About

WBAF Business School

The WBAF Business School was established by the World Business Angels Investment Forum as a response to an increasing need for qualified investors, qualified entrepreneurs and qualified companies in the world economy. It provides education and training for individuals such as investors and entrepreneurs and, through its executive development programmes, it contributes to the business transformation of both private and public entities.

All WBAF executive and business development programmes, qualification and certification courses, seminars, masterclasses and training sessions as well as its webinars and roundtables are tailored to the specific requirements of individual professionals and corporate managerial teams.

The WBAF Business School provides a hybrid learning experience in a multilingual and multi-cultural environment offering (a) online education (b) support from an individualized strategic advisory board, (c) stock exchange meetups and inter-continental study trips, (d) support from a corporate governance and SME support center and (e) proficiency-based qualification and certification.

Mission

The WBAF Business School aims to contribute to the development of skills and expertise, to assist in the business transformation of private and public entities, and to foster the kind of creative thinking that leads to innovation and eventual success in the ever-changing market environment of the 21st century. This will serve the WBAF mission of easing access to finance, increasing financial inclusion, promoting gender equality, and creating more jobs and social justice worldwide.

Organisational Structure

Dr Paul Doany, Rector
After his first tenure as Group CEO of Turk Telekom (2005-2010), Dr Doany moved into ICT Venture Capital, with 22 Technology investments, half being pure start-ups, as well as expanding into renewable energy (geothermal power, hybrid biogas/solar energy + organic fertilizers). During this period, he also served as Group CEO of Turk Telekom for a further 3 years, ending late 2019 (i.e. total of 8 years), 47 million customers, and around 34k employees, during which he established the company’s CVC, Corporate Venture Capital arm, as well as supporting its Tech/Starters Accelerator, with a focus on three main verticals: Ed-Tech, Health- Tech as well the Energy; in his first Turk Telekom tenure, he led the full acquisition of four strategic IT/ technology companies, an international carrier business with 19 country operation, as well as listing the Group on the Istanbul Stock Exchange in 2008.

Dr Doany obtained his PhD in Communications Engineering & Digital Electronics, from University of Manchester (previously, UMIST), in 1981, after which he taught at the Electrical & Electronics Engineer Department in the American University of Beirut (AUB), for a period of four years, moving thereafter to the business world.

Executive Administration

• Fabrice Testa, Secretary General
• Prof. Inderjit Singh, Head of the Global Entrepreneurship Department
• Israel Pons, Head of the Global Investment Department
• Maryam Najafi, Head of the Global Mentorship Department

Contact:

Christina Mc Gimpsey
Administrative Assistant, WBAF Business School – World Business Angels Investment Forum An affiliated partner of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) Christina.McGimpsey@wbaforum.org

World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF)

An affiliated partner of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI), the World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF) aims to ease access to finance for businesses from start-up to scale-up, with the ultimate goal of generating more jobs and more social justice worldwide. It is committed to collabarating, globally to empower world economic development by creating innovative financial instruments for innovators, start-ups, and SMEs. The Forum interacts with leaders in all areas of society, first and foremost in business and political spheres, to help assess needs and establish goals, bearing in mind that the public interest is of paramount importance. WBAF engages a wide range of institutions, both public and private, local and international, commercial and academic to help shape the global agenda.
wbaforum.org

G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI)

The Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) is an inclusive platform for all G20 countries, interested non-G20 countries, and relevant stakeholders that aims to carry forward work on financial inclusion, including the implementation of the G20 Financial Inclusion Action Plan endorsed at the G20 Summit in Seoul, South Korea. Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands is the Honorary Patron of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI).
gpfi.org

The WBAF Business School provides a hybrid learning experience in a multilingual and multi-cultural environment offering (a) online education (b) support from an individualized strategic advisory board, (c) stock exchange meetups and inter-continental study trips, (d) support from a corporate governance and SME support center and (e) proficiency-based qualification and certification.

Departments

The WBAF Business School has three education departments: Global Entrepreneurship, Global Investment, and Global Mentorship.
 

