Business Angels specialized on impact investing: evidence from Italy

Considering the growing interest in support activities for economic and social development, which has spread in recent years, the focus of this study was on the analysis of Business Angels’ profile and their crucial role in the development and support of unexperienced inventors. The goals of this thesis are multiples: to provide an overview of the Italian Business Angels landscape; to realize an updated mapping at a national level of theme activities; to analyse the differences between types of Business Angels, their business models, and their service portfolios; to investigate the peculiarities and challenges faced by Impact Business Angels; finally, to carry out an initial verification of the effectiveness of the support given by Impact Business Angels to startups. Through an accurate examination of the literature concerning Business Angels, combined with the analyzes conducted together with the Social Innovation Monitor (SIM), a protocol has been created. The aim of this protocol is to thoroughly analyze the Impact Business Angels. Through the Business Angels database acquired by the SIM, the goal will be to propose this protocol to the Business Angels who, through analysis, resulted Impact Business Angels.