Investment & Fund Management

The European Investment Fund (EIF) and Axis, the Venture Capital entity of the Instituto Crédito Oficial (ICO), launched the European Angels Fund (EAF) - Fondo Isabel la Católica in Spain to address the specific financing challenges faced by innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The initiative was designed to enhance the investment capacity of Business Angels and other non-institutional investors, enabling them to invest in growth-oriented SMEs at various stages, including seed, early, and growth phases.

The EAF - Fondo Isabel la Católica provides funding that ranges from EUR 250,000 to EUR 5 million, depending on the total target investment. This co-investment fund allows Business Angels to make new investments without the burden of co-investing in individual enterprises, thereby granting them the freedom to make independent investment decisions. The fund was initially set at EUR 20 million, with the potential to increase to EUR 30 million, funded equally by the EIF and ICO.

The launch of the EAF - Fondo Isabel la Católica is particularly significant in the context of the current economic climate, as it offers an alternative to traditional bank financing for Spanish SMEs. This initiative not only supports the growth of innovative companies but also fosters collaboration between Business Angels and European institutions, aiming to stimulate business activity and create a sustainable investment environment for SMEs in Spain.