverse. While early-stage investors have shown interest and support in metaverse startups, the true long-term potential is yet to be fully realized. It is crucial to acknowledge that the metaverse is still evolving, and its future impact will unfold over time. To explore this evolving landscape, EBAN, Spatial, Arrival, and Axel are organizing an exclusive event titled “Discovering Web3: Must-Know Insights for Angels!” on June 20th at 2:00 PM CEST. This immersive event will take place on the Metaverse, specifically within the Spatial platform. It presents a unique opportunity for business angels to explore the world of Web3 and its potential impact on our lives, work, and investment strategies. By attending this event, participants can learn from industry experts and connect with like-minded investors from around the world.

The agenda includes three keynote speeches by prominent individuals in the early-stage investing and metaverse industries. Dusan Stojanovic, Founding Partner and Director at True Global Ventures 4 Plus, will share valuable insights into investment strategies, emerging opportunities, and the future direction of the metaverse. David Rose, Founder & CEO at USREM and Founding General Partner at True Global Ventures 4 Plus, will delve into the transformative power of the metaverse and its implications across various sectors. Petri Rajahalme, Partner at FOV Ventures, will provide his perspective on investing in emerging technologies within the metaverse landscape.

Secure your spot and join us for “Discovering Web3: Must-Know Insights for Angels!” 

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In an exclusive interview, Mark Schneider, a seasoned entrepreneur, angel investor, and Keynote Speaker at the EBAN Annual Congress in Thessaloniki this May, shares valuable insights on team building, leadership, and the European ecosystem. With a rich entrepreneurial background, Mark’s journey has been marked by determination, adaptability, and a commitment to innovation.

“I became an entrepreneur because it was in my blood.”

Raised in an environment where entrepreneurship was celebrated, Mark witnessed the success of his father, who built a chain of stores that eventually became a thriving public company. This upbringing instilled in Mark a strong desire to forge his path and transform his technical innovations into prosperous businesses. Armed with undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, he furthered his education in business, envisioning a future where he could merge his technical expertise with entrepreneurial understanding. 

Mark’s career initially led him to a prominent company, Pepsi, where he sought to gain marketing knowledge not learned in technical education. However, the rigid structure of the corporate environment only reinforced his preference for autonomy and the freedom to pursue his ideas. This realisation solidified his identity as an entrepreneur and propelled him to establish his own companies. Like many entrepreneurs, Mark encountered numerous challenges throughout his career, particularly during the early stages. Financial constraints and cash crises tested his resilience, but he emerged stronger, armed with valuable lessons and insights. 

 “You have to give your team enough rope to hang themselves…and forgive them when they do.”

Drawing from his experiences as a CEO, Mark has developed a unique perspective on team building and leadership. He believes in empowering teams by allowing them to develop and implement solutions. While there is an inherent risk in fostering a culture of ownership, creativity, and collaboration, it ultimately pays off. While empowering the team is crucial, Mark also emphasises the need for attentiveness to details to prevent the team from going too far off the path. Mark’s leadership style strives to promote accountability and continuous improvement within the organisation. 

“Build teams that are not like yourself.  I need a team to tell me I'm doing the wrong thing. I’ll listen, but that doesn't necessarily mean I'll agree. Some of my most enlightening days as an entrepreneur were when I had a room full of people whose judgement I trusted, all recommending different paths.”

One notable aspect of Mark’s leadership philosophy is his appreciation for diverse perspectives. Rather than seeking validation, he values team members who challenge his ideas and offer different viewpoints. Mark believes that diverse thought leads to better decision-making and robust solutions.

“Make your mistakes and learn at someone else’s company.”

Mark shares invaluable advice for the most inexperienced individuals starting their entrepreneurial journey. He advises working for someone else to gain experience and insights from experienced professionals. He highlights the importance of learning from others’ mistakes.

“Plan your business and understand that every assumption you make will probably be wrong.”

Entrepreneurs should recognise the inevitability of making their own mistakes and  embrace the concept of “failing fast, but small.” He encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to recognise that failure, especially when it is not fatal,  is a valuable learning opportunity.

“Making the right hires is  99% of the challenge.”

