Sophia Business Angels

Name

Sophia Business Angels

Legal name

Sophia Business Angels

Website

https://sophiabusinessangels.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Angel Investment Network

NAICS

Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Micro-VC & Angel Funds (FSANAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Accelerator / Incubator-Backed ETA Programs (FSANALAD)

Keywords

• Angel investment network
• Early-stage startup funding
• Venture coaching programs
• Business angel membership
• Seed capital investments

Headquarters

HQ city

Valbonne

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Angel Investment Returns: SBA members invest personal funds in early-stage startups in exchange for equity. Returns are realized through exits (acquisitions, IPOs). The organization facilitates deals but does not charge transaction fees or manage a fund on behalf of third parties.
2. Membership Dues: Revenue from membership subscriptions for investors joining the SBA network. Members pay to access deal flow, events, and the global investment community.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sophia Business Angels is a membership-based angel investment network that pools personal funds from 40+ individual members to invest €50,000–€500,000 in early-stage startups with innovative concepts. Beyond capital, SBA delivers structured coaching and deal-flow access through three flagship programs—Startup Factory pitch events in Cannes, the bi-annual International Venture Academy co-organized with SKEMA Business School, and SBA Invest dinner/Zoom pitching sessions—supported by mentorship, a quarterly newsletter (SBA Connect), and member-authored articles (SBA Insights).

Product overview

Sophia Business Angels is a group of angel investors who invest personal funds in early-stage startup companies. They are not a software product company but rather an investment and mentorship organization. Their service offerings include: capital investment (€50,000-€500,000), the Startup Factory event program for early-stage pitches, the International Venture Academy for bi-annual pitching and coaching, SBA Invest meetings for investor pitch sessions, SBA Connect quarterly newsletter, SBA Insights articles from members, and Press Releases for organizational news. The organization also provides mentorship and coaching to entrepreneurs through these programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SBA Connect: Quarterly newsletter fostering communication with entrepreneurs and the investment community
• Startup Factory
• International Venture Academy
• SBA Invest

