Our Team

Karina Faßbender

Co-Founder & Managing Director

Karina founded Circle Innovation with a vision to strengthen Africa's climate innovation ecosystem by bridging the gap between innovation, entrepreneurship and investment. With more than a decade of experience across Africa and Europe, she has designed and led innovation ecosystems, venture-building programmes and multi-stakeholder partnerships for governments, universities, international organisations and development partners. Today, she leads Circle Innovation's strategy, ecosystem development and flagship initiatives, helping shape the next generation of climate ventures and innovation platforms.

Grace Kamere

Head of Programmes & Strategic Partnerships

Grace leads the design and delivery of Circle Innovation's programmes and partnerships across East Africa. With nearly a decade of experience in innovation, entrepreneurship and human-centred design, she specialises in translating complex challenges into collaborative programmes that bring together entrepreneurs, researchers, industry and public sector partners. Her work focuses on creating environments where innovation can flourish — from co-creation labs and venture support to ecosystem partnerships and institutional capacity building.

Gemma May

Head of Impact, Evidence and Learning

Gemma leads Circle Innovation's impact, evidence and learning agenda, ensuring our work delivers measurable outcomes and lasting systems change. With more than 13 years of experience designing impact frameworks, participatory evaluation and adaptive learning systems, she helps entrepreneurs, partners and funders translate evidence into stronger decisions, more effective programmes and greater climate impact across East Africa.

Maryanne Karanja

Operations and Project Management Officer

Maryanne leads operations and project management at Circle Innovation, ensuring our programmes, partnerships and internal systems run efficiently and effectively. With experience in product management, operations and strategic delivery across the technology, climate and development sectors, she brings a systems-thinking approach to programme implementation, governance and organisational excellence, enabling our team to deliver greater impact at scale.

Brian Kaimenyi

Innovation, Research & Venture Associate

Brian bridges research, strategy and venture development. His expertise spans climate markets, clean energy, agribusiness and SME growth, combining analytical rigour with practical venture support. He leads market intelligence, research, venture diagnostics and evidence generation that inform programme design, investment decisions and ecosystem development, ensuring Circle Innovation's work is grounded in robust insights and measurable impact.

Brenda Nyakoa

Innovation & Ecosystem Associate

Brenda supports programme design, ecosystem engagement, and venture development at Circle Innovation. She works with entrepreneurs, partners, and community stakeholders across East Africa to strengthen climate innovation pathways, facilitate participatory workshops, and turn early-stage ideas into scalable solutions.

Mitchel Atieno

Programmes & Innovation Fellow

Mitchel supports the design and delivery of Circle Innovation's innovation and entrepreneurship programmes across East Africa. Passionate about youth-led innovation and community-driven development, she contributes to programme coordination, research, stakeholder engagement and innovation facilitation, helping entrepreneurs and partners transform ideas into impactful climate solutions.

Patrick Cyusa

Country Lead, Rwanda

Patrick leads Circle Innovation's in-country programme implementation and partnerships in Rwanda, ensuring the successful delivery of initiatives that strengthen climate innovation and entrepreneurship. Drawing on his experience in entrepreneurship, systems design, human-centred innovation and organisational capacity building, he works with entrepreneurs, universities, government and ecosystem partners to transform promising ideas into scalable ventures and stronger innovation ecosystems.

Brian Ndyaguma

Country Lead, Uganda

Brian leads Circle Innovation's programmes and partnerships in Uganda, overseeing in-country implementation while building strategic collaborations that enable entrepreneurs to thrive. An entrepreneur and innovation ecosystem builder, he brings deep experience in venture acceleration, business development and capacity building, helping founders and partners develop scalable solutions to complex climate and development challenges.