BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt

✨ Applications for our RESPOND Accelerator Cohort #6 are now open! 📣 Once again, we are calling trailblazers and game-changers to redefine how we respond to the challenges of our future. RESPOND is a six-month acceleration program focused on solutions for the transition to a net-zero economy and how to lead this path responsibly. At RESPOND, founders receive structured, highly individualized support for building and scaling businesses. • Personalized growth coaching • Global network & connections • Purpose-driven community • Visibility boost • Impact-first, no strings attached 💪 RESPOND is fully committed to scaling your impact!🙌 The program is completely free of charge, and we don’t take any equity. 🚀 The future is now – apply here: https://lnkd.in/e2VP5asM 👉 Learn more about RESPOND: bit.ly/RESPONDNotion #HowWillYouRESPOND #Start-Up #Accelerator #Founders #NetZero #EnergyTransition #Infrastructure #Sustainability #CleanTech #DeepTech #ApplicationsOpen #GameChanger #Trailblazer

✨ The power of collaboration 🤝 In the lead-up to our Responsible Leaders Innovation Forum, we gathered our Responsible Leaders Network Drivers in Berlin. For two days, we deep-dived into our strategy, evaluated last years’ work, exchanged forward-thinking ideas, and mapped new opportunities. 💡Together, we planned how to amplify the impact of our network’s work, unlocking new opportunities for collective action. The conversations emphasized the collective intelligence needed to unlock collaborations in shaping a more inclusive future that benefits as many people as possible. The meeting also included a networking dinner with our member of the Board, Dr. Heba Aguib. 🙏 A huge thank you to our dedicated community for your ongoing contributions and support, as well as to our amazing facilitator, Ilana Wetzler, for guiding such a meaningful exchange. 🌟 Shout-out to all the leaders who were part of this inspiring experience; Carol Awad Bachour, MBA, Charlotte Hochman, Cihan Koral, Ergem Senyuva Tohumcu, Gabriela De la torre, Gezzer Ortega, MD, MPH, Harsh Shrivastava, Justin DeKoszmovszky, Katarzyna (Kasia) Hanula-Bobbitt, LL.M, MBA, Katerina Matiatou, Marie-Louise Köhl Harritsø, Renata Faria, Sally Ncube, Scott Young, Sufyan Sohel, Sylvia Mukasa, and Thandi Dyani as well as to the BMW Foundation Team, Jessica von Farkas, Ilka Hennet, Katrin Muser, Paula Quintas, Sania Rehman, Sarah Haffar, and last but not least Thiago S. da Costa. #ResponsibleLeaders #Network #Future #Collaboration #Inspiration #CollectiveAction

💡 Promoting Innovation and Venture Capital for a Competitive Future During last week’s Responsible Leaders Innovation Forum, we had the opportunity to host the 3rd Institutional Roundtable, bringing together leaders from business, policy, and philanthropy. The discussions focused on the urgent need for innovation, venture capital, and start-up growth in Europe to remain globally competitive. Key takeaways: ➡ Urgency in innovation: The need for immediate action in venture capital and start-up financing was emphasized, drawing attention to Europe’s innovation gap, particularly in scaling ventures, as highlighted by the Draghi Report. ➡ Venture capital potential: Venture capital was presented as a high-return asset class in Europe, with financial vehicles introduced to make it easier for foundations to invest in VC. ➡ Foundations & start-ups: The importance of supporting entrepreneurs and innovators was underscored, alongside calls for legal reforms to allow foundations to play a more catalytic role in the innovation space. ➡ Global perspective: Europe needs urgent action to avoid falling behind in innovation, with successful models from other regions showing how combining investment capital and philanthropy can drive scalable solutions. ⚡ The German government’s WIN Initiative was highlighted as a key tool to enhance growth financing and strengthen competitiveness, with the roundtable recognized as part of this broader effort. The discussion concluded with a call for legal clarity and reforms to unlock more opportunities for innovation in Europe. A huge thank you to our inspiring speakers, Anna Christmann, Sabine Hepperle, Elke Kallenbach, Helmut Schoenenberger, Jörg Goschin, Klaus Grünfelder, Frank Pawlitschek, Ann Mettler and Dr. Heba Aguib and all our contributors and partners including UnternehmerTUM, Breakthrough Energy , KfW, Hasso Plattner Foundation,Bundesministerium der Finanzen, Bundesministerium der Justiz and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action for their contributions to this vital conversation. 🤝Together, we are building the foundations for a future where innovation and collaboration drive a more competitive and sustainable Europe. #Innovation #VentureCapital #Startups #BMWFoundation #FutureEconomy #Collaboration #Leadership