Products and services

• Angel Investment Services Capital contributions ranging from €50,000 to €500,000 for early-stage startup companies with innovative concepts and commercial promise, along with access to mentors, pitching events, and global networking. Targeted at early-stage startup founders and CEOs.
• Startup Factory Networking and pitching event held several times a year in Cannes where entrepreneurs and students pitch early business ideas (3-minute pitches) to investors and the startup community. Targets early-stage entrepreneurs.
• International Venture Academy Bi-annual pitching, coaching, and networking event co-organized with SKEMA Business School that provides entrepreneurs personalized pitch coaching and prizes for the top 3 startups. Targets international early-stage entrepreneurs.
• SBA Invest Regularly scheduled pitching sessions available both online via Zoom and in person where select entrepreneurs can pitch and network with investors over dinner. Targets select entrepreneurs seeking SBA member investment.
• SBA Connect Newsletter Quarterly newsletter fostering communication with entrepreneurs and the investment community; contains club updates, portfolio company wins, technology discoveries, business opportunities, and event summaries.
• SBA Insights Articles and resources written or curated by SBA members sharing expertise and knowledge relevant to the startup and investment community.
• Press Releases Up-to-date news highlighting wins from SBA's investment portfolio as well as important organizational updates.
• SBA Membership Annual membership that gives individual investors access to SBA's deal flow database, screening process, SBA Invest/Startup Factory/International Venture Academy events, and global investment community. Targets high net worth individuals, former entrepreneurs, and corporate executives seeking personal angel investment opportunities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 45% of International Venture Academy participants receive funding within 2 years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• European Business Angels Network (EBAN)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSBA is part of EBAN, the pan-European representative for the early stage investor community gathering over 150 member organizations in more than 50 countries. SBA board member Marcel Dridje serves as EBAN Board Representative.
• France AngelscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFrench Federation of Business Angels Networks. SBA is affiliated with France Angels and SBA board member Jean-Louis Brelet serves as France Angels Representative.
• SKEMA Business SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizes the bi-annual International Venture Academy with SKEMA. SKEMA provides venue, student involvement, and academic credibility for the flagship pitching and coaching event.
• Allianz AcceleratorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBA board member Sylvain Theveniaud founded and directs Allianz Accelerator. The organizations collaborate on events and investment activities. Allianz Accelerator has accelerated 68 startups, raised $800M+, with combined valuation of $3.5B+.
• Fondation Sophia AntipoliscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation supporting the Sophia Antipolis technology park, the largest in Europe with 2,230 companies and 36,000 people. SBA was founded at this location and maintains close ties.
• Cambridge AngelsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUK-based angel investor network supporting early-stage startups through funding, mentorship, and access to business and industry experts.
• Mumbai AngelsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAngel investor network based in Mumbai, India, focused on investing in early-stage startups across various sectors.
• Galata Business AngelsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTurkish angel investor network supporting early-stage startups and entrepreneurs by providing funding, mentorship, and access to network of business experts.
• Institut EuropIAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Institute of Artificial Intelligence. SBA members including Candace Johnson serve in leadership roles. Co-organizes World AI Cannes Festival and AI-related events with SBA.
• Cannes Pays de LérinscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench regional network in Cannes. Co-organizes Startup Factory events at La Bastide Rouge campus with SBA.
• PACA Incubator ESTcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional business incubator in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur that refers promising startups to SBA events and co-organizes ecosystem activities.
• The CampminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInnovation campus in Aix-en-Provence, France, bringing together entrepreneurs and innovators to work on social and environmental challenges.
• African Business Angels Network (ABAN)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational organization promoting economic development in Africa by supporting startup initiatives. SBA participates in ABAN events including Africa Early Stage Investor Summit.
• BNP ParibasminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPrivate banking service providing wealth management solutions. Partner in SBA ecosystem.
• The Next SocietyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational network of innovators and entrepreneurs from Middle-East and North Africa fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.
• Sophia Club EntreprisesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAssociation of businesses located in Sophia Antipolis fostering collaboration and networking between members.
• ESA (European Space Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Space Agency. SBA participates in ESA-backed events including Act in Space hackathon. Portfolio includes multiple space-tech companies.
• CNES (French National Space Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench National Space Agency. Co-organizes space-related events with SBA and supports space-tech startup ecosystem.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Band of Angels: Silicon Valley-based angel group of 150+ former and current technology executives who invest personal funds in seed/early-stage startups. Directly comparable to SBA on operator-led angel model, with similar per-check sizes and emphasis on mentorship, though larger and US-anchored.
• Cambridge Angels: UK-based angel network of senior operators and founders investing personal funds in early-stage UK and European startups. Like SBA, Cambridge Angels combines capital with operating expertise, sources deals through curated pitch events, and offers £50K-£500K tickets — a near-direct UK analogue to SBA's model.
• Galata Business Angels: Turkey's leading angel investor network, with members investing personal funds into early-stage Turkish and regional startups. Same individual-investor model and event-driven sourcing as SBA, providing direct comparability on member structure and ticket sizes.
• Mumbai Angels: India-focused angel network investing personal member funds into early-stage startups with structured screening and pitch events. Directly comparable operating model to SBA — member-driven sourcing, deal screening committee, and follow-on syndication — though operating in a different geography (India vs. Europe).
• New York Angels: One of the most active US angel groups, with 100+ members investing personal capital into early-stage technology and life-sciences startups. Near-identical operating model to SBA: screening committees, monthly pitch meetings, member-driven check sizes, and post-investment mentorship.
• Golden Seeds: US-based angel network focused on early-stage investments with an emphasis on under-represented founders. Uses the same member-driven angel model as SBA — individuals investing personal funds with structured screening and pitch processes — making it a structural analogue despite different target demographics.

Broad incumbents

• Keiretsu Forum: Global angel investor network with chapters across North America, Europe, and Asia. Operates the same member-driven angel investment model as SBA, with chapters screening and syndicating deals; SBA is significantly smaller but shares the chapter-based, member-funded investment model.
• European Business Angels Network (EBAN): Pan-European representative body of the early-stage investor community with 150+ member organizations across 50+ countries. SBA is an EBAN member and Marcel Dridje sits on EBAN's board; both operate as angel-network platforms with similar mission of catalyzing early-stage capital, though EBAN functions as a trade association rather than a direct investing entity.
• France Angels: French national federation of business angel networks. SBA is an affiliated member with Jean-Louis Brelet serving as France Angels representative; both serve similar early-stage French startups with member-driven angel capital, but France Angels operates as the umbrella federation coordinating 50+ regional networks nationally.

Emerging players

• Allianz Accelerator: French accelerator founded by SBA board member Sylvain Theveniaud, with 68 startups accelerated and $800M+ raised. Not a direct angel peer, but adjacent — co-organizes events and investments with SBA, and serves the same Sophia Antipolis-area early-stage ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sophia-business-angels

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments6 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sophia Business Angels