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May 16, 2012

Gust and Russian National Business Angels Association Announce Strategic Relationship Agreement

Growth in Target Russian Industries Surpasses Global Trends in Early Stage Investment and Entrepreneurship Economy

May 16, 2012 – NEW YORK – Gust, the investor relations platform connecting high-growth entrepreneurs and active early-stage investors, and the Russian National Business Angels Association, a not-for-profit organization representing the organized business angels, seed funds, and other early-stage venture capitalist communities across Russia, have signed a strategic relationship agreement to shape the landscape of early-stage investments in leading entrepreneurship opportunities across global industries. The partnership will allow Russian early-stage investors to access Gust’s multifaceted platform to standardize and manage their deal flow and collaborate with entrepreneurs. The biggest regional Russian angel networks such as RUSSBA and BAUR (www.baural.ru), a new investor group Angels Ontime (www.angelsontime.com), the first Russian state sponsored angel co-investment fund (www.arip.ru) as well as a few incubators across the country, are among the new users.

“Gust is monitoring and evaluating global trends in the angel investor and venture capital investment space for new opportunities to grow and expand access between early stage investors and entrepreneurs at the forefront of their industries,” said David S. Rose, CEO of Gust. “Our strategic partnership with the Russian National Business Angels Association will provide an exclusive opportunity for Russian investors to utilize Gust’s platform and build on the visible growth of early-stage companies seeking funding and supportive resources in Russia and Eastern Europe.”

Gust’s proprietary data indicates that early-stage investment deal growth in Eastern Europe is leading global trends across industry boards, with substantial opportunities for the first quarter of 2012 in healthcare services, consumer product services, internet web services, and clean technology:

Healthcare services investment grew by 162.5%, compared with 23.54% globally.
Consumer product services investment grew by 207.69%, compared with 51.33% globally.
Internet web services investment grew by 45.33%; compared with 16.27% growth globally.
Clean technology investment grew by 263.64%, compared with 46.62% globally.

Currently, the top ten leading industries in Eastern Europe are internet web services, consumer product services, software, media entertainment, clean technology, industrial energy, healthcare services, mobile, and medical devices equipment. Gust estimates that the 2011 value of Russian early-stage investment has increased by $300 million USD with projected annual growth of 20% to 25% over the next 3 to 5 years.

“We are pleased to be working with such a collaborative, innovative platform such as Gust and look forward to our partnership,” said Konstantin Fokin, President of the Russian National Business Angels Association. “The NBAA’s member parties are in need of efficient, sophisticated resources to manage the growing pipeline of early-stage ventures in Russia. Gust presents a trusted and relevant solution to managing the burgeoning early-stage economy in our country.”

Within the international early-stage investment and entrepreneurship arena, Gust is the official platform for leading angel organizations across the world, including those in Ireland, Scotland, France, Portugal, Turkey, New Zealand, and Australia, among others. Gust’s platform is currently available in English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese and now Russian, and is continuing to expand its presence abroad, focused on providing access to its platform for all members of the early-stage global economy.

About Russian National Business Angels Association

NBAA is a Russia-wide trade association for business-angels, seed funds, and other early stage VC market players. NBAA was created in 2009 by 4 major national angel groups. By now its membership base consists of 8 full and 4 associated members, representing some 75% of the organized part of the Russian early stage VC market. NBAA is officially supported by a number of key private and state organizations, including RUSNANO (www.rusnano.com), Russian State Venture Company (www.rusventure.ru), and Russian Venture Capital Association (www.rvca.ru). In early 2011 NBAA joined The European Trade Association for Business Angels, Seed Funds, and other Early Stage Market Players – EBAN as a Russian member federation of business-angels, seed funds, and other early stage market players.

О Gust

Gust предлагает глобальную платформу для привлечения инвестиций ранней стадии и управления ими. Благодаря Gust профессиональные предприниматели могут сотрудничать с наиболее успешными инвесторами и получать поддержку практически по любым вопросам взаимодействия с инвесторами: от подготовки первой презентации до выхода инвестора из участия. Gust рекомендуют ведущие мировые ассоциации бизнес-ангелов и венчурных фондов. На платформе Gust работают более 750 инвестиционных организаций в 65 странах. Уже свыше 125 000 начинающих компаний зарегистрировались в системе, чтобы установить контакты и начать сотрудничать с более чем 35 000 аккредитованных инвесторов. Gust — частная компания. Она была основана в 2004 г. под названием Angelsoft. Центральный офис Gust расположен в Нью-Йорке, штат Нью-Йорк, центр разработок — в Ванкувере, Британская Колумбия, а европейский офис — в Париже, Франция.