You can watch the whole awards ceremony at the TBAA Channel
TBAA EXCELLENCE AWARDS
The world is changing. And always has. Some of it is worthy of universal celebration, some.. not so much. Entrepreneurship, at its best, creates wealth while empowering the masses. We are here to recognise those who are driving positive change and creating a more entrepreneurial world. In fact, that’s what the Business Angels Association of Turkey is here to do — to foster entrepreneurs whose impact will be felt in both economic and social arenas.
With its Excellence Awards for SE Europe, the TBAA looks beyond Turkey. It seeks to promote and nurture startups, angels, and a dynamic business community throughout the region. From business angels to policymakers to academics, the Awards salute those who stand out in imagining, discussing, and shaping the future of an entrepreneurial South East Europe.
Given the diverse challenges the world is facing in the twenty-first century, it is important to recognize that entrepreneurship can have a major impact on our future, offering new ways to increase economic opportunities and to foster social justice.
The Business Angels Association of Turkey (TBAA) aims to contribute to that impact by driving positive changes that will facilitate entrepreneurship. Fostering entrepreneurship whose effects can be felt in both economic and social arenas is a hallmark of the TBAA.
The South East Europe – TBAA Excellence Awards recognise notable activities in these fields, not just in Turkey, but throughout South East Europe as well, saluting outstanding contributors to entrepreneurship and the angel investment ecosystems in the region.
The ultimate aim of these Excellence Awards is thus to promote and nurture the development of a dynamic business community. It is up to us, each in own sphere as well as collectively, to promote a vigorous business community that contributes to an economy that is rapidly globalizing and to generate new role models that will heighten aspirations to future success. We have important responsibilities in that context.
Specific aims of the South East Europe – TBAA Excellence Awards:
- to recognise and applaud some of our colleagues who have distinguished themselves in their own areas of specialisation, including business angels, business angel networks, policymakers, and academicians, among others.
- to motivate lively discussions and an exchange of ideas about the shape of the future of South East Europe and to identify positive steps that can be taken to achieve the goals of the start-up and angel investment community.
12 Categories of TBAA Excellence Awards 2014
- THE BEST BUSINESS ANGEL NETWORK OF SOUTH EAST EUROPE
- THE MOST PROMISING BUSINESS ANGEL NETWORK OF SOUTH EAST EUROPE.
- THE BEST STOCK EXCHANGE CONCRETELY SUPPORTING STARTUPS IN SOTH EAST EUROPE
- THE BEST STARTUP FUND TO FOSTER THE EARLY STAGE INVESTMENTS IN SOUTH EAST EUROPE.
- THE BEST INNOVATION AND ACCELERATION CENTER OF SOUTH EAST EUROPE.
- THE BEST POLICY MAKER IN SOTH EAST EUROPE
- THE BEST INCUBATION CENTER OF SOUTH EAST EUROPE.
- THE BEST STARTUP FRIENDLY COMPANY OF SOUTH EAST EUROPE
- THE YOUNGEST BUSINESS ANGEL NETWORK OF SOUTH EAST EUROPE
- THE ROYAL FAMILY GIVING UTMOST SUPPORT TO ENTREPRENEURS IN SOUTH EAST EUROPE
- THE MOST STARTUP FRIENDLY BANK OF SOUTH EAST EUROPE
- THE MOST PROMOSING WOMAN ENTREPRENEUR OF SOUTH EAST EUROPE
International Jury Members
- Paulo Andrez, EBAN Emeritus President, Portugal
- Ari Korhonen, EBAN Vice President, Finland
- Peter Braun, EBAN Board Member, Switzerland
- Prof Bahadir Erdem, TBAA Vice President, Turkey
- Azmi Saribay, Links Angel BAN Vice President, Turkey
- Tuncel Sunar, Forbes Conferences Chairman, Turkey
- Burçak Güven, Forbes, Editor-in-Chief, Turkey
THE BEST BUSINESS ANGEL NETWORK OF SOUTH EAST EUROPE
Enjoy it VIDEO 1
The nominees were from: Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, Kosovo, and Serbia.
The award winner is: TURKEY
Sirket Ortagim BAN of Turkey has been named the best Business Angel Network in SE Europe.
It has invested over $1m in startups within just 6 months after being founded.
Award was received by: Mr. AKIN KOZANOGLU, Co-President of Sirket Ortagim BAN
www.sirketortagim.com
THE MOST PROMISING BUSINESS ANGEL NETWORK OF SOUTH EAST EUROPE
Enjoy it VIDEO 2
The nominees are from: Greece, Kosovo, Bulgaria, and Turkey.
The award winner is: KOSOVO
KosBAN, the Kosovo Business Angel Network, is the most promising BAN in SE Europe.
Award was received by: Mr. ALEJDIN BERISHA, the President of KosBAN
www.kosban.com
THE BEST STOCK EXCHANGE CONCRETELY SUPPORTING STARTUPS IN SOTH EAST EUROPE
Enjoy it VIDEO 3
The nominees were from: Montenegro, Bosnia &Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Turkey, and Greece.