⚡Driving Clean Energy Innovation Together Great to host the high-level roundtable on “Empowering Energy Resilience: How to Leverage Institutional Capital for Scaling Cleantech" during our Responsible Leaders Innovation Forum in Berlin. This pivotal discussion, held with our partner, the Energy Resilience Leadership Group (ERLG), brought together leaders from finance, industry, and policy to explore pathways of unlocking both public and private capital for scaling cleantech solutions. Key takeaways from the discussion: 🗝Strengthen public-private-philanthropic collaboration. A coalition of stakeholders—including institutional investors, public institutions, and expert teams for evaluating and underwriting first-of-a-kind (FOAK) projects—is essential for success. 🗝Public support is crucial.  Until markets will close the gap, public support through catalytic finance and guarantees is crucial for Europe to not fall behind. The Win-Initiative by KFW and BMWK is already a good step into the right direction. 🗝Drive new financing instruments. Access to affordable, long-term capital will be critical for scaling clean technologies across Europe, with debt financing playing a prominent role. 🗝Pick up the pace. While new coalitions and responsible leadership are essential, we must act quickly to meet the challenges of financing cleantech innovation and industrial competitiveness. This was an important step in bringing decision-makers and experts closer together so that we can advance our common goal even more effectively: driving meaningful change by collaborating on financing and implementing Clean-Tech solutions to build a sustainable and future-proof society. Thank you to our input-givers and partners: Dr. Heba Aguib, Member of the Board, BMW Foundation, Max Wirsching, Head of Investors Relations, KfW Capital, Elisabeth Löwenbourg-Brzezinski, Senior Investment Officer, and Natalia Donde, Principal Investment officer (IFC - International Finance Corporation) Fridtjof Detzner, Founder Planet A Ventures, Tobias Lechtenfeld, Executive Director, Tech for Net Zero, Philipp Offenberg and Ann Mettler, Breakthrough Energy, as well as the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and KfW. 📸 Marc Beckmann #Cleantech #EnergyTransition #ResponsibleLeadership #BMWFoundation

“If we’re going against the narrative of cohesion and keep moving towards fragmentation, this continent is doomed to stagnate for a century.” --- Yanis Varoufakis at #RLIF24 Through our Responsible Leaders Innovation Forum in Berlin, we wanted to make a strong counterpoint – and our speakers and participants were living up to it! It felt so good to gather a group of visionary leaders, industry experts, and trailblazing innovators from across sectors and borders. Our aim: forging a future-proof society through innovation and collaboration. Here are some key take-aways: 👉Speed Hesitation is no longer an option. The transformation to a climate-neutral era requires bold action. To quote Amani Abou-Zeid أماني أبوزيد, Commissioner at the African Union Commission: “A crisis is the best time to take tough decisions and change societies for the better.” 👉Balance We need to discuss how to strike a balance between global competitiveness, decarbonization, and becoming climate neutral. Kirsten Dunlop, CEO at Climate-KIC, has a clear recommendation: “We have to completely decouple from resource use. Europe’s number one competitive opportunity is to dematerialize the entire economy and specialize in resource efficiency.” 👉Transition It will be essential to accelerate the energy transition while strengthening democratic values. Oliver Schmolke, Vice Chief of Staff at the Office of the Federal President of Germany: “We are starting to leave the era of fossil industrialization and to shift into the era of renewables. Politically, it’s an extremely complicated thing to do, but we have to do it.” Carbon neutrality cannot be a luxury. Alessandra Pasini, co-founder & president of Zhero, recognized that for many citizens the price of the transformation may simply be too high. “The energy transition needs to be affordable.” All of this spurs us even more to collaborate on the specific tasks and challenges of our time. Because only together can we solve these challenges effectively. #ThePowerOfCollaboration 📸Marc Beckmann

Today is THE day! 🙌 Finally, our Responsible Leaders Innovation Forum kicks off, bringing together thinkers and changemakers to share innovations and strategies to future-proof our society. For the next two days, we’ll hear from thought leaders, explore innovations, and connect with individuals committed to driving positive change in their communities.    2024 is a make-or-break year for addressing issues like political polarization, the climate crisis, and the rise of anti-establishment movements. The time for real-world action is now. Our forum provides a much-needed platform for collaboration and solutions to strengthen our democratic and economic resilience. We can’t wait to share insights and discussions from the forum with you, so stay tuned for updates across our socials. 🤳 You can still sign up today & join us virtually! 👉 bit.ly/FORUM24LIVE #RLIF24 #BMWFoundation #PowerOfCollaboration #FutureBackwards #ResponsibleLeadership Video by: Robin Lochmann 

