100 investors, entrepreneurs, high-net-worth individuals, and managers joined the kickoff event of the European Super Angels Club (ESAC) at Semper Constantia Privatbank in Vienna. The aim of the club, initiated by partners of KPMG and Venionaire Capital, is the promotion of the European startup and investor landscape. Previous roadshow stops were Zurich, Amsterdam, Berlin and New York. The next stops are London and Brussels until all club members meet at the Business Angel Summit in Kitzbühel in summer. In September, the second round of startups will be given the opportunity to get to know the club’s network as part of a new roadshow. The European Super Angels Club is supported, among others, by the startup specialists of PHH Rechtsanwälte and Microsoft Österreich. This pan-European initiative promotes expertise, exchange of experience, and financial support for European talents. The focus is on startups in an already more advanced stage.
Finding the best startups in Europe
At the heart of the ESAC are the recurring roadshows, in which five selected startups are presented at several European hubs to network partners, innovation-seeking groups and investors. As a special incentive, the club’s board of directors invites selected startups to “satellite events” – with the last one taking place in New York City.
Berthold Baurek-Karlic (left) with Firstbird Co-Founder Arnim Wahls.
Berthold Baurek-Karlic, Managing Partner of Venionaire Capital and President of the club: “In the course of the kickoff roadshow, we have already met over 400 investors and some 20 leading companies in Zurich, Amsterdam, Berlin, New York City and most recently in Vienna. The innovative pressure to work more actively with startups is more tangible than ever. But with the ‘startup hype’, the market has also become more confusing and the challenge is to find the best startups and to make them internationally successful. A pan-European network can help enormously in the expansion, but it is difficult for individuals to build it up – so we have taken on this task. We have to work more closely together in Europe and we must set up our own initiatives – acting as Europeans. ”
International Matching
from left: Harald Friedrich (Co-Owner, Member of the Executive Board at Semper Constantia Privatbank), Keynote-Speaker Bernd Litzka (Program Manager at aws i2 Business Angels Austria), Berthold Baurek-Karlic (President of the European Super Angels Clubs), Bernhard Ramsauer (Co-Owner, CEO of Semper Constantia Privatbank), Michael Petritz (Partner at KPMG, Board Member of the European Super Angels Clubs), Rainer Kaspar (Partner at PHH Rechtsanwälte).
“PHH Rechtsanwälte“, a legal firm specialized in business law and commercial criminal law, is one of the first supporting founding partners of the European Super Angels Club. For Rainer Kaspar, a partner at PHH Rechtsanwälte, the international matching of startups and investors is crucial: “The European Super Angels Club has the potential to become the most important pan-European investor network. The creation of such institutionalized fundraising for startups will help to further accelerate this market and make many investors and startups happy. We are therefore very pleased that the Super Angels Club has chosen us as a legal partner and wish them all the best.”
“As a private bank lead by entrepreneurs, we are very pleased to cooperate with KPMG and Venionaire Capital in Austria as partners of this successful initiative. We are convinced, that this series of events provides an added value for our customers and optimally complements our range of services. The great interest in the kickoff event confirms our decision”, adds Dr. Bernhard Ramsauer, co-owner and Chief Executive Officer of Semper Constantia Privatbank.
Michael Petritz, partner at KPMG Austria and member of the board of the European Super Angels Club: “At KPMG we are actively working together with startups and venture capital funds and with our expertise, we will be a profound service partner for the club.”
Timan Rebel, co-founder of NEXT Amsterdam: “The idea to bring Startup-Europe closer together has been driving us for years. The European Super Angel Club is a cool project to foster cross-border investments and to strengthen networks.”
Thorben Schiborowski (in the middle), founder of Convent Energy GmbH in Germany, was awarded as “Certified Business Angel (CBA)” following the event.