USA’s Bill Payne is the 2010 ‘New Zealand Arch Angel’
Prominent United States angel investor Bill Payne, who earlier this year spent five months in New Zealand advising
investors, entrepreneurs and students, is the second Arch Angel appointed by the Angel Association of New Zealand.
Last year, Sir Stephen Tindall was the first recipient of the honour, made at the Angel Association’s annual conference.
Angel Association chairman Phil McCaw said Bill Payne has made a remarkable contribution to angel investing across the
globe and has been a regular visitor to New Zealand, assisting New Zealand entrepreneurs for many years.
“Earlier this year, Bill worked extensively with the angel investment community during his five month stay in New
Zealand as the BNZ University of Auckland Business School Entrepreneur In Residence. He was also elected to the Angel
Association New Zealand council and continues to contribute to the New Zealand industry. He will be back in New Zealand
early 2011.
“Angel investing is a relatively young investment category, but is now investing over $50 million a year into young New
Zealand companies. As angel groups are becoming more professional, the advice of Bill is extremely valuable in
upskilling our groups. He had a significant contribution to the angel investment community and is a most worthy
recipient of the Arch Angel of New Zealand award.”
Bill Payne’s angel investing history stretches back almost 30 years including being involved in setting up four
prominent angel organisations in the USA. He has written a book, ‘The Definitive Guide to Raising Money from Angels’, as
well as having written or been interviewed for numerous articles. He served as Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Kauffman
Foundation - the world's largest foundation devoted to entrepreneurship - for twelve years.
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