Anna Yukiko Bickenbach
About Anna Yukiko Bickenbach
Independent director of BYNO since inception; age 40. Background in European tech/FinTech marketing and network-building, with roles at Planet Labs (Regional & Partner Marketing Manager), GERMANTECH Foundation, Mobile Economy GmbH, and as co‑founder of Ecotastic. Education: double bachelor’s in political science and international studies (University of Washington, 2008) and master’s in Integrated Natural Resource Management (Humboldt Universität, 2011). Independence status is explicitly disclosed as “Independent Director.”
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Planet Labs Inc. | Field Marketing Manager; currently Regional & Partner Marketing Manager | Sep 2021–present | Marketing leadership; partnership expansion |
| GERMANTECH Foundation | Event & Program Manager (“Worldchangers in Tech”, “Proptech Innovation Summit”) | Oct 2019–Sep 2021 | Ecosystem convening in tech/proptech |
| Mobile Economy GmbH | Impact Manager | Feb 2012–Aug 2019 | Green innovation network engagement |
| Avesu GmbH | Marketing Project Manager | May 2018–May 2019 | Coordinated European market strategy; partner networks (PETA, BKK-BVita, Provita) |
| ResQ Club Oy | Country Manager (Germany market entry) | Jul 2016–Jan 2017 | Market introduction, foodtech scaling |
| Ecotastic GmbH | Co‑founder; Chief Sales & Brand Officer | 2013–Feb 2016 | Built eco loyalty app; brand/sales leadership |
| Humboldt Universität | Assistant roles in Agricultural Economics and Horticultural Economics | 2009–2011 | Academic support roles |
| Öko‑Institut e.V. | Editor | 2009–2010 | Publications on impact evaluation and climate change (Copenhagen Talks 2010) |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| None disclosed | — | — | BYNO proxy indicates bios include other public company directorships if any; none listed for Bickenbach |
Board Governance
- Role and independence: Independent Director; proposed for re‑election to a three‑year term at the 2025 Annual Meeting .
- Board size/structure: Five directors; director terms three years; removal by majority vote per Delaware law .
- Nominating/governance: BYNO has no standing nominating committee; independent directors (including Bickenbach) recommend nominees under Nasdaq Rule 5605 .
- Committee assignments and chair roles: Audit/Compensation committee membership or chair roles are not disclosed in the 2025 proxy; only nominating function is described .
- Attendance: No board/committee attendance rates disclosed in the 2025 proxy .
- Election dynamics: Directors (including Bickenbach) stood for re‑election at the 2025 Annual Meeting .
Fixed Compensation
- Not disclosed: The 2025 DEF 14A does not provide non‑employee director cash retainers, meeting fees, or committee chair/member fees for directors (including Bickenbach) .
Performance Compensation
- Not disclosed: No equity (RSUs/PSUs/options), grant date values, vesting schedules, or performance metrics for director compensation are disclosed for 2025 .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Role | Committees | Interlocks/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| None disclosed | — | — | No current/prior public company boards disclosed for Bickenbach in past five years |
Expertise & Qualifications
- European tech/FinTech network: “Wide network within the German tech and FinTech community,” positioned to source deal flow across hubs and with entrepreneurs/investors .
- Go‑to‑market and partnerships: Current Planet Labs regional and partner marketing remit; prior program/event leadership at GERMANTECH .
- Sustainability/impact: Experience at Mobile Economy and eco‑focused Ecotastic; editor roles at Öko‑Institut e.V. with climate publications .
- Education: BA (Political Science/International Studies, Univ. of Washington, 2008); MS (Integrated Natural Resource Management, Humboldt Universität, 2011) .
Equity Ownership
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Class A Common Stock beneficially owned | 0 (not listed in beneficial ownership table) |
| Class B Common Stock beneficially owned | 0 (not listed in beneficial ownership table) |
| Ownership % of outstanding shares | 0% (not listed among beneficial owners) |
| Shares pledged/hedged | Not disclosed |
| Vested vs. unvested equity | Not disclosed |
Governance Assessment
- Alignment and ownership: Bickenbach reports no beneficial ownership in Class A or Class B shares as of June 30, 2025, which may signal lower direct financial alignment versus typical director stock ownership guidelines; BYNO does not disclose director stock ownership guidelines or compliance status .
- Committee structure: Absence of a standing nominating committee, with independent directors (including Bickenbach) performing nominating functions, is permissible but can dilute formal governance rigor; audit/compensation committee memberships/chairs are not disclosed, limiting assessment of oversight effectiveness .
- Control and voting dynamics: Sponsor and certain officers/directors and affiliates beneficially own and control ~72.5% of voting power and intend to vote in favor of board proposals; this concentration can undermine minority shareholder influence and is a governance risk context for all directors, including Bickenbach .
- Conflicts/red flags:
- Bold RED FLAG: Highly concentrated control (~72.5% voting power) by Sponsor/affiliates in a SPAC environment; potential for decisions with limited minority input .
- Bold RED FLAG: Lack of disclosed director compensation structure and equity grants; investors cannot assess pay‑for‑performance alignment for directors (including Bickenbach) .
- Related‑party/financing context: Extensive sponsor/affiliate financing arrangements (extension/working capital loans) create structural conflicts at the company level; while not specific to Bickenbach, they inform overall board oversight risk .
- Positives: Explicit independence designation; relevant tech/FinTech ecosystem expertise and sourcing capability aligned with SPAC deal identification .
Net view: Bickenbach brings valuable network and market‑facing skills; however, limited disclosure on committee roles, attendance, and director compensation plus a highly concentrated voting structure present governance transparency and minority protection risks for investors evaluating board effectiveness at BYNO.