DGAP-News: Gust and EBAN Announce Partnership to Help Finance European Startups


Gust, LLC 

12.12.2012 01:21
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

EU Entrepreneurs Accounted for 11% of Global Startup Funding Applications in Q3
of 2012 

NEW YORK and BRUXELLES, Belgium, 2012-12-12 01:21 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Gust, the global investor relations platform connecting high-growth
entrepreneurs and active early-stage investors, and EBAN, the European Trade
Association for Business Angels, Seed Funds, and other Early Stage Market
Players, have entered into a long-term strategic partnership establishing Gust
as the recommended deal-flow management and investor relations platform for the
financing of high-growth European startups. 

EBAN is the not-for-profit organization established under the auspices of the
European Union to represent business angel investors and investment
organizations in the region. Its goal is to promote a vibrant angel investment
community and culture throughout Europe. Through direct and indirect
membership, EBAN represents hundreds of business angel networks in Europe,
bringing together over 20,000 business angels across 27 countries to fuel the
rapidly growing European entrepreneurial economy. 

Gust, named the world's Top Innovator in Financial Technology at this year's
Sibos conference organized by SWIFT, operates the global platform for sourcing
and managing early-stage investments. It powers over 1,000 investment
organizations in 75 countries and facilitates collaboration among more than
160,000 startups and 40,000 accredited investors. Gust is the official platform
of the world's leading national angel investor federations, including those in
the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Scotland, Spain,
France, Portugal, Turkey and Russia, among others. 

'Gust is committed to meeting the rapidly changing demands of the international
early-stage investment and entrepreneurial communities,' said David S. Rose,
Gust's Founder and CEO. 'This strategic partnership is the culmination of joint
efforts between Gust and EBAN to support European entrepreneurship. It will
open exclusive opportunities for European investors to manage their early stage
investments with Gust's multifaceted platform, and support entrepreneurs
seeking funding for startups across Europe.' 

'The Early Stage investment community across Europe is becoming more
professionalized,' said Paulo Andrez, President of EBAN. 'Today, access to the
best startup companies, as well as the ability to manage the entire investment
process, are crucial competitive advantages for the region's leading early
stage investors. EBAN is proud to partner with Gust to allow EBAN members to
make better decisions, increase their access to the most promising new
companies, and promote syndication among them using the Gust platform.' Through
this partnership, EBAN members will receive special benefits to access the Gust
platform. 

Gust's proprietary data shows that early-stage investments in Europe are
already on the rise. EBAN member countries grew rapidly in the third quarter of
2012 in healthcare, travel, education and clean technology: 

  -- Healthcare Services funding applications grew by 202%, compared with -11%
     globally;
  -- Travel funding applications grew by 191%, compared with 16% globally;
  -- Education funding applications grew by 58%, compared with -11% globally;
  -- Clean Technology funding applications grew by 20%, compared with 8%
     globally.

Currently, the top ten industries for EBAN member countries are Internet web
services, business products services, mobile, software, consumer products
services, healthcare, Information Technology, media entertainment, travel, and
fashion. 

About Gust

Gust provides the global platform for the sourcing and management of
early-stage investments, enabling skilled entrepreneurs to collaborate with the
smartest investors by virtually supporting all aspects of the investment
relationship, from initial pitch to successful exit. Gust is endorsed by the
world's leading business angel and venture capital associations, and powers
over 1,000 investment organizations in 75 countries. More than 160,000
start-ups have already used the platform to connect and collaborate with over
40,000 individual accredited investors. Gust is based in New York, NY, with a
development center in Vancouver, British Columbia, and European office in
Paris, France. Please visit www.gust.com for more information. 

About EBAN

EBAN is the European trade association for business angels, seed funds, and
other early stage market players. Its mission is growing the early stage
investment asset class, from an estimated 4 billion Euros today to 10 billion
Euros. EBAN serves business angels, business angel networks, seed funds and
other early stage investment professionals across Europe and is the
representative in Brussels through direct and indirect membership of more than
250 business angel networks in Europe. These in turn federate some 20,000
angels, and receive about 40,000 business plans a year. 


         CONTACT: Lana Gersten, (212) 784-5714, LGersten@GroupGordon.com
News Source: NASDAQ OMX



12.12.2012 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - 
a company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

DGAP's Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements,
Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.
Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Language:     English
Company:      Gust, LLC
              
               
              United States
Phone:        
Fax:          
E-mail:       
Internet:     
ISIN:         US9902050569
WKN:          
 
End of Announcement                             DGAP News-Service
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------