YEREVAN, MAY 2, ARMENPRESS. The Public Journalism Club (PJC), the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV) for the first time held Armenia-Turkey investors’ meeting in Yerevan in cooperation with the world’s first investor accelerator Angel Labs, reports Armenpress.

The event aimed at promoting the idea of creating angel-investors network in Armenia and Turkey and presenting various formats of investors networks and the event’s best experience.

During the opening ceremony authors of the initiative – PJC President Seda Muradyan, TEPAV representative Cansu Saraç, Director of Angel Labs Tugce Ergul, Ambassador of France to Armenia Jean-Francois Charpentier and US Embassy Economic and Commercial Representative Rafael Sambu delivered welcoming remarks.

PJC President Seda Muradyan said the initiative aims at creating ‘angel-investors’ network to develop investments of start-ups and ecosystem in Armenia. “Angel-investors are the richest persons who provide finding to start-ups with a development potential, they are a very important source of financial capital for the start-up companies. According to the research, in the situation of financial crisis of last years and the ongoing decline of world economy, angel-investors played a key role in filling the gaps of banks and venture companies”, she said, adding that the angel-investors do not publicize their activity, and even at an official level it is difficult to communicate with them. According to her, the event creates a platform for those who want to help development of start-ups. She said their goal is to boost the cooperation of angel-investors between Armenia and Turkey and to implement joint programs.

TEPAV representative Cansu Saraç said the ideas on creating and financing a joint investors network between Armenia and Turkey emerged within 3 years as a result of mutual visits of entrepreneurs of various states. “This ‘Turkey-Armenia-US-Germany Investors Day’ first initiative will serve the base for creation of joint angel-investors network and assistance to entrepreneurs”, she said.

H.E. Ambassador of France to Armenia Jean-Francois Charpentier said the this format of Armenian-Turkish cooperation will enable the businessmen of both countries to establish friendly ties. According to the Ambassador, this is a unique event which aims at assisting the creation of entrepreneur ecosystems, establishing ties between the investors and entrepreneurs of Armenia and Turkey.

“The development of economic ties between Armenia and Turkey is important for France. One of the priorities of the Armenian-Turkish relations must be the development of commercial ties, which in its turn will lead to normalization of diplomatic relations”, he said.

The event was attended by a number of representatives of investor companies from Germany and Turkey, as well as ICT and business field representatives.

The meeting participants had a chance to get acquainted with the investment networks creation principles, the favorable legal conditions used in Europe and US.

An angel investor is an affluent individual who provides capital for a business start-up, usually in exchange for convertible debt or ownership equity.

Established in March 2011, the Public Journalism Club (PJC) unifies journalists, advocates and social media experts to improve information dissemination through collaboration between new technologies and media. Its vision is democratic Armenia which enjoys peace, welfare and active, well-educated and competitive civil society cooperating with mass media to become a real watchdog while state structures have transparent activities and accountability.

TEPAV was established by a group of businessman, bureaucrats and academicians for the purposes of conducting data-based policy analysis and policy making contributions. TEPAV became operational on December 2004 with the goal of enriching the content of information/data in ideological discussions and arguments. In addition to improving policy proposals, the Foundation helps its ideas come to life through concrete projects.

Angel Labs is the world's first investor accelerator for high-net-worth individuals & executives all around the world. It fosters diversity and inclusiveness in tech investing. The company’s goal is to make an impact on the liquidity side of the entrepreneurial equation, build connected angel investor & VC communities globally and create smart capital for entrepreneurs.