About AiDiA

The first Afro-German Startup Pitch Event

AiDiA is a project idea that was developed in collaboration with the non-profit organisation BOLDLY e.V.. With AiDiA, we are organising a pitch event to promote black entrepreneurs. Due to historical and structural factors, entrepreneurs with an Afro-German background are confronted with special challenges in the course of their careers and are insufficiently recognised as relevant economic actors. As a result, there is a lack of support in the form of funding and knowledge transfer. Our event counteracts this status quo.

Our vision

We create an inspiring and empowering ecosystem in which the start-ups of black entrepreneurs can grow sustainably.

Our mission

The AiDiA event is the meeting place where smart business minds come together and bring ground-breaking ideas to life. By combining creativity, excellence and inspiring exchange formats, we want to help shape a more diverse and imaginative future for business in German-speaking countries.

What we offer

Startup promotion

In addition to the pitch competition, we offer workshops, coaching and mentoring on business development.

Networking

We organise regular networking events for exchanging experiences and community building.

Safe Space

We create an inclusive and empowering environment in which everyone can realise their own best potential.

Meet the Team

Our diverse team consists of numerous business professionals who are committed to promoting Afro-German entrepreneurs as economic actors in Germany and changing the narrative regarding the perception of Black talent in Germany. Our diverse, cultural and professional experiences enable us to provide the next generation of Afro-German founders with an optimal platform for their success.

Lucy Larbi

Initiator & Co-Founder
I have been passionately involved in the BOLDLY e.V. association for several years. In addition to my voluntary work, I work for a management consultancy and advise German SMEs and large companies on their digital transformation as a management consultant. My driving passion is the diversification of the German economy and politics with Afro-German workers and executives.

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Daniel Tiemor

Co-Founder & Pitch Coordination
I have a degree in industrial engineering and work as a management consultant on technology topics. I am also interested in entrepreneurship and have already successfully participated in various start-up and ideas competitions. I have been working at BOLDLY e.V. in the business, IT and HR departments since 2018. I am pleased to make Black founders and those interested in founding visible through AiDiA.

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Irene Aniteye

Founding Member & CEO
I am a business psychologist, brand strategist and passionate social entrepreneur. I love strong ideas, courageous people and brands with purpose. I support underrepresented founders in becoming visible and growing sustainably. My focus is on purpose marketing, authentic storytelling and building communities that rethink innovation.

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Shanice Sintim-Aboagye

Co-Founder & People Management
As an Administrative Business Partner in a global tech company, I am accustomed to a dynamic environment. Both professionally and in my voluntary work, I rely on creativity and flexibility. Since 2017, I have been actively involved in various projects to contribute to greater visibility for the Afro-German community in Germany. As a people person, I use my cultural and communication skills to create a diverse and innovative environment in my everyday professional life and voluntary activities.

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Louisa Schatz

Co-Founder & Event Coordination
I advise and support clients in planning and implementing their strategies in the search, display and online video sectors. My work includes implementing various performance-driven campaigns and supporting projects with a branding focus. In addition to my involvement with AiDiA, I am also active in the business area at BOLDLY e.V.

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Leonard Konrad-Adomako

Founding Member & Partnerships
I am an industrial engineer and management consultant with a strong focus on social entrepreneurship. As co-founder of the AiDiA initiative, I promote entrepreneurship and economic growth in the Afro-diaspora. My goal is to establish sustainable economic and cultural links between Germany and Africa to create social justice and economic opportunities through diversity and international exchange.

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Jeff Kwarteng Jacobsen

Founding Member & Partnerships
As a co-founder of the association BOLDLY e.V., I am passionately committed to creating structures and networking the Afro-German diaspora in Germany. To make Black people visible, I want to take the next step with AiDiA and enable access to resources. As a management consultant, I work with public sector organisations and development cooperation agencies on their digital transformation.

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Gloria Niiquaye

Founding Member & Marketing
With experience in software development and cybersecurity, I bring technical understanding combined with the knowledge of how to build a startup from scratch in West Africa. My voluntary commitment at AiDiA started with marketing and community management. In the meantime, I focus on West African startup ecosystems as well as startup topics in Germany, contributing expertise on how to found a business successfully in this country.

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Brendan Stahl

Founding Member & Startups
I have a degree in industrial engineering and focused intensively on the topic of “Digital Supply Chain Twins” in my master's thesis. I am enthusiastic about the idea of making Black people in Germany more visible. That is why I am involved with AiDiA, where we pursue precisely this goal. I am confident that through more Afro-German initiatives, Germany's economy will gain in diversity in the future.

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David Sichert

Founding Member & Business Development

I support successful people in allowing themselves even more holistic abundance. As an alignment coach, I work with professionals and entrepreneurs and support start-ups as a consultant. Through my involvement with AiDiA, I want to motivate aspiring start-up talents to believe in themselves and their abilities and to recognise the opportunities for good business and sustainable growth.

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Nina Laenen

Founding Member
I advise DAX companies on their transformations. My focus is on agile project work, leadership and the training of agile coaches. Through AiDiA, I am delighted to bring not only fast but also diverse start-ups onto the stage and to present new heroes to the German economy. Diversity is the new must-have when it comes to solving the complex problems in our society and market.

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Tracy Elephant

Graphic Design
I am a freelance graphic designer and a passionate creative. With my work, I help people visualise their ideas and vision and give their brand a face. At AiDiA, I am part of the design team and am responsible for all design topics. AiDiA is exciting, innovative and in tune with the times. I see our endeavours as a great opportunity and am all the more pleased to be part of the team.

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Lena Bruce

Event coordination

Professionally, I support social enterprises through events, networking formats, and business model development. I bring this experience to event coordination at AiDiA by working with the team to design and implement inclusive formats that create visibility and put Black founders, communities, and artists centre stage.

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And many more

BOLDLY e.V.

BOLDLY e.V. is a non-profit organisation with the aim of connecting Germans of African descent and all other interested parties in order to create synergies and promote education. BOLDLY e.V. creates networks to exchange experiences and knowledge and initiates projects that serve the purpose of advancing the socio-economic development of Germans with an African migration background.
To the BOLDLY website

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