Community Member of the Month: PaceUP Invest

We love highlighting inspiring stories from our community. Today, we’re shining a light on the incredible work being done by PaceUP Invest and its founder Rukayyat Kolawole.

Tell us the story of PaceUP Invest: what do you do exactly, and how did you find your way to it?

Despite my extensive global experience in the financial industry, I’ve encountered significant challenges as a woman from an underrepresented community in the Global North. For example, I was once denied a mortgage and labeled as "high risk" by a bank’s financial advisor solely due to my gender and race. That moment illuminated the deep-seated biases in the financial industry, particularly in the investing landscape.

After moving to Germany, I spoke with many women and individuals from underrepresented groups who felt excluded and unsure about how or where to invest. These conversations became a driving force behind the creation of PaceUP Invest, which I founded within just three years of living in Germany. Our mission is to foster inclusivity and empower diverse communities to take control of their financial futures.

PaceUP Invest has since expanded into the B2B space, offering a mix of financial and non-financial solutions to enhance financial well-being. We are the first comprehensive platform that combines financial education, planning, and wealth-building tools. Leveraging AI—both analytical and generative—we deliver personalized financial advice and solutions to our clients.

For our institutional clients, this has translated into reduced employee and client stress, enhanced productivity, and increased operational efficiency. Additionally, our in-house developed AI has significantly improved customer experiences by providing tailored insights and simplifying complex financial concepts.

What led you to join TechQuartier? What do you like the most about being a member?

When building our business, we faced resistance from some B2B customers who preferred to engage only with individuals of German descent. In some cases, potential clients refused to collaborate with us simply because of our names, despite having a diverse team that includes a German member. It was frustrating yet eye-opening.

Julie Grosson, Community Manager, introduced me to TechQuartier (TQ), and I saw it as an opportunity to connect with financial institutions and investors who might not have given us a chance otherwise. Frankfurt is the fintech hub of Germany, and TQ stands at the forefront of innovation in this space. The TQ team impressed me with their understanding of the unique challenges faced by women and underrepresented groups in the industry. Their empathy and proactive approach strongly resonated with my values, and that’s why I decided to join.

Note: PaceUp was selected to join our 2024 TQ Accelerator: Digital Finance

Any exciting news or projects to share with us?

We’re currently integrating our solution as embedded finance into various platforms, such as corporate and payment platforms. This integration allows these businesses to offer our services directly to their employees and end customers, making financial empowerment more accessible.

Additionally, we’re leveraging our in-house generative AI to help financial institutions gain deeper insights into portfolio performance, simplify complex financial language, and deliver hyper-personalized services to their customers.

In 3 words: What are the key topics that spark a good conversation with you?

Psychology. Travel. Wealth.