Building a Regional Investing Ecosystem w/ Richard Menzinsky (Chairman VASTAF - Västkustens Affärsänglar)
Join us for an exclusive fireside chat featuring Richard Menzinsky, Chairman of VASTAF – Västkustens Affärsänglar, one of Sweden’s most effective regional angel investor networks.
In this fireside chat, we will explore:
VASTAF’s model for building a high-impact regional business angel network on Sweden’s west coast
VASTAF’s operations – investment strategy, portfolio, team, and value-add
The importance of structure, governance, and transparency in organizing angel networks
VASTAF’s strategies for co-investing, syndication, and working closely with venture capital and public funding
Building regional ecosystems – key lessons in mobilizing capital, ideas, and support infrastructure
Lessons for emerging and mature BANs on creating an ecosystem-first approach to startup investing
Richard’s broader reflections on what it takes to align regional strengths with national startup growth
Who Should Attend
Angel investors and Business Angel Networks (BANs)
VCs looking to connect with grassroots and regional dealflow
Innovation consultants and ecosystem builders
Policymakers focused on regional development and startup funding
Founders looking to better understand angel capital beyond the metros
About the Speakers
Richard Menzinsky is Chairman of VASTAF – Västkustens Affärsänglar, a regional angel investor network accelerating early-stage ventures across Sweden’s west coast. Since its founding in 2011, VASTAF has pioneered a governance-led investing model focused on cleantech, IoT, life sciences, and energy. Richard brings a sharp focus on transparency, syndication, and regional value creation—supporting both founders and investors through structured collaboration. With a career spanning technical, commercial, and leadership roles across industries and geographies, Richard combines deep operational insight with a strong customer perspective and an instinct for identifying risk and opportunity. Known for challenging herd mentality and thinking outside the box, he thrives on building impactful, scalable models—whether through innovative investing, new business models, or empowering teams to excel. As an investor and mentor, he finds deep fulfillment in aligning strategic capital with transformative ideas.
Naimul Abd is a serial Nordic ecosystem builder working extensively in early-stage startup development, funding, and growth. He is CEO of Connect Öst, one of the Nordic region’s most active ecosystems connecting startups with investors, mentors, and partners. He is also CEO of SweBAN, with a mission to accelerate collaboration among business angels, business angel networks, and venture capital. Naimul also leads the Nordic chapters for global networks including Founder Institute, Startup Grind, Nutty Ventures, and Founders Live, and actively supports a portfolio of early-stage startups.
VASTAF – Västkustens Affärsänglar is a West Sweden-based network of experienced entrepreneurs and business professionals who invest in and support early-stage companies with capital, expertise, and networks.
SweBAN Talks are an initiative of SweBAN – Swedish Business Angel Networks, an organization with a mission to stimulate the creation and acceleration of business angel networks (BANs) and to build bridges between angel networks and venture capital. These talks spotlight business angel networks and their builders, offering insights from ecosystem experts and thought leaders on creating and accelerating effective BANs.
Important updates from SweBAN
Our annual business angel networks survey is live - welcome to fill out here: SweBAN Pulse Business Angel Networks Survey 2025
Are you an existing business angel network or in process of forming one, welcome to send us your Membership Application.
Would you like to partner up with SweBAN, send us your Partnership Application (same link as membership application, select type of partner Commercial / Ecosystem).
Join our upcoming SweBAN events here.
Follow SweBAN updates on our website.
For any questions reach out to me on LinkedIn
Naimul Abd
CEO SweBAN