Pauline Koelbl

Founder and CEO of AfriProspect GmbH and ShEquity Pte Ltd, Pauline is an Innovation Expert in Developing & Emerging Economies, Impact Investor, and seasoned impact-driven Team Leader with over 20 years’ experience in international affairs and philanthropy industries. Pauline is a leading expert and influencer on the transformation of developing countries to emerging economies by designing programs & policies fostering inclusive innovations.  Through ShEquity, Pauline invests in African impactful innovative startups with a special focus on Female-led businesses.

Her passion lies in innovation, entrepreneurship, and empowerment of youth and women.

During the last 8+ years, Pauline’s work focused on catalyzing marketable, scalable, and impactful home-grown innovations for African-led growth across the African continent, building strategic partnerships and innovation ecosystems that will invigorate economic growth across Africa. Her work at the African Innovation Foundation (AIF) as the Managing Director and Director, Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) led to the impact of more than US$ 135 Million generated investments for supported African innovators.

Prior to that, she worked for a number of UN bodies and NGOs in Africa, Europe, and the USA including WHO in Geneva, UNESCO in Paris, UNICEF in Goma, Enda Tiers Monde in Dakar, Jewish Family and Children’s Services in Arizona, etc.

Pauline is a Fulbright Scholar & Fellow and is currently serving on different Boards of companies/organizations connected to business/entrepreneurship/innovation in Africa and is the co-founder of Professional Women of African Heritage (PROWAH). She is also a member of ABM University Council (Botswana) and serves on the Academic, Research and Innovation Committee.