Team Roar
The conference features international speakers from over twenty countries.
What Is ABAF?
The Asian Business Angel Forum (ABAF) is Asia’s largest annual startup investor forum, attracting business angels, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, policy makers, government officials, and high net-worth individuals to one central networking platform. ABAF has previously been hosted in Singapore, Malaysia, China, India, New Zealand, Korea, and Hong Kong. ABAF has had remarkable success since its inaugural session in Singapore, welcoming over 250 prominent business personalities and investors from South East Asia, as well as Asia Pacific and the Middle East. ABAF 2017 in Sri Lanka will feature prominent speakers from the US (Silicon Valley), Australia, UK, Hong Kong, China, Korea, Israel, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Hosted by LAN, Sri Lanka’s pioneering business angel network, the conference will coincide with Venture Engine 2017.
Why Is It Such A Big Opportunity?
The Lankan Angel Network’s (Sri Lanka’s pioneering business angel network) bid to host the ABAF, which was submitted at the 2015 conference in New Zealand, resulted in a landmark achievement for the local startup ecosystem. The event will highlight Sri Lanka and its startup ecosystem, bringing it international exposure.
This year’s ABAF is also special in that it coincides with the Lankan Angel Network backed accelerator programme, Venture Engine.
There will be over 25 startups from Venture Engine showcasing their companies and products for ABAF 2017 delegates. This year’s Venture Engine teams consist of mostly post revenue companies. Some of them were at the seed investment stage, while others were looking to secure Series A funding, which is a key indicator of the increasing sophistication of our market, noted a founding member of the Lankan Angel Network.
Commencing on October 11 at the Cinnamon Lakeside hotel, the ABAF will begin with the sixth edition of Venture Engine. The finalists of the accelerator programme will benefit from a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to access investors, expertise, and mentoring offered by experts in the field of venture capital and investing.
The Programme
This year’s ABAF theme is “Crafting The Future”, and will offer analysis into what is trending in regional and global startup ecosystems. Attendees get to tap the minds of highly distinguished speakers who will contribute to each of the sessions across the two-day event.
Dr. Clarence Tan, former Ambassador for Australia’s Singularity University is scheduled to give the forum’s keynote address, entitled “Exponential Technology Reshaping Future Start-ups”.
Other prominent ABAF 2017 speakers include:
Dr. Yehoshua (Shuki) Gleitman, Chairman of GIBF (Guangzhuo Israel Biotech Fund)
Dr. Samson Tam, Chairman of the Hong Kong Business Angel Network (HKBAN)
Dr. Mark Hon, Chairman of Business Angel Network South East Asia (BANSEA)
Rajan Anandan, Vice President SEA and India at Google
Padmaja Ruparel, President of the Indian Angel Network (IAN)
Pankaj Jain, Member of the Investment Committee at Wadi Accelerator (USA)
David Chen, Co-founder of AngelVest and Founding Chairman of Harvard Business School Alumni Angels of China
Brigitte Baumann Gervais, Founder and CEO of Go Beyond Early Stage Investing (UK)
Jordan Green, Chairman of ABAF/Melbourne Angels
Sanchayan Chakraborty, Partner at Aavishkaar (India)
Jayesh Parekh, Managing Partner at Jungle Ventures (Singapore).
The ABAF will also include sessions on subjects such as “Facilitating Cross Border Investments between Angel Networks”, “Global and Regional Start-up Trends”, “Driving Exits” and “Impact Funding”, among many others.
The Startup Corner
Around 25 startups who wish to showcase their products will be given an opportunity to do so. Startups who have an innovative early stage company can apply through the Lankan Angel Network to get space to promote their startup. Due to limited space, however, this will be on a first come first serve basis. For more information, you can contact the Lankan Angel Network office before the 15th of September. To purchase tickets, please email or call the Lankan Angel Network at [email protected] / +94777039889 or visit the event page.
The Organisers
Venture Engine’s strategic partner, the Lankan Angel Network, is the host of ABAF 2017. The Lankan Angel Network is Sri Lanka’s pioneering business angel network with over 75 member investors who have collectively invested over Rs. 2 billion in 25 local start-ups, while Venture Engine is a product of a 2012 collaboration between BOV Capital and the Indian Angel Network.
For 2017, venture capital firm Aavishkaar serves as Venture Engine’s Platinum Sponsor, while Orion City is the Silver Sponsor and Dialog Axiata is the Official Telecommunications Sponsor. Roar Media is the Digital Media Partner for both events.
Startups who wish to be featured in the exhibition can contact the Lankan Angel Network before September 15.
Visit www.ventureengine.lk for more details.
