Driving Successful and Responsible Angel Investing in Europe
Driving Successful and Responsible Angel Investing in Europe
European Business Angels Network...
is the pan-European representative for the early-stage investor community, gathering over 130 member organisations in more than 50 countries today. Established in 1999 by a group of pioneer angel networks in Europe with the collaboration of the European Commission and EURADA, EBAN represents a sector estimated to invest 1.22 billion Euros a year and playing a vital role in Europe’s future, notably in the funding of SMEs. EBAN fuels Europe’s growth through the creation of wealth and jobs. We are a not-for-profit association gathering business angel networks and other early-stage investor groups from Europe and beyond. Our association focuses on providing quality networking opportunities for our members, promoting knowledge sharing and best practices among early-stage investors, and representing business angel investors towards public and governmental entities. Our community counts over 15,000 individual angel investors located in over 50+ countries across the European continent and other parts of the world.
50+
Countries
15,000+
Investors
130+
Members
EBAN Gender Equality
EBAN is committed to ensuring gender equality in its governance, staffing, operations, and public-facing activities. EBAN aims to be a place of equality and mutual respect among employees, who shall be treated fairly and enjoy equal opportunities. EBAN staff and beneficiaries shall not be discriminated against based on gender, and have equal access to advancement, training, and responsibility
EBAN Team
EBAN Board
Jesper Jarlbæk
EBAN President
Danish Business Angels, Denmark
Jesper Jarlbæk is an angel investor and board member of growth businesses. He is Chairman of DanBAN, Denmark’s largest and most successful business angel network, and Vice-Chairman of the Danish Venture Capital Association (DVCA), which named him Business Angel of the Year in 2009. He sits on the board of Bang & Olufsen, chairs Happy Helper and the private equity fund CataCap, and is a member of the Danish Committee for Good Corporate Governance. Previously, he was Managing Partner and Nordic Managing Partner at Arthur Andersen, then Managing Partner of Advisory Services at Deloitte. He lectures and mentors at CBS.
Lauri Antalainen
Estonian Business Angels Network, Estonia
Lauri Antalainen is President of the Estonian Business Angels Network (EstBAN), an entrepreneur and angel investor with more than 50 investments, primarily in AI and deep tech. He is founder and CEO of Digiwise, a digitalisation and AI consultancy, and previously co-founded GameFounders, one of Europe’s first gaming accelerators. He serves on the Advisory Board of Latitude59 and on the AI Board of the Estonian Academy of Sciences. Combining hands-on entrepreneurial experience with an active investment practice, he supports founders through capital, digital expertise and a strong focus on emerging technologies.
Rita Anson
Norwegian Business Angels Network, NORWAY
Rita is Secretary General of the Norwegian Business Angels Network, serving since April 2018 as head of program coordination for angel training and startups. [Name] creates arenas where angel investors and entrepreneurs meet, and delivers training programmes and events across Norway and the North Atlantic on startup evaluation, investment strategy and local network building. She also teaches entrepreneurship courses, including investment readiness and pitching. Beyond NorBAN, she is Partner and Co-Founder of Nordic Ignite, leading deal flow and pre-screening as an investment committee member, and co-founded WIN Women Investor Network Norway in 2020 to help women invest in startups.
Christine Bjarkby
Stockholm Business Angels, SWEDEN
Christine Bjarkby is an investor and founder at Lincs, where she serves as Senior Advisor in Growth Capital. A board member of EBAN since 2017, she brings broad business development experience, from large global public companies to start-ups, and has worked in investment roles for Invest Sweden, Entrepreneurship Network and Connect Sweden. She sits on the boards of several startups and co-founded NordicBAN, and is now building the business angel community in Sweden. Christine matches growth companies with capital, skills and contacts, drawing on a network of more than 500 angels and VCs, and develops investment networks at regional, national and international levels.
Nina Dremelj
Business Angels of Slovenia, Slovenia
Nina Dremelj is President of Business Angels of Slovenia and an active investor, passionate about helping entrepreneurs turn ideas into successful businesses. Over the last five years she has invested in more than 17 companies, achieving an average investment multiple of 7.71x. She also devotes her energy to Alita Capital, an investment company backing extremely early-stage companies and founding teams with small tickets, time and knowledge. Previously, she co-owned and successfully managed the Swiss seed fund AlpVent AG. In 2021, she helped set up the first daFUND venture capital fund, supported by business angels, and invested in it herself.
