Based in Mannheim Heidelberg, Germany

Yannick
Ishimwe.

Building AI for physical retail, unlocking diaspora capital through community investing, and backing Africa’s next generation of founders from the heart of Germany’s startup scene.

Yannick Ishimwe
2 Active Ventures
€20k+ €10k Per Incubator Batch
500+ Community Members
4+ Years in Startup/VC Ecosystem
Yannick at ESA Mars Rover exhibit

Kigali → Germany
→ Building things.

I was born in Kigali, Rwanda and moved to southern Germany at the age of 12 settling first near the Swiss border before relocating to the Mannheim Heidelberg area. Two cultures, two continents, and a deep curiosity about how systems work and how people connect.

I studied Finance in Ludwigshafen, which gave me the analytical foundation I now apply across everything I do from evaluating early-stage startups to building community-driven platforms.

Today I operate at the intersection of venture capital, AI, and community building. I work in venture funding at innoWerft, lead the incubator at YFN, and am actively building two initiatives of my own Instore AI and Ubuntu Angels.

My edge is in connecting dots between people, ideas, capital, and opportunity.

Venture Capital Startup Ecosystems AI & Retail Community Building Angel Investing DACH Ecosystem Diaspora Capital Early-Stage
🌍
Global roots, local impact
Born in Rwanda, built in Germany. My background across two continents shapes how I see opportunities, communities, and the untapped potential between them.
🔬
Venture-native thinking
From sourcing deal flow to supporting founders post-investment, I've operated across the full spectrum of early-stage venture as analyst, scout, and investor.
🤝
Community as a competitive advantage
The strongest companies and networks are built on trust, diversity, and shared purpose. This philosophy drives both my professional and personal work.

Side projects.
Real bets.

Two initiatives I'm actively building each addressing a gap I see clearly from where I sit.

🌍 Community · Investing
Ubuntu Angels
Black business angels and allies investing together across DACH.

A curated collective of Black business angels and allies across Germany and the DACH region created to strengthen community-driven investing and increase the visibility of Black capital in the European startup ecosystem.

Members exchange deal flow, share due diligence insights, make introductions, and support each other in navigating early-stage investing.

"I am because we are."

👤 My Role
Initiator & Builder
Ubuntu Angels · Founded 2026

Started in 2026 following conversations at the BlackInTech Europe Summit (BITES) where the lack of a dedicated network for Black business angels became evident.

My role: curate high-quality members, shape the vision, and create a trusted environment where meaningful connections, knowledge exchange, and investment opportunities emerge.

Where I've
been building.

innoWerft
Jul 2024 Present
Venture Funding Working Student
innoWerft · Walldorf, Baden-Württemberg
  • Identifying and evaluating early-stage startups for potential investment
  • Supporting startups from initial pitch through to exit fundraising, sales, operational challenges
  • Conducting market benchmarking and developing investment theses
Boardy
Jan 2026 Present
Deal Partner
Boardy
  • Sourcing and evaluating deal flow as a partner within the Boardy network
YFN
Jan 2025 Present
Incubator Lead & Sponsorship Lead
Young Founders Network e.V. · Germany
  • Leading 8-week incubator sparring partner for strategy, positioning, and execution
  • Connecting founder teams with mentors, investors, and operators
  • Securing corporate partnerships; consistently raising €10,000+ in prizes for top teams
Goodbrands AG
May Dec 2024
Freelance Venture Scout
Goodbrands AG · Mannheim
  • Sourcing early-stage D2C startups at pre-seed/seed (tickets up to €250K)
  • Analyzing startup viability and preparing investment recommendations
startupdetector
Feb Jul 2024
Analyst Venture Capital & Startups
startupdetector · Berlin (Hybrid)
  • Analyzed German startup ecosystem and financing rounds to identify emerging startups
  • Maintained comprehensive VC database through data sourcing, analysis, and cleaning
BEEMACS
Sep 2022 Dec 2023
CEO's Office Business Development
BEEMACS Digital Business Engineering · Walldorf
  • Supported financial operations including budgeting and forecasting
  • Data analysis and financial modeling across cross-functional teams

Giving back.
Building up.

Beyond the professional track the communities I've invested in and learned from.

🌐
ADAN e.V.
Community Manager
2024 Present · Rhein-Neckar
Driving community building at one of the largest non-profits for Black and People of Color in DACH. 500+ members, 11 hubs, 100+ meetups annually. Bridging community and entrepreneurship.
🚀
Young Founders Network
Incubator & Sponsorship Lead
2024 Present · Germany
Germany's largest non-profit network for young entrepreneurs under 25. Leading the incubator program and securing corporate partnerships €10K+ in prizes for top teams.
🤝
2hearts
Community Member
2019 2023
Curated community of founders, investors, and operators with immigrant backgrounds focused on increasing diversity in European tech and VC.
🏛️
Youth Council
Youth Council Representative
2019 2023 · Ketsch
Represented youth interests in local government. Organized community initiatives, advocated for youth-focused policies, built early leadership experience.
🌱
Fridays for Future
Student Leadership
2019 2022 · Schwetzingen
As student president at Ehrhart-Schott-School, organized climate initiatives and raised awareness around sustainability and environmental action.
Ubuntu Angels
Founder & Initiator
2026 Present · DACH
Building a curated collective of Black business angels across DACH. Born at BITES closing the gap in structured investing networks for the diaspora. "I am because we are."

Got an idea?
Let's talk.

Whether you're building a startup, exploring investment opportunities, or looking to collaborate I'm always open to a good conversation.