Educational Programmes versus Educational Courses
The WBAF Business School has two main educational constructs: programmes and courses. Programmes conclude with a proficiency test and participants are awarded a professional certificate. By contrast, courses have no testing component; course participants receive a certificate of completion.

Courses and Programmes
The WBAF Business School offers a wide variety of courses and certificate programmes. Each employs a range of input (webinars, case studies, masterclasses, workshops, panel discussions, and presentations, to name a few), all of which encourage active participation and interaction on the part of those attending.
The School’s offerings include:
 

Certification Programmes

• QBAC+ Qualified Angel Investor Certification Programme
• QBMC+ Qualified Business Mentor Certification Programme
• CBMC+ Certified Non-Executive Board Member Programme
• SAAS+ Certified Startup Assessor Programme
• ETHICS+ Qualified Ethics and Compliance Executive Certification Programme
• BDIE+ Business Diplomacy for International Entrepreneurship Certification Programme
• WEBD+ Global Woman Entrepreneurship and Business Development Certification Programme
• CCIE+ Certified Chief Innovation Executive Programme
• EEEP+ Certified Expert on European Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Policies

Course Programmes

Business Transformation Courses Executive Development Courses Angel Investor Courses
Startup Courses Elective Courses
English Language Courses for Entrepreneurs

• All participants receive a certificate of participation.
• For courses included in each of the above offerings, please go to wbs.wbaforum.org

Programmes and Courses

Certificate Programmes

• QBAC+ Qualified Angel Investor Certificate Programme
• QBMC+ Qualified Business Mentor Certificate Programme
• CBMC+ Certified Non-Executive Board Member Programme
• SAAS+ Certified Startup Assessor Programme
• ETHICS+ Qualified Ethics and Compliance Executive Certificate Programme
• BDIE+ Business Diplomacy for International Entrepreneurship Certificate Programme
• WEBD+ Global Woman Entrepreneurship and Business Development Certificate Programme
• CCIE+ Certified Chief Innovation Executive Certificate Programme
• EEEP+ Certified Expert on European Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Policies Business Transformation Courses
• Developing Strategies and Transforming Business Models Through Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• FinTech Outlook – Trends and Technologies

Executive Development Courses

• Ethical Governance for Global Institutions
• Leadership in the Digital Era
• Financial Management in Practice

English for Fundraising Courses

• EFF- English for Fundraising Course
• Beginner level of English
• Elementary level of English
• Pre-intermediate level of English
• Intermediate level of English
• Upper-Intermediate level of English
• Advanced level of English

A unique offering of the WBAF Business School is its individual strategic advisory boards (ISAB), each of which consists of a business mentor, a business consultant, and an executive coach. All participants in the School’s certificate programmes are eligible to apply for an ISAB. The ISABs are managed by the Corporate Governance and SME Support Centre of the WBAF Business School, which carefully selects the experts for each ISAB, taking into account the individual participant’s specific business and personal development needs. For the needs assessment, each participant is interviewed by a panel of 3 experts from various relevant fields and is given a Jung Typology test.

Corporate governance essentially involves balancing the interests of a company’s many stakeholders; these include shareholders, senior management executives, customers, suppliers, financiers, the government, and the community. Corporate governance also provides a framework for attaining a company’s objectives; as such, it encompasses practically every sphere of management, from action plans and internal controls to performance measurement and corporate disclosure.

Corporate governance policies play an important role in achieving broad economic objectives with respect to investor confidence, capital formation and allocation. Governance affects corporations’ ability to access capital in that good governance gives fund providers the confidence to contribute to value creation on fair and equitable terms.

The Corporate Governance and SME Support Centre contributes to the WBAF Business School’s goal of providing more than academic and conceptual training, it offers tangible business tools and sustainability services that will help SMEs overcome operational challenges.

Additionally, graduates of some WBAF Business School certificate programmes are eligible for a professional agreement with the World Business Angels Investment Forum, whereby WBAF will introduce the graduate to international companies and ventures in line with their specific area of certification (for example, as a certified startup assessor, a certified non-executive board members, or a qualified business mentor).

