Please note that programme fees are for one start-up team with two founders, not per-person. The third member of the team should pay 75% of the programme, the fourth member of the team should pay 50% of the programme. However, each team member should have an EIR ID Number. One-to-One Session means it is a session for the start-up team in one group.

Non-Executive Board Meetings with the Start-up Co-Founder(s)
Meeting 1: 1 Hour Online – Every 3 months

Executive Committee Members to join the meeting:

• Christopher Drescher, Managing Director, Global Start-up Investment Promotion Agency (WIPA)
• Anthony Parkes, Head of Access to New Markets Department, Global Start-up Investment Promotion Agency (WIPA)
• Dr. Gerhard Hrebicek, Head of Strategic Brand Development & Management Department, Global Start-up Investment Promotion Agency (WIPA)
• Israel Pons, Head of Access to Finance Department, Global Start-up Investment Promotion Agency (WIPA)
• Katarina Strandberg, Head of Start-up Communication Department, Global Start-up Investment Promotion Agency (WIPA)
• Maryam Najafi, Head of Global Mentorship Department, Global Start-up Investment Promotion Agency (WIPA)
• Modwenna Rees-Mogg, Head of Education Department, Global Start-up Investment Promotion Agency (WIPA)
• Paolo Sironi, Head of Digital Transformation Department, Global Start-up Investment Promotion Agency (WIPA)
• ISAB Board Member - International Strategic Advisory Board Members (Business Mentor, Business Coach and Business Consultant assigned for the Start-up)

Acceptance for the Co-working Programme:

The objective of WIPA is to identify the best start-up ventures and SMEs who want to go digital, create value for the ecosystem of the World Business Angels Investment Forum and who want support for digital transformation of their businesses. WIPA uses a six-step process to identify the best candidates, starting with intense press coverage and marketing to announce the start of the admission process.

Step 0:Entrepreneur should get an EIR ID Number Please note that only entrepreneurs with and EIR ID Number can move into the selection process.
Step 1: An online application via wbaforum.org or wipa.agency
Step 2: Phase Identification Interview
Step 3: Selection of candidates
Step 4: Proposing selected candidates to approval of the board
Step 5: EIR receives Letter of Acceptance
Step 6: EIR completes the registration process

The  evaluation criteria to be used by the Selection Committee include:

• Market attractiveness,
• Innovation and technology,
• Quality of the Team,
• Willingness to accept guidance for business transformation of their business ventures,
• Willingness to accept guidance for digital transformation of their business ventures,
• Willingness to take advantage of and be able to benefit from the training and guidance offered by the WIPA, and
• Pay the fees for the  programme into which they have been accepted [on time and in full]

Once accepted, start-up founders / SME founders will be required to sign a binding agreement which details:

• The obligations of the WIPA
• The obligations of the Company / Start-up Venture / SM

Ventures that are accepted into the WIPA Start-up Exchange Programmes (WSEP) will enjoy improved success rates as they are nurtured through the early stages of enterprise development. Specific benefits include a better appreciation on the part of Founders of how prepared the business needs to be to attract investment capital. The programmes will help entrepreneurs understand what funding is appropriate for their business, considering the specific personal and business ambitions and the current stage of development and growth of the business. They will also better appreciate how developed the business needs to be in relation to customer engagement and market validation.

• Networking and Mentoring – WIPA will draw on the know-how of the WBAF’s extensive network (individual investors and corporate members) and other partners to address entrepreneurs’ / founders’ unique needs for business knowledge, access to markets, suppliers, and sources of capital.
• Learning how to pitch to investors – Entrepreneurs / founders will learn how to best present their proposals to potential investors (or other sources of financing); better understand how the investment process works, before investment, during the deal-making process (due diligence and legal negotiations) and post-investment.
• Increased Visibility and Stature – Being in the WIPA would significantly increase the visibility of entrepreneurs / founders and their teams in the marketplace, thereby improving their success potential. Admission to the programmes provides a clear endorsement of the quality of a business, which will enhance its  the stature and increase their chances of securing financing.
• Improved business acumen – WBAF Business School education programmes are designed to be practical and address many of the issues where many entrepreneurs have weaknesses It aims to remove that obstacles companies face which limit the commercial success of their ventures and their access to finance.
• Greater access to appropriate finance – WBAF’s global network with angel investors, banks and VCs will prepare entrepreneurs / founders to more easily access finance appropriate for their stage of growth, including debt and equity.
• Increased focus and growth – The structured, yet flexible nature of the WIPA Start-up Exchange Programmes will suit entrepreneurs / founders who are interested in growing their businesses and taking advantage of the resources WIPA has to offer.
• WIPA will offer entrepreneurs / founders the opportunity to network with like-mind individuals who are also building and growing their businesses.

From the perspective of entrepreneurs / founders of early and growth-stage companies, there are several reasons why they would want to participate in an incubation, acceleration or, co-working programme at the WIPA.

WIPA:

• Provides validation of the business idea and business model,
• Offers access to experienced mentors,
• Provides opportunities to connect with potential customers,
• Encourages peer learning and support through its cohort structure,
• Gives entrepreneurs / founders the chance to really develop their businesses because of the flexibility of the programme and the support provided,
• Provides hands–on experience, including entrepreneurial education; and
• Provides the opportunity of getting longer-term, patient capital from angel investors, working capital from banks and growth capital from venture capitalists.

For WBAF’s global partners in particular, WIPA will provide enhanced deal flow as well as other potential benefits such as:

• The opportunity to scout for and filter talent,
• The potential to build a pipeline of investable and bankable companies,
• The chance to provide hands–on support, guidance and information; and
• Connecting SMEs with which the financing partners are involved with strategic resources.