Additionally, Mark emphasises the significance of hiring and motivating a high-performing team. He urges entrepreneurs to prioritise recruiting top-tier talent, even if it initially seems unaffordable. By avoiding the mistakes of hastily hiring ill-suited individuals, entrepreneurs can build strong teams that drive long-term success.

"If you don't have a big enough portfolio, it is a roll of the dice without enough chances."

In terms of investing, Mark emphasises the importance of understanding the economics of companies and the dynamics of investment portfolios. He advises investors to develop a diversified portfolio of at least 20 to 40 companies, ensuring a distribution of small and large exits. Mark also stresses the need for investors to comprehend the intricacies of the cap table and the waterfall, as these factors significantly impact the potential investment returns.

When discussing the European ecosystem, Mark acknowledges that it differs from its American counterpart. He attributes this difference to various factors, such as the nature of the European Union and cultural boundaries that hinder cross-border collaboration. He remains optimistic and excited about his upcoming participation as a speaker at the EBAN Annual Congress in Thessaloniki. He anticipates fruitful discussions and the opportunity to witness the progress of the Mediterranean and South-Eastern European ecosystems firsthand.

To get more insights from Mark and other amazing speakers (https://ebancongress.com/speakers-2023/), join us this May for the largest and most recognised angel investing event in Europe: #EBANCongress – get your ticket on: https://ebancongress.com/tickets/.

Interview conducted by Alexandra Gouta – Article originally published in Greek on the ANA-MPA website 

In an interview with the Finnish serial entrepreneur and investor Janne Jormalainen, president of the European Trade Association for Business Angels, Seed Funds and Early Stage Market Players (EBAN), says that “Greece has some unique advantages in the global start-up scene”. Greece has reasonable salary levels for highly skilled people and also the availability of highly skilled engineers. This is very important for developing high technology products in a cost-effective way. I also think that the lifestyle that people enjoy in Greece can make it an excellent attraction for international high-tech professionals,” explained Jormalainen, who will soon be in Thessaloniki for a week on the occasion of the annual conference (24-26 May 2023) of EBAN, a Brussels-based European body created in 1999 by pioneering investors.

Asked what advice he would give to Greek entrepreneurs to become more visible and more “convincing” to investors and attract more capital, especially the so-called “smart money”, he answers: “The advice I would give to any founder is to build a good network of advisors who can introduce him/her to investors and potential clients and partners around the world. This helps a lot in connecting with “smart money” investors. The other advice I would give them is to focus early on getting feedback (feedback) from the market and selling their product or service. Product development is, of course, important, but nothing beats talking to their (potential) customers early on. This will give the necessary credibility in the eyes of potential investors and the necessary verification in the R&D done in the company.”

What do you think are the sectors with the greatest potential for Greek companies? “I have always said that the sectors with the greatest potential are those that have a large domestic market (hence the need for innovation) or a large knowledge base in the country or region (hence know-how). One sector that would be obvious when talking about Greece is travel and hospitality. But of course we shouldn’t forget that we live in a global economy and any world-changing innovation can come from anywhere – so let’s not limit our thinking either,” he says.

Artificial intelligence, fintech and the big opportunity for Europe

Business angels are usually the ones who invest first in any nascent venture and this makes them extremely important for early-stage start-ups. What’s more, they don’t just offer money, but much more. So to the question of why business angels are important to an entrepreneurial ecosystem and what they offer that other investors do not contribute, Jormalainen’s answer is perfectly clear: “by investing in early-stage businesses, angels are taking a very high risk. According to many statistics, two-thirds of their investments fail. Business angels invest money, but more importantly they invest their personal time, in the sense that they offer coaching to the founders and bring their contacts and expertise to the company. And that, in many cases, is much more important than money,” he points out.

The risk is therefore very high for business angels and the failure rates are high. How many people in Europe take up this challenge? Based on EBAN estimates there are 40,000 business angels in Europe who have invested, again according to EBAN statistics, €1.5 billion in early stage companies (2021). However, as Jormalainen clarifies, not all investments are recorded in the statistics, so the total amount of invested capital is actually significantly higher. “Also, we should not forget that this is money invested very early in a company and the impact that these business angel investments create is much greater for economies than the growth of companies per se,” he adds.As for the sectors of the economy that attract the most angel capital, he discloses that based on the available statistics these were financial technology, health and business software.