The award winner is: TURKEY
Borsa Istanbul has been named the best stock exchange specifically supporting startups in SE Europe, with its Private Market for Startups division. BI is the first private market in the region to ease startups’ access to funding.
Award was received by: Mr. MUSTAFA KEMAL YILMAZ, the Vice President of Borsa Istanbul
www.borsaistanbul.com
THE BEST STARTUP FUND TO FOSTER THE EARLY STAGE INVESTMENTS IN SOUTH EAST EUROPE
Enjoy it VIDEO 4
The nominees are from: Bulgaria, Turkey, Macedonia, Romania, and Montenegro
The award winner is: MACEDONIA
Crimson Capital Macedonia has done exemplary work by providing funding to numerous startups in Macedonia
Award received by: Mr. MICHAEL GOLD, President of Crimson Capital
www.crimsoncapital.org
THE BEST INNOVATION AND ACCELERATION CENTER OF SOUTH EAST EUROPE
Enjoy it VIDEO 5
The nominees are from: Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, Kosovo, Serbia, and Macedonia
The award winner is: TURKEY
The Istanbul Technical University Innovation Centre is a deserving winner after having invested $50m in the Centre.
Award received by: Mr. KENAN COLPAN, CEO of the Istanbul Technical University Innovation Center
www.itucekirdek.com
THE BEST POLICY MAKER IN SOTH EAST EUROPE
Enjoy it VIDEO 6
The nominees are from: Romania, Turkey, Greece, Serbia
The award winner is: TURKEY
The Financial Sector Relations & Exchange Directory of the Turkish Ministry of Finance — for introducing a 75% tax incentive to global investors, the highest such amount in the world.
Award received by: Mr. ALI ARSLAN, the General Director of the Financial Sector Relations & Exchange Directory led this important initiative.
www.treasury.gov.tr
THE BEST INCUBATION CENTER OF SOUTH EAST EUROPE
Enjoy it VIDEO 7
The nominees are from: Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Bosnia & Herzegovina
The award winner is: GREECE
Start Tech Ventures is a next-generation venture incubator based in Athens and the winner in this category.
Award received by: Mr. DIMITRIS TSIGOS, President of Start Tech Ventures,
www.starttech.eu
THE BEST STARTUP FRIENDLY COMPANY OF SOUTH EAST EUROPE
Enjoy it VIDEO 8
The nominees are from: Albania, Macedonia, Croatia, Montenegro, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, Kosovo, Serbia, and Bosnia & Herzegovina.
The award winner is: TURKEY
Turkish Airlines put startup pitches in their video catalogue for business-class passengers. By putting this in the reach of millions of passengers flying to over 200 destinations, this idea is an simple, yet innovative contribution to supporting entrepreneurship and startups.
Award received by: Mr.Ahmet Olmustur, Vice President of Turkish Airlines,
www.thy.com
THE MOST STARTUP FRIENDLY BANK OF SOUTH EAST EUROPE
Enjoy it VIDEO 9
The nominees in this category came from Kosovo, Macedonia, Turkey and Greece.
Award Winner is: TURKEY
Aktifbank is the only bank in SE Europe that has developed an early-stage investment department for startups.
The award is received by: Mr ERDAL GUNCAN, Vice President of Aktifbank
www.aktifbank.com.tr
THE YOUNGEST BUSINESS ANGEL NETWORK OF SOUTH EAST EUROPE
Enjoy it VIDEO 10
The nominees are from: Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece,Kosovo, and Montenegro
The award winner is: MONTENEGRO
MEBAN –The Montenegro Business Angel Network won the award for its dedication to growing the country’s earlystage investment market.
Award received by: Mr. IVAN JOVETIC, Founder & President of the Montenegro Business Angel Network
www.mban.org
THE ROYAL FAMILY GIVING UTMOST SUPPORT TO ENTREPRENEURS IN SOUTH EAST EUROPE
Enjoy it VIDEO 11
The nominees are from: Albania and Serbia
The award winner is: The Royal Family of Serbia
In 2014, the Serbian Royal Family has given the most support to entrepreneurship, startups, and the earlystage investment market in the region.
The award is received by: Consul General of Serbia on behalf of His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Aleksander of Serbia.
Here is the message of HRH Crown Prince Alexander read by Mr Consul General of Serbia HRH Crown Prince Alexander Speech
Click for the Press Release of the Royal Family
www.royalfamily.org
THE MOST PROMOSING WOMAN ENTREPRENEUR OF SOUTH EAST EUROPE
Enjoy it VIDEO 12
The nominees in this category came from Kosovo and Macedonia
The award winner is: KOSOVO
Ms. NORA HAXHIU is one of the founders of KosBAN and as an angel herself, she has promised to make 5 startup investments in 2015.
The award is received by: Ms NORA HAXHIU
www.linkedin.com/nora.haxhiu