Cyprus Business Angels Network (CYBAN) is a non-profit organization that connects innovative, fast-growing companies with equity financing from angel investors. CYBAN selects 10-12 of the most promising businesses each year for its members to consider investing in. CYBAN also lobbies to create a favorable environment for angel investing and provides members with screened deal flow, company presentations, workshops, and networking events. The application process involves submitting an executive summary and business plan and presenting to CYBAN and potential investors. Successful pitches address the problem being solved, market size, management team, and financial opportunity for investors.

1. Cyprus Business Angels Network
November 20th 2013
Andreas Koupparis, Chairman

2. CYBAN
Who we are
• The only non-profit Angel Investment Network
in Cyprus
• We connect innovating fast growth
companies to equity finance
• We select on avg. 10 cutting – edge
businesses to pitch to our members each
year through Company Presentation Events
• Full Member of

3. CYBAN
Lobbying
• CYBAN constantly lobbies for the benefits
of its members:
– to create a favorable economic/tax
environment for angel investing (and exit)
– to create mechanisms for a healthy deal flow
that will allow us to select world-class
investment opportunities

4. Angel Investing
Introduction
• Business Angels are individuals who invest
on their own, or as part of a syndicate, in high
growth businesses.
• In addition to money, Business Angels often
make their own skills, experience and
contacts available to the company.
• A typical Business Angel makes one or two
investments per year in a three-year period.

5. Angel Investing
…continued.
• Business Angels would generally invest
between €10,000 and €250,000 in any one
investment in return for an equity share in
the business.
• Business Angels invest across most
industry sectors and stages of business
development, but especially in early and
expansion-stage businesses.

6. CYBAN Membership
benefits:
• Provides members with expertly screened deal
flow, selecting the 10 - 12 most
innovative businesses from the 100+ business
plans we will review each year.
• 4 Company Presentation Events each year
• 2-3 Investment Workshops each year
• Annual CYBAN Event with high-profile speakers

7. VIDEOS
Enjoy!
• 7 things you think you know about Angel
Investors
• Froodies, Germany – An Angel funding
example
• Experienced Angel Investor from Finland

8. CYBAN Investment Criteria
• Cyprus Registered Company
• Seeking between € 25,000 and €500,000 equity
finance
• Most Stages/Sectors Considered
• Attractive market
• High Growth Business
• Sustainable competitive advantage

9. CYBAN Investment Criteria
...continued.
•
•
•
•
Potential for explosive growth
Strong management team
Validation within the market place
Can be taken to market with little or no further
development
• Providing an Exit in the medium term

10. Application Process
9-step process
• Step 1: Send your executive summary (max. 3
pages) to: companies@cyban.com.cy.
• Step 2: You will be notified within 2 weeks if you
have passed the first evaluation phase or not.
• Step 3: If you have passed you will be asked to
send your full business plan.
• Step 4: Within the next 2 weeks you will be invited
to attend an initial meeting.
• Step 5: If all goes well, you will be asked to sign a
presentation letter.

11. Application Process
… 9-step process
•
•
•
•
Step 6: Training Sessions
Step 7: Company Presentations Event
Step 8: Investor meetings
Step 9: SUCCESS!!!!

12. Pitching to Investors
Address 4 areas
• You won't get past first base with angel investors if
you can't address four areas: An angel investor will
look at these 4 things:
– is the business idea simple enough for me to understand
and buy into?
– does it solve a problem or meet a need?
– is it a big enough market and customer base for the
idea?
– do you have the right people on your team to pull it off?

13. Pitching to Investors
Impress with your Passion
• The angel investors’ whole focus is on trying to size
up YOU, the entrepreneur.
• Looking at how much passion, wild enthusiasm
and sparkle in your eyes you genuinely have for your
product or service.
• Never say "we're passionate" or "our product is
great." People just ignore that. Such messages must
be implicit.

14. Pitching to Investors
Be confident, not arrogant
• You must not do is seem nervous and apologetic.
If you've truly made something good, you're doing
investors a favor by telling them about it.
• Smart investors can see past superficial flaws.
• Investors are looking for raw talent. All you need
to convince them of is that you're smart and that
you're onto something good.

15. Pitching to Investors
Mistakes to avoid
• What's the No. 1 mistake entrepreneurs make
during the pitch?
– Rambling on about their technology or business rather than
the financial opportunity—how you and the investor will
make lots of money together.
• Two thirds of new entrepreneurs that pitch in front of
investors, don't show them how they are going to
make money.

16. Pitching to Investors
Be well prepared
• Anticipate questions inventors might ask:
– How large is your market?
– Who are your competitors?
– Why is your product better than what is already in the
market?
– What is your customer acquisition strategy?
– How much money have you made?
• Don't get thrown off by a tough question. It's better to
say let me get back to you on that then to fumble for
an answer.

17. Pitching to Investors
Exit Strategy
• You need an exit strategy; how the investor will
make his or her money back.
• Investors don't want to be your partner for life
• Exit strategies:
– Trade Sale
– IPO
– Capital Reduction (through accumulated profits)

18. ANNOUNCEMENT!!
CAPITAL IMPACT PROJECT
First Common Workspace in Cyprus!!
Hackspace, StartupLab, Meeting
rooms, Mentoring, Training,
Incubation & Accelerator Programs
& GREAT COFFEE!!

19. CYBAN
Thank You!