Caribbean Export offers Angel Investor Training

On July 10 Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA) in collaboration with TEPA facilitated a workshop on Angel Investor engagement to OECS member state entrepreneurs, Business Support Organisations (BSOs) and stakeholders.

The objectives of the workshop were to:

• Introduce to participants the concept of angel investing, the profile of typical Angels and what they are looking for in potential investments.
• Share with participants the tools needed to attract investors.
• Create a viable pipeline of qualified and well prepared entrepreneurs to apply to Angel Investors throughout the region for investment.

An angel investor or angel is an affluent individual who provides capital for a business start-up, usually in exchange for convertible debt or ownership equity. A small but increasing number of angel investors organize themselves into angel groups or angel networks to share research and pool their investment capital, as well as to provide advice to their portfolio companies.

The workshop was the first in a series to be hosted by CEDA and was targeted to SMEs looking for financing to start or expand their businesses. It was a pre-requisite for attendance that participants should, at a minimum, have a developed business plan.

The workshop was also attended by BSOs from around the OECS to give them a better understanding of Angel Investors equipping them with the tools to assist SMEs in securing such investment if the opportunity were to arise. The facilitator briefed attendees on what “Angel Investors want to hear, why they want to hear it and how they think”.  They were also sensitized, educated, and trained in global best practices and methods of engaging angel investors for investment.

Stay tuned to TEPA for information on the next CEDA hosted Angel Investor Workshop.