Cross-Border Angel Investments and why they really matter
Connect2Scale officially closed its final phase at EAIS25, concluding a period of extensive collaboration among countries and innovation ecosystems across the continent. In its final chapter, the project emphasised a central message: Europe’s ability to scale innovative companies depends on stronger cross-border angel investment.
The 2025 European Angel Investment Summit (EAIS25) took place in Brussels, Belgium, on 28 – 29 October, organised by the European Business Angels Network (EBAN) and the European Commission, in partnership with Hoperfy, Enterprise Europe Network, EU-LAC Digital Accelerator, egg Accelerator | Eurobank, Hessen Trade & Invest GmbH and, of course, the Connect2Scale project.
The summit brought together more than 250 participants from across the continent, including angel investors, founders, policy makers, EU officials, representatives from category associations and stakeholder organisations, among others. They filled conference halls and networking spaces with insights and knowledge.
And on the second day, at the De Gasperi Auditorium of the European Commission’s Charlemagne building, the Connect2Scale project took the stage for its final act. The session focused on the strategic importance of cross-border angel investment and the persistent barriers that continue to limit its uptake. Its message was less a goodbye than a roadmap for what Europe must do next.
Connect2Scale presentation and a panel discussion
The session opened with a keynote presentation of the project’s Policy Recommendations, delivered by Nina Dremelj, Founder of Business Angels of Slovenia and Partner at Vesna Deeptech Venture Fund. The findings highlight a clear gap: while investors recognise the value of cross-border investment for competitiveness and innovation, administrative burdens, regulatory fragmentation, higher perceived risk and inconsistent fiscal incentives continue to discourage activity. The recommendations call for the creation of a European “golden standard” for angel investing, one that simplifies procedures, enables interoperability, encourages the use of digital investment platforms and strengthens coordinated co-investment mechanisms.
Just as crucial, Dremelj also stressed the need for a mindset shift and stronger collaboration between national ecosystems.
A panel followed, bringing together representatives from EBAN (Ian Sosso), FiBAN (Mari Kirjalainen), LitBAN (Rita Sakus) and LatBAN (Girts Licis), moderated by EstBAN (Karin Künnapas), and it brought lived experience. Cross-border investing, they argued, isn’t just a nice-to-have, it provides investors with broader and more specialised deal flow, better portfolio diversification and access to competitive valuations, especially in emerging markets. These benefits are too important to ignore.
However, challenges such as legal complexity, difficult due-diligence processes and tax incentives favouring domestic investments remain significant. In response, many business angel networks are developing syndicated models, sharing standardised documents, offering targeted training and organising international delegations to build trusted relationships across borders. And as several panellists noted, cooperation between angels and venture capital funds may be the accelerant Europe needs to truly scale its companies globally.
By the end of the session, one conclusion stood firm: advancing cross-border angel investment must remain a priority for the EU’s broader scale-up agenda. Achieving this will require coordination at the EU level and deeper interoperability across ecosystems, but above all, it will require people who are willing to build relationships that transcend borders.
Beyond sessions, participants were also welcomed at the Evening Networking Reception at Rooftop 58, which offered an informal setting for building new connections and strengthening existing ones.
As EAIS25 came to an end, attendees left Brussels with a renewed commitment to fostering cross-border cooperation and a shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities ahead. See the official EAIS25 press release here.
Looking back, Connect2Scale project was always about more than policy, it was about learning from each other and opening doors to unfamiliar markets. The work, especially its Lighthouse Expeditions showcasing partner ecosystems, played a key role in building this. While the project has reached its end, the insights, tools, connections and partnerships it generated will continue to support investors and founders across Europe.