Daniela Haunstein
invest.austria, Austria
Daniela Haunstein is Managing Director of invest.austria, the leading network for investors in Austria’s private capital markets. A leading advocate for angel investing, venture capital and private equity, she works to strengthen Austria’s investment ecosystem through competitive policy frameworks and strategic initiatives, including a national fund-of-funds. She is also an active angel investor, LP investor, entrepreneur and mentor to early-stage founders. With over 30 years of experience in finance, business leadership and investment, she champions strategies that deliver both financial returns and positive impact, and is a long-standing advocate for greater female participation across the investment ecosystem.
Marta Huidobro
Asociación Española de Business Angels Networks, Spain
An executive with experience in multinational companies, specialising in financial management, business assessment and project management. Passionate about sustainability, she holds a Master’s degree in Competitive Social Transformation and an international accreditation in Board Governance and Good Corporate Governance. She is a member of the Advisory Board of Energy ROE, and has extensive knowledge of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. As a business angel, she has made numerous investments individually and through investment groups. She co-founded and formerly chaired WA4STEAM and serves as Vice-President of Club Impact Angels.
Panos Ketikidis
Hellenic Business Angels Network, GREECE
Professor Panos Ketikidis is Capacity Building Committee Chair and Board Member of EBAN, and Co-Founder of the Hellenic Business Angels Network (HeBAN). He is Professor of Innovation and Technology at CITY College, Chairman of the South East European Research Center (SEERC) and a business angel. With over 30 years of experience in management, education, innovation, research and competitive funding, his expertise spans responsible innovation, technology, entrepreneurship, impact investment, regional development and health informatics. He has served as President and board member of several organisations linking research, business and education. He holds a PhD in Systems Science, Health Informatics from CITY University, UK.
Ilkka Kaikuvuo
Finnish Business Angels Network, Finland
Ilkka Kaikuvuo is a Finnish startup realist, angel investor and board professional. He chairs the Finnish Business Angels Network (FiBAN) and co-founded two Finnish technology companies: Framery (Nasdaq Helsinki: FRAMERY), known for its soundproof office pods, and Surveypal, a customer feedback and CX management platform. Having sat on several sides of the table, he now helps startups and growth companies deal with growth, funding and the occasional reality check. Outside meeting rooms, he usually runs uphill.
Ricardo Luz
Invicta Angels, Portugal
Ricardo Luz is the founder of Invicta Angels- Associação de Investidores early-stage do Norte de Portuga, the early-stage investors’ association of Northern Portugal. Founding partner of Ecclesia and Absolute H., co-founder of Fluidinova and key expert consultant at Civitta, Ricardo also co-founded FNABA, the Portuguese federation of business angel associations (2007–2015), and advises the board of SERMEC Group. From 2015 to 2017, Ricardo served on the Executive Board of the Instituição Financeira de Desenvolvimento (now BPF). A former professor of management, sales and finance, Ricardo hosts podcasts on investing and leadership, and holds degrees in Economics and Design for Sustainability.
Mary McKenna
AwakenAngels, Ireland
Mary McKenna is a serial tech entrepreneur and angel investor based in Donegal, Ireland. She co-founded and sold the online learning business Learning Pool, and has since worked with early-stage and scaling ventures across Europe, personally investing in over 40 startups with five exits to date. She co-founded AwakenAngels, Ireland’s first and only women-led angel syndicate, with three other women. Mary is a Distinguished Visiting EIR at the University of Oxford and a Royal Society-appointed EIR at Ulster University. In 2023/24 she was named both European Female Business Angel of the Year and UK Business Angels Association UK Angel of the Year.
Michael O’Connor
Monte Carlo Capital, Monaco
He specialises in high-technology and innovative projects with international growth potential. He co-founded Intepro, a venture-backed Irish IT start-up, and led its US market entry through several international funding rounds to a successful trade sale. He has advised over 300 start-ups and built an angel network that has completed more than 100 deals, investing over €50m. He founded the International Security Accelerator, investing in AI, cyber and big data start-ups, and co-chairs the EBAN E-Xcelerator. A board member and investor in several companies, he holds an engineering degree from Cambridge and MBAs from London Business School and Wharton.
