CANNOBE PURPOSE & MISSION

CANNOBE PURPOSE

Don´t let your experience die!

Professionals who seek to expand their horizons—beyond their current networks, associations, and activities—are invited to join. Your expertise becomes visible and actionable, granting you personal access to relevant professionals and private capital for potential investments. 

Our target demographic for professionals is individuals born in 1975 or earlier.

You’re a perfect match for Cannobe if you…

    • are open to new ideas and perspectives. Personal Development: Discover new paths for growth and development, even pursue a complete career shift
    • are seeking personalized advice and assistance for individual matters. Secure Succession: Entrust your life’s work or collections to capable hands through succession planning
    • enjoy supporting startups and extraordinary initiatives,
    • actively pursue your personal bucket list. Income Opportunities: Explore roles in consulting, marketing, and investment, alongside personal project collaborations.
    • like to contribute – and be inspired in return. Share Your Legacy: Pass on your insights and expertise to the next generation
    • maintain a strong, cultivated network,
    • are multilingual, cosmopolitan, and curious by nature. Tailored Recommendations: Benefit from Cannobe’s 27+ years of expertise and extensive network, offering introductions to startups both within and outside Cannobe.

Our Approach  – Member Benefits

We get to know you through a detailed personal profile. Based on this, our Cannobe Concierge – an AI based app – curates a tailored selection of relevant contacts – individuals, companies, and organizations  – also compiled with our network of 170 events globally  since 1997 welcoming more than 31,000 attendees and our extensive global LinkedIn connections.
You’re also welcome to contact us at any time with specific requests.

Sharing selective ‘welcoming’ posts on LinkedIn (30,000 first-degree connections) to highlight new members and interesting developments — each tailored to their goals or requests

Cannobe is not a community, but a space of possibilities

SUPPORTERS & AMBASSADORS

Championing Collaboration

Dr. Monika Pasetti

BERLIN, GER

Simone Märten-Hosemann

BERLIN, GER

Dirk Nessenius

BERLIN, GER

Peter Mayer

NEW YORK, USA

Dirk Hohlmeier

BERLIN, GER

Michael Schoeps

BAMBERG, GER

Hanns-Peter Wiese

PULLACH, GER

Jochen Schmidt

BAD HOMBURG, GER

Andreas Schweitzer

LONDON, GB

Moshé Saldinger

Zikhron Ya’akov, ISRAEL

Marlin Kinzey

NEW YORK, USA

Dr. Kerstin Gernig

BERLIN, GER

Michael A. Froehls

AUSTIN TEXAS, USA

Thomas Paul

BERLIN, GERMANY

Dr Lukas M Stahl

Santa Monica, USA

Andreas Zimmermann

München, GER

Prof. Dr. Anabel Ternès
von Hattburg

Berlin, GER

Ulrich Rienth

Berlin, GER

Rolf Kellner

Halle, Westfalen, GER

Günter Mösslein

Lohr am Main, GER

Rainer Weichhaus

Berlin, Germany

Helmut Hartl

München, Germany

Dr. Andreas Kittel

Potsdam, GER

Interested in becoming a supporter in your region? Please do not hesitate to contact us.

SHAREHOLDERS

Fueling Growth and Innovation at Cannobe

Stefan Ritt

LÜBECK, GER

Ulf Leonhard

CEO, FOUNDER

Hans-Eike von Oppeln-Bronikowski

BERLIN, GER

Dr. Ulrike Tremel

München, GER

Joachim Spitzley

BERLIN, GER

Hubertus von Engelbrechten

SAN FRANCISCO, USA

Bernhard Prinz zur Lippe-Weissenfeld

ROM, ITA

Ferdinand Von Westphalen

Meschede, Ger

Stefan Peter

Cologne, Ger

TEAM

Behind Cannobe

Ulf Leonhard

CEO, FOUNDER

Till Helmbold

BRAND MANAGEMENT & MARKETING

ULF LEONHARD

Founder and driving force behind Cannobe

Born on December 21, 1959, in Bonn-Beuel, Ulf Leonhard has built a remarkable career marked by innovation, leadership, and a deep commitment to fostering meaningful connections in business. With a degree in business administration (Diplom-Kaufmann) from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, graduating with distinction in 1986, Ulf has over three decades of diverse experience across global markets and industries. His professional journey includes internships in Caracas, Venezuela, and Johannesburg, South Africa, during his studies—giving him early exposure to international business landscapes.

Starting as a consultant for IT and strategy firms in Germany, Ulf quickly climbed the ranks, holding key leadership positions, including managing the Stauferkreis Kapitalbeteiligungsgesellschaft. In 1993, he founded CONTINUA Unternehmensentwicklung, providing strategic advice to family-owned businesses, managing corporate succession, and securing capital partnerships with national and international investors.

Ulf’s entrepreneurial spirit flourished with initiatives like the “Deutsche Präsenzbörse,” Germany’s first privately organized venture capital event, and the “European Venture Market,” an international platform for venture capital exchange. These ventures made him a pioneer in the corporate finance and investment community. His later projects, including Leonhard Ventures and the launch of platforms like “Watervent” and “Spitze bleiben,” solidified his reputation as a leader in facilitating high-level business networking and investment opportunities.

In 2021, Ulf faced a personal tragedy with the loss of his wife, Gabriele, to cancer. This moment deeply shaped his life, inspiring him to create the platform “Withoutu,” supporting those who are grieving. Rebuilding his life in her memory, Ulf relocated to Potsdam in 2017, where he continues to channel his passion for innovation and community building through Cannobe.

Today, Ulf Leonhard’s vision with Cannobe reflects his lifelong mission: creating a global network where experienced professionals, entrepreneurs, and innovators come together to collaborate, share insights, and shape the future. His leadership and personal experiences make Cannobe a unique platform for fostering connections that transcend industries and generations.