Several local entrepreneurs are looking to set up an investment fund that would finance startups from various industries, Profit.ro reported.

Dragoș Anastasiu, the owner of transport operator Eurolines, Wargha Enayati, the founder of healthcare network Regina Maria, and tourism investor Mohammad Murad are among those interested in the project, which could take shape next year.

Dragoș Anastasiu told Profit.ro that he was already in talks with several investors, including Wargha Enayati. “After eight years at The Lion’s Arena [e.n. Arena Leilor - a TV show financing promising startups], I have these things in my blood. I would support people not ideas,” Anastasiu said, explaining that an able person would make good business, unlike an idea backed by the wrong person. He would be interested in tourism, transport, and IT ideas, he said. “You invest in people and in areas adjacent to your business, so you can understand them.”

In his turn, Wargha Enayati said he would be interested in businesses in the healthcare sector, where a project could start with EUR 50,000 – EUR 200,000. Enayati told Profit.ro that he could contribute to the investment fund project some EUR 500,000 in the initial stage.

Another Romania-made investment fund was established last year. Called Risky Business (RB), it is based in Cluj-Napoca and is supported by almost 40 entrepreneurs in Transylvania. This year it announced its first investment in a local startup. The fund put EUR 70,000 in the startup Ebriza, which aims to develop a virtual cash register. The investment values Ebriza at some EUR 0.5 million.

editor@romania-insider.com