Caroline Sai
Angels Santé, FRANCE
Caroline is Operations Manager of Angels Santé, Europe’s largest business angel network dedicated solely to healthcare, and Head of the EIT Health Investor Network, which it operates. The network connects healthcare investors with pre-qualified European startups raising between €500K and €10M. She represents Angels Santé on the EBAN Board. Of French-American background, Caroline was educated in the US and France and holds a master’s degree in International Business. She has extensive business and communication experience across Europe, Africa and the Middle East, is passionate about early-stage investment and the power of networking.
Rita Sakus
Lithuanian Business Angel Network, Lithuania
Rita Sakus is an experienced investor, co-founder of the Lithuanian Business Angel Network (LitBAN), EBAN board member and active mentor in the European startup ecosystem. Canadian-Lithuanian, she holds a BA from the University of Toronto, an MBA from Northeastern University and an executive education certificate from Harvard, all focused on innovation and high tech. Her career includes Texas Instruments, Nortel Networks and Transcom Worldwide. After working with venture capital in Israel, she moved to Lithuania, where she taught venture capital and startup courses at the International School of Management. Startups have been her passion since the very start of her career.
Petr Sima
DEPO Ventures, Czechia
Petr is the founder of DEPO Ventures with 25 years of experience in M&A and Corporate Finance with emphasis on business valuation. Founder of Angel Network and Grouport Investment Fund. Petr has extensive VC and Investor exposure accumulated over the years.
George Simongulashvili
Axel – Georgian Business Angels Network, Georgia
George Simongulashvili is an active angel investor and board member of Axel, the Georgian Angel Investors Network, promoting the culture of angel investing in the region and helping high-potential startups succeed. With more than 25 years of experience driving transformative change across industries, he is founding partner of GEC Consulting, which has led over 100 projects supporting business growth in Georgia and Central Asia, with expertise in process optimisation, digital transformation, financial management and strategic planning. He was founding partner of the Caucasus School of Business at Caucasus University, the region’s first internationally accredited business school, and has collaborated with EBRD, USAID and UNDP.
Audra Shallal
Sophia Business Angels, France
Audra is Vice-President of Corenvest, with over twenty years of experience in entrepreneurship, business planning and pitch coaching. Based in Finland and France, she consults for the OECD, UNEP, UNIDO and the European Commission, and teaches entrepreneurship and finance at institutions including ParisTech and CELSA. She launched the Enterprise Financing Network within the MENA-OECD Investment Programme and is co-founder of Flying Finn Angels and co-chair of EBAN Sports. A former Vice-President of FBA and past NFBAN board member, she is an expert jury member and mentor for the European Innovation Council and advises several angel networks. She holds degrees in business, economics and strategic management.
EBAN Ambassadors
Marcel Dridje
EBAN Gulf Cooperation Council Ambassador
Marcel Dridje is EBAN’s Gulf Cooperation Council Ambassador, bridging early-stage financing between Europe and the GCC, where he is now based, following an 11-year tenure on the EBAN Executive Board. He is a former President of Sophia Business Angels (SBA) in France and sits on the boards of the Mediterranean Business Angels Network, Maghreb Diaspora Business Angels and EuropIA Capital. A serial entrepreneur and active business angel, he has over 30 years of experience in IT, deep tech and telecom sales, with leadership roles at Cisco, IBM, Nortel, Lucent and Alcatel-Lucent. His investments include Vaelsys/IVAS, Zetalabs, Faveeo and Cyberflowanalytics.
President Emeritus Advisory Council
President Emeritus Advisory Council
Janne Jormalainen
EBAN President 2020-2024
Janne Jormalainen is a serial entrepreneur and angel investor, and was EBAN President from 2020 to 2024. Active in Northern Europe’s angel scene, he has invested in over thirty high-tech and education companies, chairs four successful start-ups and is chairman emeritus of the Finnish Business Angel Network (FiBAN). He began his career at Nokia, where he led multiple functions and businesses, including the mobile accessories, IoT and wearables unit with €860M in annual revenue. Since 2005 he has founded several companies, selling SPU Oy to Kingspan in 2015. He holds a master’s degree from Tampere University of Technology and is a frequent conference speaker.
