The Belgian business angels network has just completed a funding round to support its development ambitions. What’s specific about this funding round? It was carried out with its investor community. The aim is to become an essential player in early stage funding in Belgium, with European extensions.
After a record year in 2020 despite the pandemic, BeAngels’s momentum is growing. In 2021, the network recruited more than 100 new investor members to reach 420 members, facilitated over 60 transactions and nearly doubled the amounts invested by its members, increasing from 4.8 to 7.3 million euros. “These are superb results that continue to show both the enthusiasm of our members for investment in the real economy and the vital role of BeAngels in fundraising in Belgium,” comments the CEO, Claire Munck. Note that of the 7.3 million euros invested, 1.4 million was in projects eligible for the start-up tax shelter.
In 2022, BeAngels aims to continue growing significantly in terms of its number of investors and the number of projects financed. The network should set itself apart especially in geographical terms over the coming years and months: “We hope to position ourselves as a national funding player with European ambitions. By extending our services to Dutch-speaking start-ups and investors, we will considerably enhance investment opportunities for our members and funding opportunities for companies,” adds the CEO.
« By extending our services to Dutch-speaking start-ups and investors, we will considerably enhance investment opportunities for our members and funding opportunities for companies »Claire Munck - CEO van BeAngels
The network’s extension has already begun outside Belgium: a Luxembourg satellite was established in 2021, twenty members were recruited in the space of two months, and the launch of an initial investment group, a formula to learn about business angel work in a collegial manner, is under way. An initiative is forming in the north of France and Picardy Wallonia to create an initial France/Belgium cross-border investment group. Not to mention the 23 investments made in 2021 throughout Europe via Verve Ventures, with whom BeAngels sealed a solid partnership nearly two years ago.
To strengthen this geographical development strategy, develop its products and services there and strengthen the digitalisation of business angel work via tools that accelerate meetings with entrepreneurs, investment decisions and access to its post-investment portfolio, BeAngels has decided to open its capital... to its community: ”We’re delighted and proud that this fund-raising could be achieved as a whole, and in record time, with forty of our investor members. This shows to what extent they are convinced of BeAngels’s potential and its ambitious roadmap. And then, what's more wonderful than seeing one’s clients become shareholders?”.