Nairobi, Kenya - The Global Business Angels Network (GBAN) announced today that Viktoria Business Angels Network (VBAN) is the newest organization to join its inclusive global community of early-stage investor networks.
GBAN, part of the Global Entrepreneurship Network, has more than 80 members that meet regularly to share mentorship, training and support to improve investor capacity, amplify the angel voice on regulatory issues, facilitate cross-border investing and remove policy barriers faced by investors.
“A global approach to early-stage investor capacity building is needed to ensure entrepreneurs – who are leading the charge when it comes to creating jobs – have access to the right capital at the right time,” said Jonathan Ortmans, president of the Global Entrepreneurship Network and board director at GBAN. “We are thrilled that VBAN is committed to joining us in this work.”
VBAN was launched in 2017 to bridge the gap between startups and angel investors in East Africa by building trusting relationships and providing the infrastructure to facilitate investment flow. Since then, the group has invested in 10 local startups through its portfolio manager, Viktoria Ventures.
“The region’s angel investment ecosystem is gaining a lot of momentum and proving to be an asset class of worth,” said Jason Musyoka, network manager at VBAN and Viktoria Ventures.
“We are joining GBAN to learn best practices, become better angel investors, and collaborate on deal-flow.”
GBAN is led by a global board of directors with members based in Africa, North America, Asia, Europe and Latin America. It meets virtually monthly and in person once a year. The next GBAN Annual Summit will be in Melbourne, Australia at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in May 2023.
About the Global Entrepreneurship Network
The Global Entrepreneurship Network operates projects and programs in 180 countries to make it easier for anyone, anywhere to start and scale a business. By fostering deeper cross-border collaboration and initiatives between entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, policymakers and entrepreneurial support organizations, GEN works to fuel healthier start and scale ecosystems that create more jobs, educate individuals, accelerate innovation and strengthen economic growth. For more information, visit www.genglobal.org.