Testimonials

But don’t just take it from us. Here is what some of our alumni founders say about their participation in RESPOND:

RESPOND is different. Instead of only focusing on the all-consuming pitch and how to get the value proposition straight, RESPOND emphasizes the fundament that lies below: vision, values, and leadership. In our case, this created a tremendous push and helped us scale the company, the team, and the individuals.

– Max Gulde, constellr

When we got accepted to the RESPOND Accelerator by the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt, I didn’t know what to expect – they promised the program will be really practical and aligned with our needs at this moment of the company’s maturity. And this is also exactly what happened. RESPOND is enabling the next generation of entrepreneurs who are going to shape a more sustainable and responsible future.

– Lubomila Joranova, Plan A

And this is what some of the investors in our network say about RESPOND:

“I've witnessed firsthand the profound and immediate impact this accelerator has on entrepreneurs committed to tackling our planet’s most pressing issues. The skills founders gain here are exactly what investors like us look for – it’s sustainable leadership in action!”

– Fridtjof Detzner, Planet A

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“The commercial and impact potential of the RESPOND Accelerator’s startups is one of the strongest I’ve seen in the impact space. I’m always on the lookout for the next batch of founders that the RESPOND team attracts and nurtures, and I hope to invest in more exceptional cohorts in the future!”

– Melina Sánchez Montañés, AENU

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“The RESPOND accelerator truly provides a unique, global platform for its participants to plug in – where they can gain access to key stakeholders across the investment and industry landscape. It allows participants to form meaningful relationships and expand their networks with like-minded individuals – ultimately these connections can lead to helping their solutions reach scale at a faster pace.”

– Ashley Grosh, Breakthrough Energy

Portfolio Development

We’re proud to see how our entrepreneurs develop after the program – check out all of our Alumni Startups.

Global Reach

We’ve worked with 50 startups from 19 countries
Our founding teams represent over 30 nationalities
58% of our teams are co-led by female founders

Impact at Scale

Our portfolio companies scale globally, expanding into over 120 countries across all continents
To date, our portfolio companies have created 1,500 jobs
They have raised 370 Mio € in funding

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