USAID Strengthens Regional Investment Community through Angel Investing

USAID Strengthens Regional Investment Community through Angel Investing
David Beatty, angel investor and Managing Director of Golden Seeds, at the Belgrade conference.
USAID Serbia

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Belgrade – A USAID-sponsored regional “Introducing Angel Investment” conference presented best practices in the area of angel investing with the goal of developing, improving, and professionalizing angel capital networks in Serbia and the region.  The conference was opened by USAID’s Mission Director Susan K. Fritz. Angel investors provide financial backing for small start-ups or entrepreneurs usually in exchange for an ownership stake in the business.

Angel investing has the potential to connect start-up and young businesses with financing opportunities that will enable the companies to create more jobs for the people of Serbia and the region. Connecting growing businesses and entrepreneurs with a strong investment network will help provide access to the capital necessary for a business to grow in size or efficiency. This should also encourage youth to participate in start-up businesses, boost investments in innovation, and create an environment for youth job creation and economic prosperity. Equally important, innovations will lead to new technologies in key economic sectors, making them more competitive globally.

The event gathered Serbian and regional angel investors, representatives from angel and venture networks, accelerators, centers of innovation and excellence, and incubators. Representatives from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, and Serbia participated in his event, as did as angel investors from Austria, the United Kingdom and the United States.