• The CGSC provides tailor-made corporate governance programmes in accordance with the specialization of each topic area that is taught at the School.
• CGSC serves as a bridge between WBAF Business School graduates and relevant industries in the world.

Participants in online courses will be able to come together every six months at a Stock Exchange Meetup, each of which will include a 3-day intensive programme in a different country at the biggest stock exchange on the respective continent. This will give participants an opportunity to get to know each other in person, to network, and to gain multi-cultural and inter-continental insights from different capital markets and entrepreneurship ecosystems.

The programme will include classroom-based workshops dedicated to the WBAF Business School in the meeting room of the relevant stock exchanges; study trips to acquaint participants with the main stakeholders of diverse ecosystems; meetings with university students; and visits to public figures such as mayors, government ministers, and presidents of stock exchanges and chambers of commerce.

In these meetups and study trips, participants will be able to get an overview of the local startup and innovation ecosystem of the various countries visited; encourage bilateral cooperation to develop entrepreneurship; listen to pitches of entrepreneurs (with a view toward investing in businesses that have high growth potential); join round tables, discussion sessions and conferences with local entrepreneurs, angel investors, and policymakers; and visit innovation facilitators such as incubation and acceleration centers, chambers of commerce and industry, free zones, and stock exchanges.

With this acquired knowledge in hand, participants will be better equipped to identify and engage with the individuals who are contributing to the development of the various local and regional ecosystems and to explore cross-border early-stage market investment opportunities.

WBAF Business School’s programmes are of special interest to:

• executives from listed companies.
• startups, scaleups, and SMEs.
• executives of business angel networks, acceleration and incubation centres and technoparks.
• individuals interested in setting up a business angel network or creating a business angel investment group.
• companies who want to establish or develop their corporate venture capital department.
• company founders and executives who want to initiate business transformation in their companies.
• public entities who want to adapt their structure to include digital transformation.
• governments who want to accelerate economic development.
• Professionals seeking appointments as non-executive board members.

• Antonio Roque, UK

America Partner Account Manager Microsoft. Lead Globally the WAPO that was Awarded special consultative status to the economic and social council of the United Nations 2015–2018. Has operational and leadership experience in working with Fortune 500 tech companies in Cloud, IoT and software as former Microsoft’s Global IoT Team Leader.

WBS ELECTIVE COURSE: Advanced Innovation and Entrepreneurship Course

• Anna Maj, Poland

FinTech Advisor and Mentor. Expert for the EU European Innovation Council. Recognized as one of the TOP 10 Women in FinTech 2020 and Top 25 Women Leaders in Financial Technology 2019. Co- author of The PAYTECH Book and The AI Book, published in 2020 by FINTECH Circle & Wiley

WBS BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION COURSE: FinTech Outlook – Trends and Technologies

• Dr. Md. Sabur Khan, Bangladesh

Former President of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Chairman at Daffodil International University. Founder and Chairman of the Daffodil Group, a listed company on the Bangladesh Stock Exchange.

WBS ELECTIVE COURSE: Investment for Start-ups

• Israel Pons, Mexico

Honorary President of the Latin America Trade Association for Angel Investors (XCALA). President of the Executive Investment Committee of the WBAF Angel Investment Fund.

WBS STARTUP COURSE: QBAC 2 Qualified Entrepreneur - Advanced Level - Learning what angel investors learn before they invest

• Maryam Najafi, Iran

Certified assessor for the European Foundation for Quality Management. Vice President of the WBAF Global Startups Committee, and head of the Global Mentorship Department of the WBAF Business School.

WBS STARTUP COURSE: QBAC 1 Qualified Entrepreneur - Basic Level - Investment Readiness Course

• Mondher Khanfir, France

Member of the Board of Advisors, Arts et Métiers Acceleration @ Station F. Visiting Lecturer, Author & Impact Investor, France.
WBS CERTIFICATION PROGRAMME: SAAS+ Certified Startup Assessor Programme

The WBAF Business School and its faculty members invite guest lecturers to make presentations to a class or at a special time outside class. The faculty member, club, organization or department that invites the speaker decides whether the lecture will be open to listeners outside the classroom or group. Sometimes a speech may be made available to the public as well.

