European enthusiasm for angel investing has been growing over the past few years. What's the potential for the future?

More growth, according to Brigitte Baumann, President of EBAN. Part of this growth comes from younger angels who may be working the corporate track, but are attracted to eventually become an entrepreneur. But do these younger angels qualify? In the US we use the SEC's definition of an Accredited Investor, but there's nothing like that in Europe.

Are these angel groups robbing the cradle? And, besides money, what can these younger angels bring to the table? You'll be surprised.

Show #273 (34:49) Listen

Meet Brigitte in person at the EBAN 10th Annual Congress, April 15-16 in Istanbul.

Got the email this morning: I'm invited to EBAN's 10th Annual Congress April 15-16 in Istanbul to moderate a panel, "One year after: angels reflect on their last investment year", where last year's Business Angels of the Year will discuss their most recent deals. Make plans now to join me.

The EBAN tour visits Silicon Valley Bank on Sand Hill Road.

Our busy tour of the Valley winds up with a visit to Silicon Valley Bank where we meet up with ASTIA's Sharon Vosmek, Golden Seeds' Jo Anne Miller, Life Science Angels' founder Allan May, Sand Hill Angels' Jim Connor and SVB's Laurie Lumenti Garty. After lunch we get a technology briefing at Microsoft then end the tour with Ian Sobieski and the Band of Angels at the Los Altos Country Club.

Couldn't make it to Stanford this week for the EBAN tour? Join us for this session when the European Business Angel Network's tour of Silicon Valley meets up with Garage Technology Ventures' Bill Reichert. EBAN Managing Director Claire Munck has teamed up with Stanford's Burton Lee to create a whirlwind tour of the university and the local angel and venture capital highlights. This morning it was Bill's turn to present.

Listen for his comments about breaking even, "which almost never happens, versus controlling your own destiny". With a little prompting from the audience he shares his ideas on "patterns of failure" as it relates to investing in early stage startups.

Show #230 (1:12:08) Listen

Stefan Heuser discusses the Siemens Technology-To-Business Center based in Berkeley.

It was only weeks ago I was in Madrid for EBAN's 9th Annual Congress where I made a lot of new friends in the European Business Angel world. So when EBAN Managing Director, Claire Munck, asked if I'd like to tag along when 12 angels toured Stanford and the Silicon Valley for 3 days, how could I say no? So here I am in the Valley.

Claire, together with our local host, Dr. Burton H. Lee of Stanford's School of Engineering, have coordinated a jam packed schedule. Over the course of these 3 days we'll visit with Siemens' Stefan Heuser, President of their Technology-To-Business Center, Kauffman Fellows Program President, Phillip Wickham, attend a mini-summit on Europe-US Angel Investor Networks at Stanford, visit the PlugandPlay Tech Center incubator, visit Microsoft, meet Garage Technology Ventures' Bill Reichert and Wellington Partners' Ram Srinivasan, and too many other activities to mention. Plus, I'm meeting many future guests for the show!

Before the gala awards dinner at the Casino last night I had the pleasure of moderating the final panel discussion of the first day of the Congress. Permjot Valia, Dan Mothersill and Connie Boersch joined me for a discussion of "Angel Success and War Stories". This group has great stories and we did our best to shake up the audience; it didn't take long. Connie Boersch surprised everyone as he described his due diligence approach: he doesn't do much, if any. "What am I going to do, ask a 24 year old [entrepreneur]?" He has a good sense for what will work; he's invested in 200 early stage startups!


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It wouldn't be official without the official greeting from EBAN President Anthony Clarke; the 9th Annual Congress kicks off.



Long time no see; France Angels Philippe Gluntz and I catch up since meeting in Atlanta last week.

Just as the bus is ready to leave for the dinner reception, I bump into Angel Capital Association Chairman John Huston. I tell him of my new found interest in 1-page term sheets since Brad Feld mentioned his at the ACA Summit in Atlanta 10 days ago. Would he be interested in joining me on the show to discuss the merits of the 'standard' paragraphs of an early stage term sheet? You quessed it, yes! So on the bus ride he tells me of the "10 Worst Things That Can Happen to Your Deal", I'll give you a hint, losing all your money is "only number 5 or 6" according to John. It's an interview I can't wait to record, maybe tomorrow after the conference...