About RESPOND | Notion

Against the backdrop of the global environmental crisis, economic challenges, and geopolitical turbulences, moving towards a net zero economy is critical to protecting our planet while ensuring economic prosperity for all.

We are more committed than ever to doubling down on our work with entrepreneurs from across the globe to help build solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. Now is the time to advance the net-zero transition and accelerate the solutions that will shape tomorrow.

We are looking for outstanding entrepreneurs to join Cohort #6 of the RESPOND Accelerator program in 2025.

For the year ahead, we are particularly interested in scalable solutions in the areas of Energy Transition & Infrastructure and Industry Decarbonization. Learn more about our areas of action.

<aside> <img src="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/cb422597-f635-4c1b-b214-36510d8cf7fb/RE_Icons_Small_Black_ArrowRight.png" alt="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/cb422597-f635-4c1b-b214-36510d8cf7fb/RE_Icons_Small_Black_ArrowRight.png" width="40px" /> Our mission ****is to accelerate deep-tech innovation to advance the transition towards a net-zero economy.

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Responsible Leadership

We convene leaders from diverse sectors in various leadership formats to reflect on their roles, responsibilities, and values. We catalyze organizations, communities, and movements through our Responsible Leaders Network, a global community of more than 2,300 change agents driving systemic change.

To address environmental and social challenges, we must upgrade how we lead, govern, and collaborate. Solving society’s pressing challenges will require unprecedented levels of collaboration and co-creation across divides, borders, sectors, and communities, including with those who view the world very differently. This calls for current and future leaders to navigate such differences and be comfortable with great uncertainty while having a strong compass.

We will have to ****adopt radically new mindsets and nurture our capabilities to effectively respond to sudden changes and shifts. That also means being “ready to be ready” to act on windows of opportunity as they swiftly emerge – windows that have been occurring in rapid order in recent years, whether it’s pandemics, war, (energy) supply challenges, or extreme weather events which demand a response from society and its leaders.

The decision-makers of today and tomorrow will have to develop their leadership muscle – fast.

This is what we call responsible leadership.

The Organizations Behind RESPOND

RESPOND is a BMW Foundation program, operated together with UnternehmerTUM.

We believe in the power of collaboration. As a global network foundation, our ambition is to pave innovative pathways and make a tangible contribution to promoting responsible action. This is the only way we can tackle the challenges of our time together.

While leaders across the globe work to address the challenges we face as a society, we have seen progress hindered by splintered efforts, uncoordinated strategies, and thinking that is constrained by convention. As an innovative network foundation, we seek to overcome fragmentation by creating international, cross-discipline collaboration among experts and decision-makers.

The work of the BMW Foundation is anchored by one main societal responsibility: to support the development of forward-looking approaches and solutions to the challenges of our time. We drive impact by convening leaders in their fields and facilitating focused, collaborative work on these challenges. Through our unique process, we support leaders in setting objectives, developing solutions, and advancing them globally to create a tangible impact in the world. How do we work? The human capacity for innovation and change is boundless. This is why we gather leaders and experts from around the globe to foster solutions and create a positive dynamic. Our goal is to strengthen an innovative and responsible economy while promoting an open-minded and future-proof society. We join forces with innovators, change-makers, and doers to create lasting, positive change.

UnternehmerTUM offers founders and startups a complete service, from developing the initial idea to registering intellectual property. A team of experienced entrepreneurs, scientists and managers support founders in developing their products, services, and business models. The experts provide them with personal guidance on company building, market entry, and financing – including via venture capital.

<aside> <img src="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/cb422597-f635-4c1b-b214-36510d8cf7fb/RE_Icons_Small_Black_ArrowRight.png" alt="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/cb422597-f635-4c1b-b214-36510d8cf7fb/RE_Icons_Small_Black_ArrowRight.png" width="40px" /> Next, take a look at our Value Proposition to assess if it matches your needs at this point in time. Find out whether or not the timeline and in-person event dates work for you and your co-founders.

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