Some of the Guest Lecturers at the WBAF Business School are:

• H.E. Prof. Gjorge Ivanov, 4th President of North Macedonia
• H.E. Prof. dr. sc. Ivo Josipović, 3rd President of Croatia
• H.E. Prof. Yongyuth Yuthavong, Former Deputy Prime Minister, Thailand
• H.E. Antonio Santos, Former Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister, Portugal
• H.E. Prof Hykmete Bajrami, Minister of Finance, Kosova
• H.E. Yvonne Adélaïde Mougany, Minister of SME Development, Congo
• H.E. Eduard Shalsi, Minister of State for the Protection of Entrepreneurship, Albania
• H.E. Dr. Ibrahim Mohammad Awal, Minister of Development, Ghana
• H.E. Manuel A. Gonzalez-Sanz, Former Foreign Affairs Minister, Costa Rica
• H.E. Noomane Fehri, Former Digital Economy Minister, Tunisia
• H.E. Martha Delgado, Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mexico
• H.E. Lansana Kouyaté, Former Prime Minister of Guinea, Former Vice President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council

The WBAF Business School offers a proficiency test for each of its certificate programmes. These arelongitudinal, feedback-oriented educational assessment tools for the evaluation of the development and sustainability of cognitive knowledge in its certification programmes. The WBS proficiency tests are written knowledge exams (usually involving multiple-choice questions) that are usually administered to all participants in the certificate programme at the same time and at regular intervals (usually two to four times yearly) throughout the entire academic programme. The tests sample the complete knowledge domain expected of new graduates upon completion of their programmes.

WBAF Business School offers eight proficiency tests:

• QBAC+
• QBMC+
• ETHICS+
• CBMC+
• SAAS+
• CCIE+
• BDIE+
• WEBD+

The WBAF Business School awards two kinds of certificates: (a) a professional certificate is issued for successful completion of a programme that concludes with a proficiency test, and (b) a certificate of completion is issued for a course without a proficiency test.

Professional certificates include:

• Professional Certificate - Qualified Angel Investor QBAC+
• Professional Certificate - Qualified Business Mentor QBMC+
• Professional Certificate - Qualified Ethics and Compliance Executive ETHICS+
• Professional Certificate - Certified Non-Executive Board Member CBMC+
• Professional Certificate - Certified Startup Assessor SAAS+
• Professional Certificate - Certified Chief Innovation Executive CCIE+
• Professional Certificate - Business Diplomacy for International Entrepreneurship BDIE+
• Professional Certificate - Global Woman Entrepreneurship and Business Development WEBD+
• Professional Certificate - Certified Expert on European Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Policy

Certificates of completion offered by the WBAF Business School include:

• Certificate of Completion: Entrepreneurship
• Certificate of Completion: Angel Investment
• Certificate of Completion: Business Transformation
• Certificate of Completion: Executive Development

The WBAF Business School delivers all angel investor courses, all startup courses, entrepreneurship modules of elective courses, and the Qualified Angel Investor QBAC+ Certification Programme using the coursebooks produced by the WBAF Publication House.

All coursebooks listed below are available at amazon.co.uk

• Qualified Angels Investors Coursebook
• Elementary Level: Entrepreneurship Coursebook
• Pre-Intermediate Level: Introduction to Angel Investment Coursebook
• Intermediate Level: Angel Investment – Practice Coursebook
• Upper-Intermediate Level: Angel Investor Groups Coursebook
• Advanced Level: Governments and Policymakers Coursebook
• Module 1: Entrepreneurship Across the World Coursebook
• Module 2: Non-Financial Route Map for Entrepreneurs Coursebook
• Module 3: Financial Route Map for Entrepreneurs Coursebook
• Module 4: Approaches to Entrepreneurial Investment Coursebook
• Module 5: Angel Investors Coursebook
• Module 6: Becoming an Angel Investor Coursebook
• Module 7: Identifying Opportunities and Sources of Deal Flow Coursebook
• Module 8: Identifying and Analysing Deals Coursebook
• Module 9: Company Valuation Coursebook
• Module 10: Building a Portfolio of Investments Coursebook
• Module 11: Due Diligence Coursebook
• Module 12: Setting Deal Terms Coursebook
• Module 13: Negotiating Deal Terms Coursebook
• Module 14: Governance and Deal Monitoring Coursebook
• Module 15: New Funding Rounds Coursebook
• Module 16: Exits Coursebook
• Module 17: Legal Agreements Coursebook
• Module 18: Setting up an Angel Investment Fund Coursebook
• Module 19: Setting up an Angel Investment Group Coursebook
• Module 20: Angel Investment Ecosystem Coursebook
• Module 21: Angel Investment Markets Around the World Coursebook
• Module 22: Tax Environment for Angel Investment Coursebook

