Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ESIL (Early Stage Investing Launchpad - Unleashing the potential of early stage investing in Europe)

Teaser

The Early Stage Investing Launchpad (ESIL) helps building the capacity and capability of investors across Europe and links those investors to the best companies, and to fellow investors, locally and internationally.ESIL provides each country in Europe with a tailored programme...

Summary

The Early Stage Investing Launchpad (ESIL) helps building the capacity and capability of investors across Europe and links those investors to the best companies, and to fellow investors, locally and internationally.
ESIL provides each country in Europe with a tailored programme designed to stimulate their local investment community based on the specific needs of each market. The ESIL programme is made available by a consortium led by META Group, with Business Angels Europe (BAE), the European Business and Innovation Centre Network (EBN), the European Crowdfunding Network (ECN), GoBeyond, BPI France and LINC Scotland. The programme is delivered in partnership with selected local partners who share the commitment to create a dynamic investment environment by mobilising new leaders within the Business Angel and wider investment community, encouraging more individuals to become investors and improving the effectiveness of the investment process.
ESIL makes available country specific capacity building actions with a blend of online and offline activities including training materials, an online networking and matchmaking platform, access to best practices and knowledge of the world’s most effective Business Angel and early stage investors. ESIL in the 3 years of project implementation will provide nascent and existing Business Angels communities with:
• 40 webinars
• 60 offline trainings
• 50 open days
• 5 study visits
• 15 intimate events
• 10 international e-pitches
ESIL expects 100.000 individuals accessing online videos and 2.500 individuals participating to the capacity building programs.
By joining the ESIL community Businesss angels and early stage investors will benefit from:
• Being members of the pan-European investment community;
• A unique toolkit with training and support materials to help mobilising local investment communities;
• Connecting to a pool of international peers and experts;
• Exchanging ideas with fellow investors at the ESIL open days;
• International exchanges and study visits to share global best practice;
• The ESIL platform for local and international networking, syndication and deal flow.

Work performed

In the first 18 months, ESIL has assessed and selected 29 local leaders for 35 countries and validated 19 local implementation plans, with two of them addressing a cluster of countries (Nordics and Baltics).
In terms of setting up an operational toolset, ESIL developed three components: the toolkit, the pool of trainers and the portfolio of online tools.
The toolkit has training modules designed for all levels of angel investors (from potential to experienced ones), network managers, crowdfunding, policy makers and entrepreneurs. It includes 15 videos, 15 slide decks, 6 tools for investors and is available in the digital academy. Moreover, also in synergy with the communication activities ESIL produced 20 inspirational videos, available in the dedicated YouTube channel, with tips and personal experiences from leading business angels and other early stage investors. The online community currently has more than 200 members.
ESIL launched a call for trainers to create the pool of trainers. The pool is populated by 10 experts (from the consortium, other experienced business angels and network managers with proved knowledge and expertise on the field).
The ESIL online tools include a network/matchmaking platform, the digital academy and the ESIL website, an info point for those interested in early stage investing. Additionally, ESIL will deliver in total 40 webinars and 10 international e-pitches, while other complementary services will be offered from the partners (ie angel open deals, reverse pitching and others).
As far as dissemination and communication is concerned ESIL prepared a full set of materials, ready to be used by all partners across Europe, and a set of online media channels (twitter, linkedin, youtube, a dedicated website for the project). Moreover all the partners’ communication channels and a budget for online marketing campaign were used to maximise our out-reach. In that regard, ESIL has decided to evolve and aim at becoming the point of reference for early stage investing, informing about other initiatives and activities, curating external content. It is key for ESIL’s sustainability to take advantage of the fragmented market and become a one stop shop for anyone interested in early stage investing.
In the second year, ESIL started with activities related to building professional business angels and structures via trainings and open days. In total 6 webinars have been delivered with a total number of 193 participants (not individuals) and 6 offline workshops have been delivered from the ESIL trainers with more than 250 participants. As far as ESIL open days are concerned, 8 took place in different European cities and 3 intimate dinners were organised.

Final results

A sustainable, comprehensive strategy for building capacity in early-stage investments across Europe

ESIL is taking special care of both less developed markets, transferring and adapting all the knowledge of its partners and more developed ones providing support to improving their operations focusing on challenges such as illiquidity and co-investments. To maximise impact ESIL has raised awareness and disseminated, through its online channels, a wide set of tailored capacity building materials. Local Leaders contracted for the implementation of the capacity building action acted as multipliers involving other members of local BA groups, individual investors, successful entrepreneurs, institutional players. Moreover, the recruiting process has opened up opportunities for further cooperation and cross-fertilization among all ESIL Local Leaders, their ecosystems and the consortium partners.

Higher levels of early-stage expertise in Europe

To help structure and professionalise business angels\' activities ESIL designed so far and validated 19 Local Implementation Plans (LOPs) covering 35 countries. Those LIPs set the roadmap for the delivery of the activities planned to structure and professionalise BA’s activities in each target country and to pave the way for sustainability (organisation of tailored workshops and webinars, ESIL open days to connect to and better structure co-operation with other investors and online platforms). With the ESIL open days, ESIL guaranteed the active involvement of entrepreneurs (start-ups and SMEs), business intermediaries (accelerators, incubators, service providers) making available online awareness raising videos and webinars.

Increase the number of early-stage investments in Europe, including cross-border

The ESIL program will support investors in developing regions to invest locally, and those in developed regions to invest cross border.
To reach the expected impact, in the next 18 months, project partners will focus on the following key actions:
• Empower more active angels to act in syndicate and being exposed to cross border investment leveraging on ESIL Open Days and use of platforms.
• Use e-platforms (EUROQUITY) to improve dealfow.
• Empower more active angels to act in syndicate and being exposed to cross border investment opportunities.
• involve the early stage investment players in during ESIL Open Days to facilitate more investments locally and abroad

Website & more info

More info: https://www.europeanesil.eu/.