Public voting is underway for the Ecosystem Award and Venture Award by VC Leaders. Vote now and select the winners in the online voting!. We select the most outstanding, engaged, and active private investors who play a significant role in supporting the startup ecosystem in Poland.
The first edition of the competition took place in 2018. For the first three years, we awarded one main prize of Business Angel of the Year, in 2020 we expanded the competition to 3 categories and in 2021 to 4 categories. In the current 5th edition of BAY 2022, we are awarding investors in 6 categories.
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The Business Angel of the Year (BAY) competition recognizes the most outstanding, engaged, and active private investors who play a significant role in supporting the startup ecosystem in Poland. Established by COBIN Angels, the largest professional association of business angels in Poland, the award strengthens the recognition of angel investing as not only a viable way of allocating capital but also a formidable career path.
Every year, the business community of Polish entrepreneurs, top managers, startup founders, venture capitalists, and other investors, nominate the most distinguished early-stage, high-risk investors, who demonstrated their dedication to bolstering innovations and developing young companies. In addition, representatives of Venture Capital funds and other ecosystem stakeholders are awarded for their role in building and strengthening the market.
The BAY 2022 competition jury consisting of finalists and winners from previous years, active business angels, investors, experts, and competition organizers and partners, chaired by Victor Namysl, has selected finalists in 6 competition categories.
In the "Ecosystem Award" and "Venture Award by VCLeaders" categories, the winners will be selected by public voting, which was launched on January 31, 2023. Voting takes place for one of the 6 finalists selected by the chapter by secret ballot.
Competing for the ecosystem award are: Boleslaw Drapella, Beata Cichocka -Tylman, Szymon Janiak, Artur Kurasinski, Paweł Maj, Jerzy Szewczyk
In the category of Venture Award by VCLeaders, the chapter selected for the finals: Expeditions, Movens Capital, Rubicon Partners, Simpact Ventures, SpeedUp Venture Capital Group, Sunfish Partners
You can vote here
The announcement of the results of all categories will take place on March 7, 2023, during the Gala, which will be held in the Listing Room of the Warsaw Stock Exchange. We plan to broadcast the event, and we encourage you to follow the information on our social channels and website.
The 2022 BAY Awards will be presented in six categories, honoring exceptional business angels and Venture Capital funds:
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The candidates for the BAY Awards are reviewed by a special Committee, which assesses them in terms of successful investments, cooperation with startups, and dedication to promoting angel investment. The Committee is comprised of established investors and entrepreneurs with extensive experience in the subject, as well as the BAY partners and laureates from previous years.
Partner Zarządzający, Cobin Angels
Członek Zarządu, European Business Angels Network (EBAN)
Partner Zarządzający, Cobin Angels
CEO w VCLeaders
Head of Advisory, Cobin Angels
Head of Advisory, Cobin Angels
Head of Advisory, Cobin Angels
Awards in the second edition of the Business Angel of the Year competition were presented at the 'Investment & Finance Forum' gala held on May 29 at the Westin Hotel.
Business angel applications for the Business Angel of the Year competition, organized for the second time by COBIN Angels together with the Executive Club, were accepted until May 6, 2019.
The competition jury considered the investments made by the Business Angel in 2018. In addition to exceptional financial performance, the support provided by the investor was evaluated.
CEO of Billon, a fintech company specializing in blockchain technology. Before, Wojciech Kostrzewa spent 28years building large banking and media companies. He worked as the CEO of the media conglomerate ITI Group and banks Polski Bank Rozwoju and BRE Bank (today mBank). He also managed the activities of Commerzbank in Central and EasternEurope. Currently, he serves as the chairman of the Polish Business Roundtable, the deputy chairman of the supervisory board of ERGO Hestia, and the member of the board of directors of Stadler Rail and the supervisory board of Canal+ Polska.
While BusinessAngels are a key element in the development of young companies worldwide, theyare still lacking in our country. To change this, COBIN Angels, are awardingthe Business Angel of the Year statuette.
Business angel, entrepreneur, a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization. He co-created the CHIC Group and its e-Smoking World brand, currently a part of the British American Tobacco group. Dawid is also an owner and co-owner of several companies, including well-known clothing brands (e.g. Local Heroes, Sugarfree). Initiator and co-founder of Take & GO autonomous chain stores.