The WEELT is a test of English language abilities for entrepreneurs and startups who want to engage with global markets, communicate with investors in English and develop their businesses internationally. This test is prepared and administered by the English Language Department of the WBAF Business School. Test results are used to determine whether the candidates are in need of an additional English course and, if any, which level of English they already have. Some investors want a WEELT score before they listen to the pitches of entrepreneurs’ demo day organizers, and also international startup pitching and fundraising organizations may require a WEELT score from entrepreneurs who apply.

The test consists of two parts; (1) the first part is computer-based and contains 90 multiple-choice questions (2) the second part is oral-based and devoted to speaking skill, but applicable only to those who get a score above WEELT 316 in the first part.

The total score the candidates get from the WEELT is indicative of their English level. It is as follows:

• Duration: 110 minutes
• Format: The speaking portions of the WEELT are oral based with an examiner. Reading  and writing portions are computer- and oral-based.
• Sections: Multiple choice questions for Vocabulary, Grammar, Reading, Writing and Listening(110 Minutes).Also Speaking for B1 and above (10-15 minutes).
• Scoring: Scores range from 0 to 700. The results are delivered within 5 days of taking the test and are valid for two years.
• Commonly required score: The WBAF Business School requires scores in the range of 246 - 700, which is equivalent to B1/B2/C1/C2 proficiency levels of the Common European Framework (CEF) .
• Where: You can register for the test online.
• Price: 145 EUR
• How often: The WBAF Business School usually offers the WEELT every month on the weekends.
• Score Reports and Recommendations: Tests are scored and recommendations are completed before the end of the business day after the test is administered. Test scores and recommendations are communicated to the candidates by email 5 days after they take the test. The recommendations and the scores indicate which language support class(es) are suitable for the particular candidate. The   possible courses WBAF Business School recommends and their matching codes are as follows:

* (1) Participants with WEELT 316 and above will take an oral exam. The recommended course for each participant will be determined  after the oral exam. The exam will clarify if the participant should follow a course at his/her WELLT Level, above or below. (2) A0 – A1 – A2 will not take the oral exam. They are recommended to attend the English for Fundraising Course stated in the table above. (3) There are three modules in this speaking exam. In the first module, there are questions on general everyday topics. In the second part, there are debatable questions that should be answered in light of the personal opinions and reasons provided by the candidate. In the third module, the questions are all related to entrepreneurship and investment for starting up a new business. Due to the fact that the questions are all field-oriented in the third module, the answers given for the first two modules are taken into consideration in determining the language level of the applicant. Every candidate is allocated 15 minutes to complete the session, so each module lasts 5 minutes.

The WBAF Business School offers free refresher courses to graduates of certificate programmes for 5 years after they graduate. Half-day refresher courses will give graduates an opportunity to review and renew their learnings, update their knowledge, and follow current changes in their area of specialization.

The WBAF Business School enhances the learning process through its own learning management system (LMS), a software application developed for the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting, automation and delivery of educational courses, training programmes, and learning and development programmes at the WBS. The WBS Learning Management System has been designed to identify training and learning gaps, utilizing analytical data and reporting. It focuses on online learning delivery but supports a range of uses, acting as a platform for online content, including courses, both asynchronous and synchronous. Each participant in a programme or a course will receive a personal passcode to the LMS. Tools on the WBAF LMS are available only to WBS students.

