Need identified for angel investor bank

WITH scarce funds being offered by conventional financing agencies in the region, the Caribbean Export Development Agency is looking to set up an angel investor bank which would bring together venture and joint venture capitalists, angel investors, distributors and crowd funding investors, in an effort to bring further investment into the region.

This came from the agency’s Chief Executive Officer, Pamela Coke-Hamilton, as she opened the launch of the new “Break Point” reality TV series with a few remarks. The series, which will be televised in 21 countries throughout the region, with more countries set to come on board within the coming months, has been funded by the European Union and the UK Department for International Development, and facilitated at the regional level by Caribbean Export.

The 10 contestants will pitch their businesses to investors in London. The programme, according the Caribbean Export, seeks to demonstrate the benefits of the CARIFORUM- EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and how advantageous it is for regional businesses, entrepreneurship and innovative ideas. The angel investor bank, said Coke-Hamilton, will build on “Break Point” and enable the region to “begin to work... on getting investors into the region in non-traditional ways”, whilst being guided in developing the best business models for their products and services, advised on export marketing strategies, as well as winning brand strategies and concepts.

“They will be able to speak to investors and learn about the alternative sources of investment for their businesses and what investors are looking for as [investment-worthy] propositions,” said Coke-Hamilton. (RA)