Tenmou, Bahrain's first business angel, said it is connecting with leading international entrepreneurial communities for the benefit of Bahraini start-ups.

"Learning first-hand about business angel networks in the US will ensure that Tenmou's current and prospective entrepreneurs receive the best experience possible," the company's chief executive Hasan Haider was quoted as saying in the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

"We are committed to looking for new experiences to broaden our vision and tactics in helping our entrepreneurs. Developing ties between the entrepreneurial communities abroad and highlighting Tenmou's innovative entrepreneurs to an international audience are in keeping with our vision," he added.

"Such connections will not only assist our start-ups, but will benefit by gaining experience and knowledge sharing from business angel groups around the world, and the US is certainly a good starting point," the company chief said.

Haider was speaking after a visit to Silicon Valley, the heart of the investment community and the venture capital of the US.

As part of his visit, he was invited to be one of the panelists representing the Middle East at the Angel Capital Association Summit held at San Francisco.

The summit, the largest gathering of angel investors and angel groups in the world, saw Haider speak to more than 650 investors on angel investing as it pertains to the region.

In addition, the Tenmou chief delivered a lecture on the state of angel investing in the Mena region at Stanford University, California.

Alongside Haider, the Economic Development Board's US country manager Nathan Regan took part in a number of key business opportunities for Tenmou.

During the trade mission, Tenmou toured two of the largest growth houses in California's Silicon Valley, Plug&Play Solutions and NEST GSV.

Their campuses offer young entrepreneurs space and mentoring to help bring new ideas and technology to the market. In addition to these large growth houses, Haider met TIE, Fenox, Angel List, Bandwith Capital and several other groups, with whom discussions were initiated for the creation of US-Bahrain partnerships and exchanges.-TradeArabia News Service