Dominik is the head of our Founders Foundation. As Founder and Managing Director, he has been with us since day one and over the last six years has worked with passion and entrepreneurial vision to build a sustainable B2B startup ecosystem in the heart of Germany’s SME sector, setting new standards for startup education in Germany.

Along the conviction that entrepreneurial competence is the key to shaping a successful digital transformation across the board in a powerful and positive way, impact- and purpose-driven design is Dominik’s drive and motivation. With this understanding, he developed Founders Foundation as the Bertelsmann Stiftung’s Project Lead Fostering Innovative Entrepreneurship, from the initial idea to the planning and into the founding in 2016. Since then, he has been leading the company with passion and his growth mindset.

Dominik initially began his career at the Bertelsmann Stiftung in Human Resources. In 2011, he took over the position of Head of Boards’ Office under the Chairmen of the Executive Board Prof. Dr. Gunter Thielen and Aart de Geus. There, he was responsible for the organizational, content-related and strategic preparation and follow-up of meetings and decisions from the Board’s Office for the members of the Executive Board.

Born in Oldenburg, he studied economics in Oldenburg and in Vaxjö, Sweden, and has lived in Bielefeld for almost ten years. When he’s not working or getting ideas rolling, he likes to keep busy with sports, like handball or skiing. As a spectator, he keeps his fingers crossed for the Bundesliga basketball players of EWE Baskets Oldenburg. His great passion is his Labrador mix Carlo, whom he adopted from animal welfare and gave a new home at Founders Home.