Gust, the investor relation platform connecting high-growth entrepreneurs and active early-stage investors, and the Russian National Association of Business Angels (NABA), announced last week they have signed an agreement to allow Russian investors to access Gust’s platform.
NABA is a not-for-profit organization representing the organized business angels, seed funds, and other early-stage venture capitalist communities across Russia. The biggest regional Russian angel networks such as RUSSBA and BAUR, the new investor group Angels Ontime, the Moscow Seed Fund, as well as a few incubators across the country, are among Gust’s new users.
Gust’s proprietary data indicates that early-stage investment deal growth in Eastern Europe is leading global trends across industry boards, with substantial opportunities for the first quarter of 2012 in healthcare services, consumer product services, Internet web services, and clean technology:
- Healthcare services investment grew by 162.5%, compared with 23.54% globally;
- Consumer product services investment grew by 207.69%, compared with 51.33% globally.
- Internet web services investment grew by 45.33%; compared with 16.27% growth globally;
- Clean technology investment grew by 263.64%, compared with 46.62% globally.
Currently, the top ten leading industries in Eastern Europe are Internet web services, consumer product services, software, media entertainment, clean technology, industrial energy, healthcare services, mobile, and medical devices equipment.
Gust estimates that the 2011 value of Russian early-stage investment has increased by $300 million with projected annual growth of 20% to 25% over the next 3 to 5 years.
“We are pleased to be working with such a collaborative, innovative platform such as Gust and look forward to our partnership,” said Konstantin Fokin, President of the Russian National Business Angels Association. “The NBAA’s member parties are in need of efficient, sophisticated resources to manage the growing pipeline of early-stage ventures in Russia. Gust presents a trusted and relevant solution to managing the burgeoning early-stage economy in our country.”
Gust’s platform is currently available in English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese and now Russian.
Source: Gust
