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
2022
Kigali & Arusha Joint New Programme Launch: East Africa Entrepreneurship Programme
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
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 is a serial entrepreneur in the fields of sports, events and communication. In 1992, business graduate Michael Mronz founded the agency MMP Event GmbH, which organized and successfully promoted events such as the annual World Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen, the FEI World Equestrian Games 2006 or the IAAF World Championships in Athletics 2009 and numerous TV productions. Since summer 2016, Michael Mronz has been the initiator and organizer of the privately funded initiative “Rhine Ruhr City 2032”. The initiative promotes a potential bid by the Rhine-Ruhr region to host the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. Mronz has developed a concept that focuses on ecological and economic sustainability and the use of existing sports and event venues. In 2017, he founded “Storymachine” together with Philipp Jessen, ex-head of stern.de, and ex-Bild editor Kai Diekmann.
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.
Oliver Reisner
Member of the Board
Oliver is a Cambridge educated venture builder with a hunger to drive positive change by empowering entrepreneurs. Between 2019 and 2023, he served as the Managing Director of the Foundation, spearheading the opening of the third startup hub in Tanzania and overseeing the expansion of the Westerwelle Foundation programmes work.
Our Team at Westerwelle Foundation
Our Team at WSH Kigali
Our Team at WSH Tunis
Our Team at WSH Arusha
