Announcement today of the official launch of the South African Investors Network, an organisation that brings together entrepreneurs and investors in South Africa, to ensure that high potential business plans gain the business finance that they need to start up. With new and growing businesses in South Africa contributing to more than 50% of the job opportunities in the country, there is a general sense of agreement across the both government organisations and the private sector that more funding should be made available to the small business sector.

In October 2008 at a meeting in Cape Town, business leaders decided that a online community model for the venture is most suitable as the web is playing an increasingly important role to ensure inclusion of a wide range of South African entrepreneurs. The internet is having a huge impact on the availability of both business finance, other resources for entrepreneurs, not forgetting the major advantages of providing access to clients. The possibility of creating a connected national platform to raise awareness on the role of business angels in supporting high growth potential early stage businesses. They agreed to work on the set up of a new organisation to act as the voice for business angels, private equity firms, venture capital investors and entrepreneurs around South Africa. In April 2009, the South African investors Network became a reality. Its main ambition is that of helping to foster a favourable environment for entrepreneurial activity in the country.

Objectives of the network
- Promote the professionalization of the angel market through the set up of angel groups and networks
- Identification and spread of best practice at national level
- Identification of country successes supported by business angels
- Supporting entrepreneurship country wide
- Improving knowledge about business angel activities
- Coordination of research produced on the angel market country wide


Investors Network is:
- A platform to exchange information about the development of the BA market around the world
- An entry point for investors and entrepreneurs looking for angel groups country wide
- An educational tool to spread knowledge about the business angel market to intermediaries and policy makers
- The solution for a connected environment for all parties supporting this asset class beyond borders.

Investors Network will carry out the following activities for its members:
- Organisation of an annual event. The first Investors Network country wide Conference will be held late 2009 in Asia.
- Coordination of information at country wide level to facilitate advocacy work in favour of business angel activities.
- Maintenance of a website serving as a country wide repository of tools, best practices, research and national/regional events.
- Providing regular information flows including newsletters regarding the latest developments on the country wide angel market.

Investors in early stage and start-up businesses are known as angel investors. The tag ‘angel’ coming from their tendency to operate in the margins where venture capitalists, banks and other backers choose not to go.


Investors Network looks to plug the gap left by risk averse banks post the global financial crisis in 2008/2009. One thing is certain and that is entrepreneurs in the country need support. The South African Investors Network is looking to provide that.