First the WBAF World Best Angel in the World 2017, now the new European Business Angel Network’s President.
The European Business Angel Network (EBAN), which is the pan-European community for the early stage investors covering over 150 member organizations in more than 50 countries announced its new President today. Peter Cowley, serial entrepreneur, invested investor and UK Angel of the Year 2014-15, has been appointed by the association to take the lead of the organisation for the next two years.
When interviewed about how he felt about this, Cowley said, ‘I am proud to have been elected President of the European Business Angel Network with whom I have been working for many years.
As an entrepreneur for four decades and a very active angel for the last decade, I hope to bring my own experience and awareness of angel investing in Europe and around the world to the organisation.’ Peter Cowley, a Cambridge University technology graduate, founded and ran over 10 businesses in technology and property over the last 35+ years. He has built up portfolio of 60+ angel investments with five good exits and nine failures. He has mentored hundreds of entrepreneurs and is on the board of eight start-ups. He is currently a chair of the Cambridge Angels, a fellow in Entrepreneurship at the Judge Management School in Cambridge, a non-executive director of the UK Business Angel Association and is also on the investment committee of the Angel Co-fund.
EBAN is the pan-European representative for the early stage investor gathering over 150 member organizations more than 50 countries today. Established in 1999 by a group of pioneer angel networks in Europe with the collaboration of the European Commission and EURADA, EBAN represents a sector estimated to invest 7.5 billion Euros a year and playing a vital role in Europe’s future, notably in the funding of SMEs. EBAN fuels Europe’s growth through the creation of wealth and jobs. Candace Johnson, the EBAN President who is stepping down after a very successful four years in the role commented on Cowley’s appointment, ‘I cannot tell you how thrilled the entire EBAN community is to be having Peter Cowley as our next president, to lead us to the next level. We have all worked very hard, from the beginning of EBAN, the last 20 years - we will be celebrating our 20th anniversary next year - it was very, very difficult to find somebody who could take us to that next level. And we feel that Peter, with his experience, as an entrepreneur, with his incredible investment portfolio, expertise, and knowledge, with his dedication, and commitment, to the angel investing world, we think he's the perfect candidate, and so we are so happy to welcome Peter as our next EBAN president.’
‘I have to really thank Candace for her excellent four years and her energy, and just one of a kind power house of her own, and at the same time, I have to say that I'm super happy with Peter coming in for many reasons. One reason is that he's a super active business angel so we should show what we reap, so I think that that's a great thing. Of course UK market is important for all of the Europe. I think that the UK might feel the same way about Europe now as well,’ further commented Riku Asikainen, a lead serial investor and entrepreneur an active EBAN member.
‘With the aid of a skilled and international board, EBAN will continue to help with European policy, to educate, and to connect angels and angel groups throughout Europe’, said Cowley who is passionate about educating early stage investors and entrepreneurs. He set up the Invested Investor to share stories from all corners of the start-up ecosystem. Alongside his son, Alan, they have amassed comprehensive, insightful and enjoyable content, which is found at www.investedinvestor.com.