At the same time, an important growing trend is so-called impact investing. Simply put, this means that business angels are increasingly investing in businesses that create a positive impact on society. “Good examples are green transition technologies and healthcare. More and more business angels want to create a positive impact with their capital and expertise and participate in solving the problems we all face today,” explains the EBAN president.

The growth of sectors such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and fintech (financial technology) is exponential. Are business angels financially involved in such ventures in cutting-edge sectors? “It is clear that there is very high and immediate potential in financial technology, as EBAN’s statistics show. And the use of AI across industries is clearly a huge topic of discussion at the moment. I think the opportunities that AI creates in many traditional industry sectors are huge and will open up many opportunities for radical innovation. I myself have a few companies in my portfolio that are developing AI technology or AI-based products. I can see for myself how these technologies will very quickly change the way we do business or run and manage our societies. In my opinion and the green transition is also a very big opportunity for Europe and we could really lead the world in these systems and technologies. The last year and a half has shown us how important it is not to be complacent in the energy sector and really opened our eyes to change,” he underlines.

What key characteristics make a startup worthy of attracting investment?

Janne Jormalainen has himself invested in more than 30 high-tech and education companies and is currently chairman of the board in four highly successful startups. What would you say are the key characteristics that make a startup worthy of attracting investment? “It may be a cliché, but I have seen time and time again that the founding team plays the most important role in the success of the company. Balanced, experienced and hungry for success founding team will succeed even if the initial ideas don’t work. I always look for great teams and everything else is secondary. When it comes to the business itself, I emphasise the “grip” of the business, its transfer (to the market). In many cases it is too early for customer feedback, but it is important to have validation of the (value of the) idea from real customers. After that, the credibility of the plans and the scalability of the business are the next issues to consider,” he says.

As to what would be the ideal “elevator pitch”, he replies: “If someone makes me an offer (to invest in them), I would want to understand the business first and then hear about the team and customer feedback. An elevator pitch should be short and easy to understand. After that, the conversation can be expanded into details’ (an elevator pitch is internationally known as a short and concise self-presentation or presentation of a business in 30-60 seconds, the time it would take an elevator to get from the ground floor to the top floor of a high-rise building)

This is the first time that EBAN is holding its annual conference in Greece and in Thessaloniki, following the initiative and proposal of the Hellenic Network of Business Angels (HEBAN) and co-organised by EBAN, InvestEU and Enterprise Greece. HEBAN’s annual conference has an international character and will be attended by representatives from more than 60 business angels networks worldwide and hundreds of investors

With the Austrian Investing Report 2022, the pre-IPO investment activity in Austria was comprehensively examined for the first time. The knowledge gained now provides information about the investment motives and the behavior of both anglers and institutional investors. The report is intended to contribute to the design of conducive framework conditions for innovative start-ups. The order was placed jointly by the Austrian Angel Investors Association (aaia), the Austrian Private Equity and Venture Capital Organization (AVCO) and Austria Wirtschaftsservice GmbH (aws).

Over 82 percent of the investors surveyed named the business model as a decision-making criterion for investments, and almost 73 percent named the technology. The main motive for investors is the return (21 percent). Supporting the founders (18 percent), enjoying working together (17 percent) and passing on know-how (12 percent) are also mentioned as motives not much less frequently. “The high focus on investments in Austrian growth companies is quite surprising. More than 56 percent of the shares are held in Austrian companies. That’s positive and important for the location,” says Dr. Rudolf Dömötör, Director WU Business Incubator.

It is also interesting that according to the report, angel investors diversify more between individual forms of investment than institutional investors. Around 21 percent of the invested assets are in startups, scale-ups and spin-offs, 31 percent in real estate, 21 percent in stocks or bonds and 14 percent in SMEs and existing companies. Institutional investors, on the other hand, act with a stronger focus on startups, scaleups and spin-offs. These groups of companies account for around 77 percent of their invested assets.

Read the full report below (in German).

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