AiDiA Pitch 2023
2 September 2023
At the second AiDiA Startup Pitch, eight promising startups once again had the opportunity to present their business models on a large stage. They were put through their paces by our renowned jury. And once again, prize money totalling €53,000 was awarded as well as other sponsorship prizes.
Gewinner in der Kategorie Gründerpitch war Kwame AI. In der Kategorie Ideenpitch konnte Fades & Braids den 1. Platz belegen. Neben den Startups konnten wir viele tolle und inspirierende Persönlichkeiten auf unserem Event begrüßen. Schau dir gerne an, was unser Pitch-Event alles zu bieten hatte.
The 2023 event
AiDiA Pitch 2.0
Unter dem Motto „Forward Ever. Backward Never. Die Zukunft beginnt hier“ konnten wir 2023 einen unvergesslichen Abend voller Möglichkeiten und Innovation zelebrieren. Mit ganz viel Gänsehaut, Stolz, Erleichterung und Freude blicken wir auf das erlebnisreiche AiDiA Pitch Event zurück. Wir sind überwältigt von der Energie und positiven Resonanz aller Beteiligten.
Founder pitch
The winning team of the main prize of €30,000: Congratulations Kwame AI. They impressed the jury with their AI-driven legal research assistant and more than earned their victory. Further congratulations go to the second-placed team Sankofa language schoolwhich won €15,000 with an innovative language app for learning African languages. Third place went to IVY POW and secured €5,000 for her 100% natural hair care powder for all hair types.
In addition to the main prize, the start-ups also received licences for the social media management tool Swat.io and support for your technical solutions from our partners Devhaus Leipzig and Fraunhofer Venture.
Idea pitch
A special round of applause goes to our idea pitch teams Fades & Braids, Kynd Hair and Enertable. They presented their ideas impressively and showed how much creative energy there is in our community. The team from Fades & Braids took first place for their digital hairstyling platform, which uses generative AI images to create different hairstyles, making it easier to find the right stylist.
Jury & Line-Up
The AiDiA finalists presented their business models to an audience of over 500 guests in an exciting competition and masterfully answered the jury's critical questions.
Aminata Touré's keynote speech was also inspiring: "Never forget that you have earned it. Because you are paving the way for those who come after you." These words emphasise the importance of AiDiA in promoting black entrepreneurship and creating role models for the black community.
Once again, a huge thank you goes to our presenter Alexandra Antwi-Boasiako, our jury and advisory board, the artists on stage and in the DJ booth, our sponsors and partners and everyone who made this event a success. You are proof of the power of community.
Let's shape the future together and continue to look "Forward Ever. Backward Never." look. The best ideas and innovations are in the pipeline.
Jury
Dr Irène Y. Kilubi
Dr Irène Kilubi holds a doctorate in industrial engineering and management consulting and has worked for well-known companies such as BMW, Deloitte, Siemens and Amazon. After many professional positions, she is now following her own personal passion and focussing on JOINT GENERATIONS, community building and corporate influencer strategy. She is also an Expert Advisor for the European Innovation Council Accelerator of the European Commission.
Laurin Nabuko Hainy
Laurin Nabuko Hainy is the founder and CEO of FairMoney, the largest digital bank in Nigeria. Since founding FairMoney in 2017, the company has grown beyond its initial lending product and raised a $42 million Series B round in 2021 to develop into a full-fledged digital bank with over 1 million active users. He has an extensive background in entrepreneurship and previously led Startup Studio and VC firm Le Studio.
Rukayyat Kolawole
Rukayyat is the founder and CEO of PACEUPinvest®, a wealth tech that financially empowers women and underrepresented communities and helps them build wealth regardless of their income to achieve a responsible and sustainable future for themselves and their generation through financial education and investing. She is listed as Forbes Inspiring Founders, BWAM 40u40 and Women in Fintech Powerlist 2022.
Elmar Broscheit
Elmar Broscheit has been an investor and operator in the German start-up scene for over 15 years. As co-founder and CFO of Gorillas, he completed one of the largest German VC financing rounds and played a key role in the sale to Getir. Before his operational time, Elmar was a successful VC investor at Macquarie Capital with investments and exits at Lieferando, Takeaway.com and Stocard, among others.
Sidonie Fernau
Sidonie Fernau is Managing Director of Paritätisches Kompetenzzentrum Nord GmbH. Sidonie is an entrepreneur, social impact investor and business angel as well as a lobbyist for a participation-orientated and inclusive society. With more than 10 years of full-time experience in management positions at a leading non-statutory welfare organisation, she is an expert in the field of social innovation and its financing and scaling.
Line-up
Speaker
Alexandra Antwi-Boasiako
As a presenter, Alexandra also sees herself as an architect who facilitates authentic encounters and stimulates conversations about culture, business, society, ideas and thoughts. With her passion and experience, she knows how to create an experience for the people on stage and in the audience.
Entertainment
Impressions of our Cube photo box
Sponsored by
Forward Ever.
Backward Never.
The future starts here.
Our 2023 event motto "Forward Ever. Backward never. The future starts here." embodies the spirit of forging ahead and the belief in a better future. It encourages us to be inspired by the past, but not to remain stuck in it. The AiDiA Pitch Event on 2 September in Hamburg was all about moving forward with determination, taking innovative paths and actively shaping solutions for a promising future. We are inspired by the visionaries and thought leaders from the past and present and look to a future in which change is courageously driven forward.
One of the visionaries who significantly inspired our motto is Kwame Nkrumah. As Ghana's first president, he paved the way for the independence movements of the colonial era and is often regarded as one of the greatest thought leaders on the African continent. We are also inspired by visionaries such as Serena Williams, May Ayim and Tope Awotona. They and many others have shown the courage to go against the status quo and bring about change.
The pitch event in pictures
A big thank you to our event partners
