Toronto, October 25, 2007 – From October 2nd to 3rd the National Angel Organization hosted its 7th Annual National Angel Summit, Age of the Angel: Going Global , in Banff, Alberta. With three world class keynote speakers, eight engaging and thought-provoking panel discussions featuring thought leaders in the Angel community, and more than 180 delegates, this year’s Summit was hailed as the best yet!
We would specifically like to thank our sponsors, panelists and keynote speakers, including:
- Jim Dinning, Chairman of EDC
- Vicky Sharpe, President and CEO of Sustainable Development Technology Canada
- Hon. Doug Horner, Minister of Advanced Education and Technology
The insights provided by our panelists and keynote speakers received exceptionally high reviews. One message, echoed by all, was that with a Canadian dollar on par with the US and an ever widening financing gap there is an evermore pressing need to take immediate action in Canada to commercialize our world-class innovations and stimulate investment in our early stage companies, be it through tax credits, programs to foster the development and deployment of Angel capital, or through programs, such as the SD Tech Fund™, that finances and supports the development and demonstration of clean technologies.
Virtual Infrastructure and Best Practices
Rising to the call to action to develop best practices and tools for Angel investors, this year’s Summit featured the unveiling of the NAO’s new virtual infrastructure, including a revitalized website and a new e-Learning platform. This e-Learning platform is dedicated to delivering tools, resources, and best practices to the Canadian Angel community. Version 1.0 of the content hosted on the e-Learning platform includes the recently released Age of the Angel: Best Practices for Angels and Angel Groups. For a limited time, Version 1.0 of this book is available at cost at: http://www.lulu.com/content/1115933
Over the coming year, the NAO will be building on these materials: codifying the comments and feedback we receive on Version 1.0 to ensure that they are truly reflective of the Best Practices in Angel investing from across the country. So that the volume can benefit from the collective intelligence of the NAO and its stakeholders, we implore you to send us your feedback, comments, and criticisms.
2008 Initiatives
Over the next year, as well as further developing the Angel tools and Best Practices materials, the NAO announced that it will be, amongst other things:
- Assisting in the creation of more than 10 Angel groups across the country;
- Conducting Regional Investment Forums;
- Delivering Angel group formation and operation workshops;
- Initiating the first formal international Angel trade missions to both attract inward investment into Canadian investee companies and help those companies expand internationally to serve global markets.
New Board of Directors
During this year’s Summit, the 2007/2008 NAO Board of Directors was also elected. It is our great pleasure to welcome our new Board of Directors as well as thank those returning Board members for their continued support. The 2007/2008 Board of Directors includes:
| • Andrew Wilkes (Chairman) | • Alkarim Jivraj |
| • W. Daniel Mothersill (President) | • Matey Nedkov de Lacamp |
| • Ed Alfke | • Brian Lowe |
| • Glenn Ballman | • Stephen Lougheed |
| • Ian Bandeen | • Michelle Scarborough |
| • Warren Bergen | • Randy Thompson |
| • Bob Chaworth-Musters | • Henry Vehovec (Honorary Chair) |
In addition to these Board members, a number of other candidates were brought forward and will be asked to join us in the coming year to help guide the NAO as we continue to develop new products, services and opportunities for our membership and the Angel community at large.
Finally, the NAO will be establishing a National Advisory Council in December 2007. Members of this council will include those Board members and other individuals who have gone above and beyond to help build the Angel community in Canada.
2008 National Angel Summit
Finally, the NAO is proud to announce that the 2008 National Angel Summit will be held in Atlantic Canada in Halifax, Nova Scotia. As past Summits have done, this Summit will feature internationally distinguished guest speakers, each of whom will be addressing the most salient emerging trends in Angel investing. This summit will also help promote the growth of active Angel capital in Canada and further develop our blossoming community of Angel investors in this country, including that of the Eastern Provinces.
Co-chairing this Summit, we are pleased to announce, are Brian Lowe and Ross Finlay of the First Angel Network. With their help and the support of the Summit Committee, our 8th Annual Summit is poised to be another sold-out event, complete with lobster, ocean breezes, and world-renowned East Coast Canadian hospitality!
Concluding Remarks
On behalf of the NAO, we would like to thank our sponsors, speakers, and delegates again for making our 7th Annual Angel Summit such a success. Without your support we could not continue our work to promote a vibrant Angel culture through education and mentoring programs, the formation of collaboration and syndication mechanisms, and the development of Angel-friendly policies to help increase the quantity, quality, and success of Angel investments throughout Canada.
We look forward to seeing you in Halifax in 2008!
