EBAN

EBAN – the European Business Angels Network – is the pan-European representative body for the early-stage investor community. It is a not-for-profit association that gathers business angel networks and other early-stage investor groups from Europe and beyond. According to its official website, EBAN is Europe's largest association of business angel networks and other early stage investors, with a mission to drive successful and responsible early stage investing by providing members with network connections, best practices and representation towards governmental stakeholders. It describes itself as a "network of networks" that gathers thousands of professional investors across Europe and the rest of the world. EBAN was established in 1999 by a group of pioneer angel networks in Europe with the collaboration of the European Commission and EURADA. Originally focused exclusively on business angels, the organisation has evolved into a cross-sectoral representation of early-stage equity investors. Today it reports over 130 member organisations in more than 50 countries, and a community of over 15,000 individual angel investors located in over 50 countries across the European continent and other parts of the world. The sector it represents is estimated to invest 1.22 billion Euros a year, playing a vital role in Europe's future, notably in the funding of SMEs. EBAN's activities centre on three pillars: providing quality networking opportunities for its members, promoting knowledge sharing and best practices among early-stage investors, and representing business angel investors towards public and governmental entities. It offers members-only benefits including expert access, discounts, dealflow, best practices documentation, an online academy, events and member news. The organisation also runs education programmes and events, and maintains a commitment to gender equality in its governance, staffing, operations and public-facing activities. As a membership association rather than a commercial company, EBAN does not sell products in the conventional sense; its "offerings" are membership services, networking, advocacy and knowledge resources for the angel investing community. It is governed by a Board of Directors and managed by a team led by a Director General. The organisation is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, and operates across Europe and internationally.

EBAN was established in 1999 by a group of pioneer angel networks in Europe, with the collaboration of the European Commission and EURADA. Its founding purpose was to create a pan-European representative body for the emerging business angel community, which was then a fragmented landscape of national and regional networks. In its early years, the organisation focused exclusively on business angels, providing a platform for networking and knowledge exchange among early-stage investors. Over time, EBAN broadened its scope. It evolved from a purely angel-focused body into a cross-sectoral representation of early-stage equity investors, encompassing not only business angels but also other early-stage investor groups such as seed funds, accelerators and incubators. This evolution reflected the changing nature of early-stage finance in Europe, where the boundaries between angel investing, venture capital and other forms of startup finance became increasingly blurred. By the 2010s, EBAN had grown into a substantial network. According to its official website, it now gathers over 130 member organisations in more than 50 countries and a community of over 15,000 individual angel investors. The sector it represents is estimated to invest 1.22 billion Euros a year. A Polish Wikipedia article on the organisation reports that EBAN represents a group investing over 7.5 billion Euros annually, comprising 260,000 business angel investors, and that, according to data collected by the organisation with the support of early-stage investors, 2,900 enterprises were founded, creating 17,800 jobs. These figures differ from those on EBAN's own website, likely reflecting different methodologies or time periods. EBAN's governance has included representatives from various European countries. The Polish Wikipedia article notes that the Board of Directors is chaired by Peter Cowley, and that in the 2018–2020 term, Robert Ługowski, Managing Partner of Cobin Angels, was the sole Polish representative on the Board. In the 2016–2018 term, Michał Ciemiński, founder and president of Platinum Investors, was the first representative of the Polish angel community. The organisation continues to be led by a Director General, with Martin Skea listed in that role on its website. Throughout its history, EBAN has maintained a close relationship with European institutions, particularly the European Commission, which co-founded the organisation and remains a key stakeholder. EBAN's mission today is to drive successful and responsible early stage investing by providing its members with network connections, best practices and representation towards governmental stakeholders. It also emphasises gender equality in its governance, staffing, operations and public-facing activities.

• 2018

  Robert Ługowski, Managing Partner of Cobin Angels, serves as the sole Polish representative on the EBAN Board for the 2018–2020 term.

• 2016

  Michał Ciemiński becomes the first Polish representative on the EBAN Board of Directors for the 2016–2018 term.

• 1999

  EBAN founded by a group of pioneer angel networks in Europe with the collaboration of the European Commission and EURADA.

Europe's largest association of business angel networks and early-stage investors, representing the early-stage investor community towards public and governmental entities.

• EBAN Membership

  Membership for business angel networks and early-stage investor groups, offering networking, best practices, dealflow and discounts.

• EBAN Events

  Networking and educational events for the early-stage investor community.

• EBAN Online Academy

  Online educational resources for angel investors.

• EBAN Best Practices

  Documentation and knowledge sharing on early-stage investing best practices.

1. 1EBAN – Europe's leading early stage investors networkeban.org
2. 2About Us – EBANeban.org
3. 3EBANwikidata.org
4. 4European Business Angels Networkpl.wikipedia.org