by Leonard Konrad, Co-Founder of AiDiA
What project are you currently working on?
I am currently working on AiDiA – a social enterprise I co-founded that is dedicated to supporting Afro-diasporic entrepreneurs in Europe and connecting African innovations and talent with the German economy. Our focus is on visibility, talent development, and networking. We are building sustainable partnerships, promoting skilled labor migration, and developing innovation and investment structures between African start-ups and German companies.
What has been your biggest challenge or success recently?
One of the highlights was definitely my five-month journey through the innovation ecosystems of Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, South Africa, and Ghana. I met numerous start-ups, hubs, and policymakers and participated in exciting events like GABS, Latitude59, and the Africa Tech Festival. Experiencing firsthand the opportunities and challenges of deeper economic collaboration was invaluable. However, the biggest challenge remains: unlocking the continent’s immense potential and systematically integrating it into international economic strategies.
What experience from the AGYLE program had the greatest impact on your personal and professional development?
AGYLE showed me how powerful trust and genuine exchange in an intercontinental network can be. The program was a door opener – not just for ideas but also for concrete collaborations and personal connections. In Ghana, I even organized an alumni dinner that fostered inspiring exchanges among AGYLE alumni. The interdisciplinary and international perspective I gained continues to shape all my projects.
Has the AGYLE network led to any collaborations that have been significant for your career or a project?
Yes, absolutely. During my travels, I met AGYLE alumni in every country – such as Sarah Rukundo in Kenya, Meklit Debebe und Abdul Rahim Shaibu-issah in South Africa, and various alumni in Ghana. Through recommendations and exchanges within the network, many new connections and ideas emerged. The alumni dinner in Ghana (with Isaac Sesi, Enoch Yeboah Agyepong, Jeff Kwarteng Jacobsen, Nele Lahrmann-Muniru, JayJay Addo-Koranteng, Alhassan Baba Muniru, Nana Kofi Sarpong (Hendrix), Augustina Bruwaah Busiah, Edward Asare, Brave & Heart | B Corp™ etc.) deepened these interactions, and these encounters have profoundly influenced my journey and projects.
Is there anything you would like to share with the AGYLE community?
Yes: Actively use the network – not just digitally but especially in real life. The AGYLE community has incredible potential to create real impact beyond traditional exchange formats. My journey reinforced how much power lies in our connections – if we truly leverage them. Personally, I am very excited about the upcoming alumni gathering in Kigali in May – the first official AGYLE event on African soil!
You recently held a workshop at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. How did that come about, and what was it about?
The workshop took place as part of the 20th Partner Meeting of the Africa Business Network at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). I was invited to moderate a session on the role of the African diaspora in international economic collaboration, with a focus on start-ups and innovation. The goal was to highlight practical ways to better integrate diaspora professionals and make Africa’s potential more accessible to the German economy – as bridge-builders, innovation partners, and catalysts for sustainable economic cooperation between Germany and Africa.
