Istanbul to host angels of world investment

ANKARA (AA) - Key players of the equity market will meet in Istanbul's Swissotel The Bosphorus on Feb. 13 at the World Business Angels Investment Forum 2017 (WBAF2017).

The WBAF2017 -- with Anadolu Agency as its global communications partner and The London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) as main sponsor -- will be held under the auspices of the Business Angels Association of Turkey (TBAA), according to a press release.

The two-day event, of which the main theme is “Partnering with Corporate Ventures from Start-up to Scale-up to Exit”, will focus on how corporate businesses can foster open innovation and deliver more business value through partnerships with angel investors, start-ups, and SMEs.

Delegations from Gulf countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates will be in attendance.

"These delegations will be looking for investment opportunities in world-class start-ups and scale-ups. This increases the strategic role of Turkey in bridging the European, Asian and African investment ecosystems," said the statement.

More than 100 global experts -- keynote speakers, panel discussion speakers, moderators, and fireside chat speakers -- from over 60 countries and five continents will participate in the forum.

"Speakers include government ministers, world-class angel investors, super angels, chairpersons and presidents of some of the world’s leading NGOs, chairpersons of leading stock exchanges, technopark CEOs, and world-renowned academicians", added the statement.

Angel investment generally designates financial backing of start-ups by individuals.

Washington, DC-based Global Business Angels Network (GBAN), the Brussels-based European Trade Association for Business Angels (EBAN), the Lagos-based African Trade Association for Business Angels (ABAN), the Dubai-based Middle East Trade Association for Business Angels (MBAN) and the Bahrain-based United Nations Industrial Development Organization ITPO (UNIDO), are among the official partners and supporters of the forum, according to the statement.