Mexico

Israel Pons, CEO and Co-Founding Partner of Angels Nest LATAM, has been appointed as High Commissioner for Mexico. High Commissioner Pons represents Mexico in the International Academic Committee of the Grand Assembly of the World Business Angels Investment Forum.

Israel.Ponz@wbaforum.org
Israel Pons is CEO and co-founding partner of Angels Nest LATAM, an angel investmen network operating in Mexico and Latin American countries. It was cited by XCALA as the most active angel network in Latin America. They also have more than 400 angels from Latin America, Canada, the US and the United Kingdom. The organization has been operating across Mexico since October 2015. Angels Nest has led the largest first angel round for the first cross-border investment in a Latin American start-up, for $1.2 million USD. They also hold the record for achieving one angel investment per month. Israel is also the President of the National Entrepreneurship Committee of the Mexican Institute of Financial Executives (IMEF). Israel pursued his academic and professional career during his 24 years in the UK, where he served 5 years as Operations Director for the largest leisure company in Europe. He became an entrepreneur and founded 4 companies in the UK, 3 of which were sold successfully. He became an angel investor and  decided  to move back to Mexico. Israel was named the National Lead Member for the Global Business Angel Network–Mexico (GBAN), where his duties include speaking in public events about what angel investment is all about and how it can help entrepreneurs find success in their projects. He is an active member of the Association of Mexican and German Business association (EMAAC). Israel firmly believes that angel investment is about people and values, not about money.

Mexico

Letcia Cabral Calvillo, Strategic Business Development Advisor for Spain and LATAM, Oxentia, has been appointed as Senator at the Grand Assembly of the World Business Angels Investment Forum. Senator Cabral Calvillo will represent Mexico in the  Global Woman Leaders Committee of the Grand Assembly.

Letcia.Cabral Calvillo@wbaforum.org
Leticia Cabral has more than 20 years experience in international business strategy consulting and business development. She has worked for public and private corporations, SME’s, NGOs and universities and research organizations worldwide and across several sectors of industry, including Telecommunications, Retail, Consumer Products, Aerospace/Airlines, Utilities, Healthcare, etc. Over the last 10 years, Leticia has been advising and mentoring innovation driven entrepreneurs, start ups and SMEs from Latin America, Asia, Africa and European countries, mainly Spain, on business, commercialization and funding strategies for their innovations.   Leticia currently works for Oxentia Ltd, as Strategic Business Development for Spain and LATAM, advising both Spanish Corporations, Universities and Start Ups, on Technology Transfer and Commercialization Strategies, and as mentor and advisor on a program funded by the British Government, The Leaders in Innovation Fellowship Program (LIF), aim at helping innovators and entrepreneurs from Latin America, Asia and Africa to develop business propositions for their innovations, business modeling, leadership, finance, Intellectual property, marketing and pitching to investors.   Leticia also participates as mentor, judge and speaker at several global innovation competitions, including The Gifted Citizens, The Pitch & Palace Latam Innovation Competition (an initiative from HRH Prince Andrew from United Kingdom), the South Summit Spain, South Summit Pacific Alliance, and the Katerva Awards.  Leticia founded and managed her own retail business, The Sharif Shirt Company, in Spain, and a consulting company, Universal Sourcing Limited, in Atlanta, GA. She is a member of the board of the Chevening Alumni Alliance and the VP of the Mexican Talent Network UK, aimed at promoting and strengthening the position of Mexico and Mexican organizations.   Leticia holds an MBA (Hons.) from Manchester Business School, and BBA from Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico, where she also worked as a full time professor and consultant.