BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt and UnternehmerTUM are looking for committed start-ups

Taking responsibility is a trend among startup founders: Two-thirds of the startups surveyed in the Green Startup Monitor 2018, for example, aim to have a positive social or environmental impact. However, there is often still a lack of special offers for responsible entrepreneurs.

In order to support founders in scaling their companies and to emphasize the importance of socially, ecologically and environmentally relevant business models, the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt with the support of Europe's leading innovation and start-up center EntrepreneurTUM the Accelerator Program RESPOND initiated. The program will start on June 22, 2020.

Solve global problems 

RESPOND runs over a period of five months and is aimed at founders who solve complex global problems through innovative technologies and entrepreneurial approaches. During the four attendance phases of the program, the founders take part in workshops in Munich on impact-oriented business, marketing, sales, financing and responsible corporate governance.

The participants benefit from the exchange and collaboration, both among themselves and with the global networks of the BMW Foundation and UnternehmerTUM. In addition, participants receive free access to coworking spaces at the UnternehmerTUM premises in Munich during the five months.

Through the Accelerator program, the founders learn to better assess the strengths and weaknesses of their business models and to plan the medium- and long-term goals of their entrepreneurial development. In addition, they build their leadership skills.

Development goals of the United Nations Agenda 2030

The application period for RESPOND runs from January 20 to March 1, 2020, with a special focus on selecting the first cohort of founders whose business models contribute to one of the following three sustainable development goals of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda:

• Goal 8 - Decent work and economic growth
• Goal 9 - Industry, innovation and infrastructure
• Goal 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities

Dr.-Ing. Heba Aguib, Chief Executive RESPOND, BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt: "By empowering impact-oriented founders to scale their innovative solutions and technologies, the BMW Foundation aims to contribute to a systemic transformation towards a sustainable economic and financial system. Responsible leadership is the central lever for this.

Through programs like RESPOND, we identify, activate and support leaders who are driving this change."

Miki Yokoyama, COO for RESPOND, UnternehmerTUM: "We believe that startups have the innovation, creativity and energy to make a decisive contribution to solutions for global challenges such as the climate crisis and social injustices. With RESPOND, we support the founders who are setting out to provide answers to global issues."

For more information on how to apply to participate in the Accelerator program, please visit respond-accelerator.com.