| Angel investment in Asia is a significant source of | | | | such such as Vietnam, Thailand and from Bahrain, |
| capital raising for businesses. Investments by private | | | | Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to Dubai to meet angel |
| high nett worth individuals represent a very high | | | | investors. |
| proportion of capital raising in Asia especially for early | | | | In Dubai, there is the Arab Business Angels Network |
| stage investment. | | | | (ABAN) which is to provide early stage seed funding |
| In many respects, it has been a traditional way of | | | | for businesses to develop in the MiddleEast and North |
| doing business in the region. For many centuries, Arab | | | | Africa. In Singapore, there is the Business Angels |
| and Chinese traders were financed by wealthly | | | | Network SouthEast Asia (BANSEA) Both are highly |
| merchants and guilds to take risks in establishing new | | | | recommended for those entrepreneurs seeking to |
| trade routes and business across all of Asia and the | | | | raise capital for early stage investments. |
| Middle east. These networks of trade and finance | | | | If you are seeking funding, then you need to ensure |
| were the foundation of business in Asia. Thesedays, | | | | that you are prepared with your investor |
| it is a matter of very informal networking of friends, | | | | presentation. Angel investor associations in Asia have |
| relatives and close associates that is a major source | | | | demanding criteria for entrepreneurs that require |
| of small and medium scale investor funding. | | | | submission of business plans prior to having any |
| Formal angel investment clubs of the style we see in | | | | opportunity to present in front of potential investors. |
| Europe and the United States are not the norm in | | | | As always, professional advice is recommended and |
| Asia. Angel investment clubs and associations are | | | | there are workshops provided to entrepreneurs in |
| present in only a few countries in Asia. The | | | | Singapore and Dubai to assist those if making a |
| networking side of business in much less formalised | | | | better investment presentation. If you are seeking to |
| and this actually does create more of a challenge for | | | | raise capital through angel investor associations then |
| entrepreneurs to raise capital in Asia. This is especially | | | | invest the time and resources to meet with angel |
| the case for new types of business which are | | | | investors is worth the effort, even if you may not |
| appearing in Asia where the support network is less | | | | obtain finance the process can certainly improve your |
| established. It is quite common to see entrepreneurs | | | | business plan. |
| seeking funding travelling to Singapore from places | | | | |