Peter Cowley
EBAN President 2018-2020 (Deceased)
Peter Cowley was a serial entrepreneur, angel investor and one of Europe’s most active supporters of entrepreneurship. He served as EBAN President from 2018 to 2020 and later as President Emeritus. He invested in 76 technology startups, founded 12 technology companies and served on more than 40 boards. He was Chairman of Cambridge Angels, a board member of the Global Business Angels Network (GBAN), a non-executive director of the UK Business Angels Association and co-founder of Martlet Capital. Named UK Angel of the Year in 2014, he mentored hundreds of entrepreneurs and wrote three books, including The Invested Investor. His commitment to founders leaves a lasting legacy.
Candace Johnson
EBAN President 2014-2018
Candace Johnson is a co-founder of SES, the world’s pre-eminent satellite group, and architect of SES Global. She founded Loral Cyberstar-Teleport Europe and Europe Online, and is a founding investor and board member of Kacific. During her EBAN presidency, she co-founded the Middle East and African Business Angel Networks (MBAN and ABAN). She also founded the Global Telecom Women’s Network, Global Board Ready Women and VATM. Today she is Partner and Chair of Seraphim’s Global Space Futures Advisory Council, Founding Vice Chair of NorthStar Earth & Space and Vice Chair of the European AI Institute, and sits on PLD Space’s board and the Saudi and Singapore space councils.
Paulo Andrez
EBAN President 2012-2014
Paulo Andrez is an angel investor, Vice-President of FNABA (Portuguese Business Angels Federation), President of Cascais Business Angels and board member of DNA Cascais. EBAN President from 2012 to 2014, he chaired the EBAN Research Committee (2010–2012), which produced the first EBAN Co-Investment and Tax Breaks reports. He chaired the 2007 World Business Angels Leaders Forum, which created the World Business Angel Association, and helped design Portugal’s first business angel co-investment fund and tax break. A serial entrepreneur, he took part as a seller in Novabase’s 2000 IPO on Euronext. He is an IT engineer with an MBA from Nova University Lisbon.
Brigitte Baumann
EBAN President 2009-2012
Brigitte Baumann is Founder of Go Beyond Early Stage Investing, which gives novice and experienced investors access to angel investing through its platform, tools, training and expert angels, across Europe and the US. A business angel since 2003 and EBAN President from 2009 to 2012, she was named European Investor of the Year in 2015 and listed among Europe’s top 50 most influential women in startups and venture capital. She has over 20 years of experience bringing new technologies to market, including as CEO of iWORLD Group, SVP at American Express, President US and Canada of Gemalto and Senior Engagement Manager at McKinsey. She holds degrees from Tufts and Wharton.
Anthony Clarke
EBAN President 2004-2009
Anthony Clarke is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Legal Secretary, and a serial angel investor for nearly 25 years. EBAN President from 2004 to 2009, he is now President Emeritus. He founded London Seed Capital, the UK’s first government-backed angel co-investment fund, and London Business Angels, sold in 2017 to Newable Group, where he remains on the investment committee of its private investment arm. He co-founded UKBAA in 2003, chairing it until 2012. Co-founder and Managing Partner of Seraphim Capital, established in 2006, which launched the world’s first Series A Space Fund in 2016, he also co-founded EBAN Space and sits on the board of SPRINT.
Peter Jungen
EBAN President 2001-2004
Peter Jungen is Founding President of Business Angels Netzwerk Deutschland (BAND) and co-founder and EBAN President from 2001 to 2004. He began his career in industry, becoming CEO of Strabag AG in 1987 and leading its turnaround, before founding Peter Jungen Holding GmbH in 1991. A co-founder and investor in numerous start-ups in Europe and the USA, including Idealo, he is a Partner at the Halo Fund, Palo Alto, and chairs the MENA-OECD Enterprise Financing Network. He is a member of New York Angels and a founding member of the China Business Angels Network. In 1999 he received the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
