On September 7-9, 2018, Samara region will host the International early stage investors summit VOLGA ANGELS – the largest in Russia meeting of leading business angels, seed funds, accelerators and other early stage market participants. Industry professionals will discuss current issues and main trends of a venture capital market, and debutants will receive hands-on skills of investment at early stages.
A two-day working program will bring together more than 250 participants: private investors, representatives of venture capital funds, large corporations, development institutes and authorities from Russia, Europe and the USA. The program will include plenary discussion panels and round tables with the participation of Russian and international investors and experts.
Summit will focus on three main topics.
During the Venture track participants will discuss topical issues of the investment market: investment strategies at early stages, choice of the best moment for a portfolio company selling, public and quasi-public investments.
Blockchain track will focus on questions of technologies and their influence on the investment market at early stages and opening up of new opportunities for collective investments in start-ups as well as use of new crowdfunding tools (ICO).
Special intensive on early stage investments “Investment academy” will be useful for beginning business angels. The main task is to provide new players with the tools that will enable them to search and evaluate startups, structure transactions and work with portfolio companies.
Our central speakers will be:
- Brian Cohen, Chairman of the New York Angels;
- Candace Johnson, the President of the European Business Angels Network;
- Marcos Dantus, CEO of Startup Mexico;
- Peter Braun, Vice President, European business angel Association;
- Riku Asikainen, Vice-President of the Finnish Business Angels Network;
- Peter Cowley, Chair of the board of Cambridge Business Angels;
- Vitaly Polekhin, the President of the National business-angels association;
- and others.
Sergey Bogdanov, CEO of YellowRockets:
“Private investments play a key role in the innovative ecosystem. Business angels invest in startups at the earliest stages and are an essential element of the venture capital market. Moreover, the work of a private investor is very specific. There are many nuances: like how to structure transactions, how changes in law affect the market, how to build syndicated transactions. It is also important to build proper relationships with start-ups and know how to select projects in the portfolio. All of these and other issues will be discussed at the VOLGA ANGELS summit with the participation of leading Russian and foreign venture investors.”
Vitaly Polekhin, the President of the National business-angels association:
“International early stage investors summit will definitely not be a commonplace venture held numerously throughout the year. This is not a kind of event when speakers and guests come to visit in the meantime. The participants will dive into a special environment that will enable them to exchange knowledge, experience and connections for three days. Leading business angels and associations from Russia, Europe, North and Latin America, seed funds and other early stage venture capital market players will come together to become part of the global venture capital world and make cross-border investments more effective.”
The summit is organized by the Assistance fund for venture investments development of Samara region. The meeting is held with the support of the government of the Samara region. The program partner is the national Association of business angels. The strategic partner is the European Business Angels Network (EBAN). Operator – Yellow Rockets.