Research and education for the early stage ecosystem

  • About

    We help individual angel investors and groups of early-stage investors to perform better. We do this by generating and transferring the knowledge needed to succeed today and tomorrow. We are involved in research and we impart up-to-date insights and best practices available in suitable formats. We have also developed the CBA (Certified Business Angel), the world’s first certification for individual angel investors (ISO 17024).

  • Goals

    As an independent international initiative, the Business Angel Institute works across borders and with all kinds of stakeholders in order to: Increase the number of active business angels Deliver best practices grounded in both experience and research Enable knowledge sharing by connecting angels internationally.

  • Training

    Our training program is designed primarily for individuals who invest directly into small but growth-oriented companies. Because of the comprehensive and up-to-date nature of the program, both newcomers and experienced angels will significantly expand their horizons. If you would like to bring this to your own constituency anywhere in the world, we can be your partner, saving you a lot of work.

  • Special Note

    With your booking, the BAI support scientific work in the field of angel and venture finance throughout Europe, as well as measures for the promotion of entrepreneurship at schools and universities. The Business Angel Institute is a non-profit initiative which is financed by a high-quality course and is additionally supported by partners such as Venionaire Capital.

THE TRAINING PROGRAM

This comprehensive program builds a solid foundation for successful angel investing, giving you around 20 days of training in a mixed format (flexibly at home plus face-to-face events, see “Format” below). It delivers specific best practices as well as the underlying principles and a broad spectrum of perspectives (for example from different geographic regions and different empirical studies) needed in order to judge the applicability of particular practices to one’s individual situation.

Select The Best Startups

Certified Business Angel Program Modul A1 & A2

Part A of the program covers all the pre-investment topics related to selecting the best startups (module A1) as well as financial and legal aspects (module A2): The basic concepts, the surrounding financing universe, the investment process, deal flow (sourcing), deal screening (quick filtering), due diligence (in-depth market, business, financial and legal examination), the valuation of pre-revenue startups, negotiations with founders, legal deal terms and typical investment documents.
Watch Intro Video

Certified Business Angel Program

Become A Professional Angel Investor

Master the Post Investment Stage

Certifies Business Angel Program Modul B1& B2

In Part B you will learn everything concerning the post-investment phase, where supporting portfolio companies (module B1) as well as later stage activities (module B2) are important: The different roles investors can play during the further development of their portfolio companies, improving those companies’ chances of success (the improvement process and specifics regarding improving business models, strategies, customer approaches and growing companies as a whole), monitoring the portfolio, raising further capital if necessary, and finally the early preparation and successful execution of exits.

Social proof: testimonials

Markus Ertler, CBA

„Professional Business Angels, need to have a profound knowledge in different fields. I recommend the Certified Business Angel Program to all who take this specific discipline seriously.”

Alexander Deopito, CBA

"Die intensive und hochqualitative Ausbildung zum Certified Business Angel gibt das notwendige Rüstzeug um mich auch in diesem sehr speziellen Umfeld als Business Angel professionell und solide bewegen zu können."

FAQ

  • What is the Certified Business Angel Program?

    This comprehensive program builds a solid foundation for successful angel investing, giving you around 20 days of training in a mixed format (flexibly at home plus face-to-face events, see “Format” below). It delivers specific best practices as well as the underlying principles and a broad spectrum of perspectives (for example from different geographic regions and different empirical studies) needed in order to judge the applicability of particular practices to one’s individual situation. All of the content of this training program is chosen so that it also optimally prepares you for the optional CBA certification.

  • What Is The Content of Modules A1 & A2?

    Part A of the program covers all the pre-investment topics related to selecting the best startups (module A1) as well as financial and legal aspects (module A2): The basic concepts, the surrounding financing universe, the investment process, deal flow (sourcing), deal screening (quick filtering), due diligence (in-depth market, business, financial and legal examination), the valuation of pre-revenue startups, negotiations with founders, legal deal terms and typical investment documents.

  • What Is The Content of Modules B1 & B2?

    In Part B you will learn everything concerning the post-investment phase, where supporting portfolio companies (module B1) as well as later stage activities (module B2) are important: The different roles investors can play during the further development of their portfolio companies, improving those companies’ chances of success (the improvement process and specifics regarding improving business models, strategies, customer approaches and growing companies as a whole), monitoring the portfolio, raising further capital if necessary, and finally the early preparation and successful execution of exits.

  • What Background Do The Instructors have?

    The program is delivered by experts in all phases from finding targets to exiting investments, including: Experienced angel investors Representatives of angel organizations Entrepreneurship professors Specialized lawyers Specialized tax advisors

  • How Is The Program Structured?

    In order to best accommodate the time constraints of busy professionals, the program is designed in a way that allows you to do much of your initial preparation at home. For this you get an extensive set of readings and are guided through them. Of course, you also get to interact with faculty and your fellow program participants at face-to-face masterclasses. Wherever possible, these will be based on real case studies supplied by the faculty, and indeed also real entrepreneurs with whom you can practice in a protected setting. To ensure a sufficient depth of discussion, masterclasses are organized in small group settings. Again, to best accommodate your personal time constraints, a special feature of this program is that you get to choose among several possible dates of the masterclasses: First, we typically provide two different suggested dates for each masterclass (a default one during the week and an alternative one on a weekend of a different week). In addition, we can organize further masterclasses dates based on the preferences of the enrolled program participants. Furthermore, you get practice assignments which you can work through at your leisure at home, and after completing them you get feedback. Finally, after you have had some more time to apply what you have learned, you will typically have further questions, which you get answered in the remote coaching sessions included in the program.

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