Founders
Guido Westerwelle and Ralph Dommermuth founded the Westerwelle Foundation together in 2013 in order to create more opportunities for young people around the world. The values of our founders rest in everything that the foundation does with a focus on the promotion of fostering democracy, market-economy, rule-of-law, and tolerance.
Dr. Guido Westerwelle
Dr. Westerwelle was born in 1961. He grew up in Bonn. He studied law at university, received a doctorate in law and worked as an attorney. He joined the Free Democratic Party (FDP) in 1980. Guido Westerwelle was Secretary General of the FDP from 1994 to 2001. He was elected Chairman of the FDP from 2001 to 2011. From 1996 to 2013, Guido Westerwelle was a member of the German Bundestag and from 2006 to 2009, President of the FDP parliamentary group and leader of the opposition. From 2009 to 2013 Guido Westerwelle was Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs and from 2009 to 2011, Deputy Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Ralph Dommermuth
In 1988, Ralph Dommermuth founded 1&1 EDV Marketing GmbH. 1&1 was offering marketing services for software and telecommunications services. In 1996, 1&1 started the development of its own internet services. At the same time, it began to invest in young internet start-ups. In 1998, Dommermuth went public with 1&1 and registered as the first internet enterprise at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. In February 2000 Dommermuth renamed his enterprise group to United Internet, which marked the end of the realignment process towards the internet sector. Along with 1&1, it includes GMX, WEB.DE, mail.com, Versatel, Fasthosts, Strato, arsys, InternetX, United Domains, affilinet and Sedo.
Timeline
2025
Arusha New Programme Launch: Wezesha Binti
2025
Tunis New Programme Launches: STRIDE Cohort 2 & Maghroumin.
2025
Mombasa New Programme Launches: ENEA & Umoja Angel Investment Collective.
2024
Mombasa New Programme Launch: DigiTalents.
2024
Opening of Westerwelle Startup Haus Mombasa supported by the German Federal Foreign Office.
2024
First Africa Impact Festival in Berlin.
2024
Arusha New Programme Launches: #YouthIgnite & DigiTalents Cohort 2 in Arusha and Mwanza.
2024
First Slush’D event in Djerba, Tunisia.
2024
Kigali New Programme Launches: iStar & ZEP-RE Pan-African InsurTech Hub.
2024
Tunis Programme Launches: STRIDE & EMD (Entrepreneurship and Management Demystified).
2024
10th Anniversary Celebration in Berlin.
2023
Arusha New Programme Launches: AfroGreen ClimAccelerator Cohort 2 & Imarisha
2023
Kigali New Programme Launches: ZEP-RE InsurTech Hub & SCIP (Smart Cities Innovation Programme)
2023
Tunis New Programme Launches: SHIELD, Impact’HER Cohort 2 & Imp’ACT Up Cohort 2
2022
Tunis New Programme Launches: Impact’HER, Back2Growth & Invest4Growth
2022
Arusha New Programme Launches: DRILL Accelerator, DigiTalents, DigiTrade Tourism & AfroGreen ClimAccelerator
2022
Opening of Westerwelle Startup Haus Arusha Powered by Paul Gauselmann
2022
Kigali & Arusha Joint New Programme Launch: East Africa Entrepreneurship Programme
2021
Kigali New Programme Launches: SHEignites Greenpreneur Programme, Ideate Rwanda, AfDB Post Incubation Programme & Tech Meets Farming
2021
Launch of Imp’ACT Up & RiseUp Tunis
2020
Launch of Entrepreneurship Programme Tunis
2019
Opening of Makerspace at Westerwelle Startup Haus Kigali powered by Evonik Stiftung
2018
Launch of Entrepreneurship Programm Kigali
2018
Launch of Westerwelle Startup Haus Kigali powered by Evonik Stiftung
2016
Launch of Westerwelle Startup Haus Tunis
2016
Launch of Westerwelle Young Founders Programme
2016
✝ Guido Westerwelle passed away
2013
Founded by Guido Westerwelle and Ralph Dommermuth
Board Members
Michael Mronz
Chairman of the Board
Michael Mronz, born in 1967 in Cologne, is a well-known entrepreneur, sports manager, and executive. He began organizing and promoting events as early as the late 1980s, laying the foundation for his future career in the world of sports and business. In 1997, after earning a degree in business administration, he became Managing Partner of Aachener Reitturnier GmbH, the company responsible for marketing the CHIO Aachen – Germany’s largest sporting event. Since 2023, Mronz has served as a member of the International Olympic Committee. Following the passing of his husband, Guido Westerwelle, he took over as Chair of the Westerwelle Foundation in 2016.
Ralph Dommermuth
Member of the Board
In 1988, Ralph Dommermuth founded 1&1 EDV Marketing GmbH. 1&1 was offering marketing services for software and telecommunications services. In 1996, 1&1 started the development of its own internet services. At the same time, it began to invest in young internet start-ups. In 1998, Dommermuth went public with 1&1 and registered as the first internet enterprise at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. In February 2000 Dommermuth renamed his enterprise group to United Internet, which marked the end of the realignment process towards the internet sector. Along with 1&1, it includes GMX, WEB.DE, mail.com, Versatel, Fasthosts, Strato, arsys, InternetX, United Domains, affilinet and Sedo.
Our Team at Westerwelle Foundation






Our Team at WSH Kigali





Our Team at WSH Tunis





Our Team at WSH Arusha








Our Team at WSH Mombasa