We are excited to welcome Helle Thorning-Schmidt, former Prime Minister of Denmark and global leader, as a keynote speaker at the BMW Foundation Responsible Leaders Innovation Forum. As Denmark’s first female Prime Minister and Co-Chair of The Oversight Board, an independent body created to help Meta answer some of the most difficult questions around freedom of expression. Thorning-Schmidt has a wealth of experience in navigating complex global challenges, from leading through financial crises to advocating for children's rights in conflict zones. Now deeply involved in foreign policy and active on multiple international advisory boards, she uses her vast political and business expertise to drive progress in areas such as freedom of expression, human rights, and women's empowerment. 💡 Thorning-Schmidt will share her insights on leadership, collaboration, and how we can address today’s most pressing global issues. Watch the keynote speeches by Helle Thorning-Schmidt and Yanis Varoufakis, former Greek Minister of Finance, on Thursday, 10 October 2024 at 6 PM (CEST) - sign up here 👉 bit.ly/FORUM24LIVE #RLIF24 #BMWFoundation #PowerOfCollaboration #ResponsibleLeadership

We are looking forward to the keynote by Yanis Varoufakis, renowned economist, politician, and author, as he explores the transformative power of collaboration.    Former Greek Minister of Finance, academic leader, and co-founder of the pan-European movement DiEM25, Varoufakis has written numerous books on economics and politics and is known for his thought-provoking insights that challenge conventional thinking and inspire new approaches to global challenges. Drawing on his unique blend of academic expertise and political experience, Varoufakis will highlight how working together across disciplines and borders can promote progress and drive change.   Join the #RLIF24 livestream and watch the keynote speeches by Yanis Varoufakis and Helle Thorning-Schmidt, former Prime Minister of Denmark, Vice-Chair of the Oversight Board (Meta) on Thursday, 10 October 2024 at 6 PM (CEST) 👉 bit.ly/FORUM24LIVE #RLIF24 #BMWFoundation #PowerOfCollaboration #ResponsibleLeadership #Innovation #EnergyTransition

Our Responsible Leaders Innovation Forum starts in just a few short days, so get ready to meet our fantastic speakers who inspire us with their bold ideas and transformative insights! Together, they will explore solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges and drive meaningful change. 🤝 These panels will be livestreamed, secure your spot now! 👉 bit.ly/FORUM24LIVE Fireside Discussion: Building Trust in the Age of Polarization  📅 Thursday, 10 October 2024, 6:30 PM - 7:10 PM (CEST) 👉 Helle Thorning-Schmidt, former Prime Minister of Denmark, Vice-Chair of the Oversight Board (Meta)  👉 Yanis Varoufakis, Economist, Politician, Author; former Finance Minister of Greece  👉 Cornelia Woll, President, Hertie School of Governance Building Economic and Societal Resilience for Shared Prosperity 📅 Friday, 11 October 2024, 9:20 AM - 10:20 AM (CEST) 👉 Amani Abou-Zeid, Commissioner for Infrastructure & Energy, African Union 👉 Nicola Beer, Vice President, European Investment Bank (EIB)  👉 Oliver SCHMOLKE, Vice Chief of Staff, Office of the Federal President of the Federal Republic of Germany Balancing Act: Strengthening Energy Resilience and Accelerating the Net-Zero Transition 📅 Friday, 11 October 2024, 9:20 AM - 10:20 AM (CEST) 👉 Kirsten Dunlop, CEO, Climate-KIC  👉 Alessandra Pasini, Co-Founder & President, Zhero 👉 Roland Roesch, Director, Innovation and Technology Centre (IITC), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) We can’t wait to have forward-thinking discussions on how to strike the right balance between global competitiveness, #decarbonization, and becoming a #netzero society. #RLIF24 #BMWFoundation #PowerOfCollaboration #ResponsibleLeadership #Innovation #EnergyTransition

Our RESPOND accelerator empowers startups and change-makers to develop innovative solutions for global challenges. 👏 Over five months, RESPOND participants from Cohort#5 embark on an exciting journey filled with mentorship, hands-on coaching, and access to our global network. We are proud of our amazing RESPOND Cohort#5 and can’t wait for you to meet them. 📆 Watch the live pitches on Friday, October 11 at 1:30 PM (CEST) and learn about their visions and plans for a more just and sustainable future. Sign up here 👉 bit.ly/FORUM24LIVE 👋 Get to know our RESPOND Cohort#5 👉 bit.ly/RESPOND5PITCHES Soji Sanyaolu Thomas Nann Ines Serra Baucells Carla Escobedo Jalife Dominik Novakovic Maike Lambarth Emily McIsaac 🌱 Irina Miller Mari Granström Julian Ellis-Brown Neloufar (Nelly) Taheri Finlay Duncan Julia Bialetska Eugene Tomilin Benjamin Droguet Simon Kew and Leena Al Olaimy // AirSmat Inc Allegro Energy BIOSORRA Cyclize Daisy Lab Origin by Ocean Ponda S.Lab Sparxell Symbaiosys #RLIF24 #BMWFoundation #PowerOfCollaboration #FutureForward #ResponsibleLeadership #RESPOND #Startups #Tech #Founders #Innovation