The WBAF Business School is actively involved in building institutional repositories of the institution’s books, papers, theses, and other works which can be digitized or that were ‘born digital’. Many of these repositories are made available to the general public with few restrictions. The WBAF Business School Library offers an easy and rapid means of accessing books, archives and images of various types that are now widely recognized by commercial interests and public bodies alike.

The WBS Library has four sections: (a) a Free Videos section, open to the public; (b) a Free Printed Documents section – open to the public; (c) a Paid Videos section; and (d) a Paid Books section.

All videos in the library have been produced by the World Business Angels Investment Forum, and all books in the library have been produced by the WBAF Publication House based in London.

The WBAF Business School provides a hybrid learning experience in a multilingual and multi-cultural environment offering courses in Arabic, Dutch, English, German, French, Persian, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Polish, Spanish and Turkish.

The WBAF Business School offers synchronous and asynchronous learning frameworks. In order to support student progress, the School offers office hours for participants in asynchronous learning. The format may be one-on-one or mini-groups. Participants can interact with the lecturer to clarify any points relevant to the course module. Office hours are virtual live sessions with the lecturer and are generally held 1 hour per month. Office hours are announced after participants have registered for the course.

The WBAF Business School (WBS) Alumni Association is an association of graduates or, more broadly, of former students (alumni). The Association often organizes social events, publishes newsletters or magazines, and raises funds for the organization. It provides a variety of benefits and services that help alumni maintain connections to their educational institution and fellow graduates. At the WBAF Business School, all graduates of certificate programmes and specialized courses automatically become members of the WBS Alumni Association and will be entitled to enjoy its privileges.

One of the main purposes of the alumni association is to support a network of former graduates who will, in turn, help raise the profile of the WBS. Just like most other university student organizations, alumni associations aim to bring together like-minded individuals.

We hope to make homecoming an annual tradition at the WBAF Business School. Graduates, students, lecturers, entrepreneurs and angel investors will come together in late September or early October to welcome back former graduates of the School. It will be built around a central event, such as a roundtable, workshop, open forum or study trip for students and alumni, a parade featuring the school’s faculty members.

Dr Paul Doany, Rector

After his first tenure as Group CEO of Turk Telekom (2005-2010), Dr Doany moved into ICT Venture Capital, with 22 Technology investments, half being pure start-ups, as well as expanding into renewable energy (geothermal power, hybrid biogas/solar energy + organic fertilizers). During this period, he also served as Group CEO of Turk Telekom for a further 3 years, ending late 2019 (i.e. total of 8 years), 47 million customers, and around 34k employees, during which he established the company’s CVC, Corporate Venture Capital arm, as well as supporting its Tech/Starters Accelerator, with a focus on three main verticals: Ed-Tech, Health- Tech as well the Energy; in his first Turk Telekom tenure, he led the full acquisition of four strategic IT/ technology companies, an international carrier business with 19 country operation, as well as listing the Group on the Istanbul Stock Exchange in 2008.

In summary, Dr Doany has served as Chairman in Venture Capital, Telecommunications/IT companies, and Renewable Energy companies for over ten years; a Telco CEO for over twelve years, and Managing Director of a technology management consultancy for over six years. Over the past twenty years, he managed ICT/ TMT/Renewables transactions totalling over 9 billion USD.

Dr Doany obtained his PhD in Communications Engineering & Digital Electronics, from University of Manchester (previously, UMIST), in 1981, after which he taught at the Electrical & Electronics Engineer Department in the American University of Beirut (AUB), for a period of four years, moving thereafter to the business world.

Executive Administration

• Fabrice Testa, Secretary General
• Prof. Inderjit Singh, Head of the Global Entrepreneurship Department
• Israel Pons, Head of the Global Investment Department
• Maryam Najafi, Head of the Global Mentorship Department

Contact:
Christina Mc Gimpsey
Administrative Assistant, WBAF Business School – World Business Angels Investment Forum An affiliated partner of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) Christina.McGimpsey@wbaforum.org