The 2015 BNP Paribas Global Entrepreneurialism Report examined the behaviours of 2,500 high-net-worth entrepreneurs and angel investors and found the financial services industry to be the preferred sector for entrepreneurial activity for 16 per cent of respondents.
“The significance of this is the fact that, given the previous five years of tense situations among the financial industry, it appears that entrepreneurs could be starting to turn their attention to this sector as they scent opportunities,” said the report.
Retail was rated second for entrepreneurial activity, at 15 per cent, followed by technology at 14 per cent.
The research also found female entrepreneurs outperform their male counterparts in the number of companies started and in average turnover of primary business.
Female entrepreneurs start an average of 4.9 companies while males start an average of 4.3 and the average turnover of primary business for females is US$9.1 million while for males it is US$8.4 million.
India was the most active country for successful female entrepreneurs, with 49 per cent of the successful entrepreneurs in India being women.
The report also found angel investors on average allocate 9.4 per cent to angel investments with an average return target of 27.7 per cent.
BNP Paribas Wealth Management co-chief executive Sofia Merlo said the size of this allocation demonstrates angel investors consider angel investing a “true asset class”.
“As a private bank delivering a holistic approach to our clients, we seek to explore what motivates entrepreneurs when investing and advising companies on their growth path,” she said.
