TBAA – The Turkish Trade Association for Business Angels and Early Stage Market Players is on its way to being one of the strongest business angel trade associations of Europe
Two important business angel networks of Turkey have joined the TBAA: The Turkish Trade Association for Business Angels and Early Stage Market Players. With these two new members, the TBAA now represents more than 70% of the early stage investment market of Turkey. There are 15 business angel networks in the country, 10 of which are TBAA members . TBAA includes not only local business angel networks but international BANs like Keiretsu Forum as well..
(Istanbul) – As announced by TBAA – The Turkish Trade Association for Business Angels and the Early Stage Market Players, the Bahariye Business Angels Network and TRAngels have become TBAA members. The Association now represents more than 70% of the early stage investment market of Turkey with an estimated annual investment of 500 million EURs. TBAA’s key role to play in Turkey’s future, notably in the funding of SMEs and the creation of wealth and jobs, is increasing every year.
Bahariye Business Angels has 30 members in its network and these invested over $1 million last year in start-ups. TRAngels has 36 members in its network and is about to set up an angel syndication of $1 million. Both business angel networks are accredited by the Treasury Department of the Turkish government, which means networks have the ability to accredit qualified angel investors on behalf of the government.
Turkey has a strong angel investment law
The Undersecretaries of the Treasury of Turkey introduced a new system to encourage angel investments in Turkey. A law on the promotion of angel investments was enacted in Turkey in 2012 and the system was launched in 2013 with secondary legislation. It aims to introduce a new instrument for SMEs that are struggling with funding at their early development stages , to increase professionalism and improve business ethics, to make angel capital an institutionalized and trusted source of finance, and to make angel investing attractive through state support. In practice, the Turkish Treasury licenses business angels who want to benefit from tax incentives for their investments. Accordingly, 75% of the participation shares of qualifying Turkish based joint stock companies (private venture companies) held by ‘‘business angels’’ can be deducted from the business angel’s annual income tax base if the shares are held for at least two years. The maximum annual deductible amount is 1 million TL. This is the highest tax incentive amount in the world, followed by 30% in the UK and 25% in Portugal.
As the country that offers the highest tax incentives to business angels, Turkey has 282 accredited business angels recognized by the government. It is one of the few countries in the world with a ‘Business Angel Investment Law’ and is the only country in the world which has a Private Market on its stock exchange, where angel investors and start-ups come together.
Istanbul Stock Exchange has an agreement with TBAA
TBAA, EBAN and the Istanbul Stock Exchange signed an agreement last year in Istanbul to develop the early stage market in Turkey. The agreement encourages both the TBAA and the Istanbul Stock Exchange to go beyond Turkey to create a regional hub for start-ups and business angels, particularly in South-East Europe, where raising funds and access to finance is easier for both angel investors and start-ups.
Turkey becomes the First Country-Member of the United Nations of Business Angels
In line with a unanimous decision of its founding members, the Business Angels Association of Turkey (TBAA) represents Turkey at the Global Business Angels Network (GBAN) in Washington, DC. The TBAA has been designated as the first national member in this organization. The GBAN Executive Committee selects one organization per country to serve as the interface between that nation’s angel community and GBAN efforts.
TBAA hosted European Business Angels Investment Forum last year in Istanbul
The TBAA hosted the 11th EBAN Winter University in 2011 and the European Business Angels Investment Forum in 2014 in Istanbul. EBAN, the TBAA and the Istanbul Stock Exchange signed a collaboration agreement in 2014 to foster the early stage investment market in Turkey and South-East Europe. More than 200 business Angels from 42 countries participated in the forum, which was held at the Shangri La Bosphorus of Istanbul, one of the best hotels of Europe.
www.european-business-angels-investment-forum.com
TBAA Excellence Awards
With its Excellence Awards for South-East Europe, the Business Angels Association of Turkey (TBAA) looks beyond Turkey. It seeks to promote and nurture start-ups, angels, and a dynamic business community throughout the region. From business angels to policymakers to academics, the Awards salute those who stand out in imagining, discussing, and shaping the future of an entrepreneurial South-East Europe. Given the diverse challenges the world is facing in the twenty-first century, it is important to recognize that entrepreneurship can have a major impact on our future, offering new ways to increase economic opportunities and to foster social justice.
The Business Angels Association of Turkey (TBAA) aims to contribute to that impact by driving positive changes that will facilitate entrepreneurship. Fostering entrepreneurship whose effects can be felt in both economic and social arenas is a hallmark of the TBAA.
The South-East Europe TBAA Excellence Awards recognize notable activities in these fields, not just in Turkey, but throughout South-East Europe as well, saluting outstanding contributors to entrepreneurship and the angel investment ecosystems in the region.
http://european–business–angels–investment–forum.com/tbaa–excellence–awards/
TBAA Investment Delegations
The TBAA regularly organises investment delegation trips to South-East Europe. The delegation is comprised of top-level executives of the Istanbul Stock Exchange, Istanbul Technical University Technopark, and prominent business angel networks in Turkey.
The main purpose of this delegation is to listen to the pitches of start-ups in South-East Europe and to explore opportunities for angel investment in this particular region. Another aim is to create an awareness of angel investment in these countries and to encourage policymakers to create a more favorable environment for entrepreneurs and start-ups.
This delegation’s visits are in line with with the recommendations of the B20 to G20 countries, as access to finance in this particular region of the world is one of the main issues of the region.
