Though we may be spread out all across Munich, we are united by our passion for empowerment through Social Entrepreneurship. We are a dynamic team, and not just because we all have to hop on our bikes to attend a team meeting! We come from different fields and disciplines, and we all believe that education paves the way to the future.
Meet the Team
In addition to her studies in education, sports didactics and environmental studies, she has also worked as a freelance speaker. Both in the context of this activity and as head of the workshop project at rehab republic e.V., she has already designed, organized and conducted numerous workshops and seminars - most recently in particular on sustainability-related topics. Her vision of a good world for all finally brought her via the non-profit sector to the topic of social entrepreneurship, into which she was quickly able to dive deeply thanks to the Social Entrepreneurship Academy. Here, she was most recently involved in the project management of the Global Entrepreneurship Summer School and as a trainer before switching to the intersection between Strascheg Center for Entrepreneurship and SEA in 2022 as part of the Impact for Future project.
In her volunteer work as well as in her job, Anne wants to motivate people to change their perspective, to think outside their own "box", to question things, but also to "just do it" and get started.
Chiara’s two greatest passions brought her to SEA: Sustainability and communication. Bringing these two topics together has been a matter close to her heart for several years, which is why she has been responsible for communications at SEA since October 2023.
She discovered Social Entrepreneurship in 2018 during her studies in Management of Social Innovations and now wants to contribute to making Social Entrepreneurship popular, attractive and well connected – and thereby inspire entrepreneurs to create an economy full of impact to ensure that the world remains liveable for future generations.
When she’s not planning her next travel adventure, you’re likely to find Chiara in the kitchen, dreaming herself into different cultures while trying out new recipes or relaxing with a good book under a house plant.
Supporting individuals and teams in turning their ideas into reality and thus achieving sustainable changes motivates her every day.
In her work, it is always important to Jana to create a place for a confident exchange, to invite people to change perspectives and to encourage future social entrepreneurs to try out new things.
During her time as start-up consultant at the Strascheg Center for Entrepreneurship, Jana supported those interested in founding and start-up teams in realizing their ideas.
Previously Jana founded Jakale and supported founders, start-ups and medium-sized companies in finding solutions to their challenges as a systemic consultant and workshop facilitator.
Jana studied business administration in Ingolstadt and educated herself further as a systemic consultant as well as a business coach and trainer. Jana always loves to learn new things and is currently doing a further training as a mediator.
At "Speed Up, Buddy", Jana is a mentor for first-time academics and supports them according to her favorite motto: "Everyone said: That's not possible! Then someone came along who didn't know and just did it."
Combining ideas, talent and resources to create impact in society is Kristina Notz’s passion. As Executive Director, she is responsible for SEA’s leadership, strategy and network. She also represents SEA within the university network and acts as a link to partners, government agencies and the ecosystem. In 2022, she initiated the Social-Startup-Hub Bayern on assignment by the Free State of Bavaria and is currently working together with the team to build a state-wide offering for impact- and public welfare-oriented startups.
Before joining SEA, she worked in profit, non-profit and academia. Like some of her SEA colleagues, she also brings her own social entrepreneurship experience to the table: She co-established the German idea competition Generation-D. Since then, she has been driven by the vision of empowering entrepreneurial minds to lead transformational change and shape a better world.
Kristina has now been active in the field of social entrepreneurship and social innovation for 15 years and has built up an international network and extensive experience during this time. She shares her profound expertise through keynotes, panel discussions and as a jury member of various awards. She also volunteers on several boards and councils. In 2023, she was awarded Euclid Network’s Top 100 Women in Social Enterprise.
Outside of work and studies, Lara can be found volunteering in youth work or another country – likely in a tent!
Lena got in touch with social entrepreneurship through her work at the Community Kitchen where she helps to rescue food and cooks at events.
With her proactive mindset, she contributes largely to the Social Entrepreneurship Akademie. Her can-do attitude inspires and supports founders in their social entrepreneurial endeavors.
During her studies, Lydia finally discovered her passion for media (production) and the diverse aspects of communication. She wants to use the knowledge she gained during her studies to make social entrepreneurship the "new normal" in business.
Sonja Wilhelm came to SEA with a clear vision: She strives to make impact-oriented business models the new normal in our economy.
As a project manager in the cross-university project Impact for Future, she is committed to inspiring young students to do more than just start-ups in the traditional sense. Through targeted teaching formats for students and lecturers, the project aims to impart a holistic and systemic understanding and associated skills and competencies for the topic of impact-oriented entrepreneurship.
Most recently, she worked as a project manager in European research and innovation projects of international scientific and technical consortia on social innovation, energy democracy and innovative financing models for renewable energy. She completed her Master’s degree in Politics and Sustainable Development in Sweden. She volunteers as a team leader for the World Cleanup Day in Bavaria and Foodsharing Munich as well as a senior coach for the Impact Weeks initiative.
Valentina has been supporting SEA as a working student in the area of accounting and administration since January 2024. She is studying for her Master’s in Management at the Technical University of Munich.
During her studies, she discovered her interest in social entrepreneurship and can now combine her great enthusiasm for innovative, impact-oriented start-ups with her talent for handling numbers at SEA. In her free time, she enjoys hiking in the Alps and exploring new countries and different cultures while traveling.
Founders and directors
A serial entrepreneur with 34 years of experience in founding, financing, building and accelerating companies, Andy sold his software company to the publicly listed Avanquest Software in 2003, served as COO Europe until 2009 and as a Board Member until 2014. Andy served for 3 years as a Board member at Carpooling.com (acquired by Bla Bla Car) and 4 years at Feingold Technologies (acquired by ShareCare). His accelerator at the LMU, the top ranked university in Germany, has spawned over 220 companies in 10 years and the German Accelerator, a project of the German government has graduated over 100 companies in 4 years. Andy is Co-Founder and Board Member of the Social Entrepreneurship Akademie in Munich and started the “Global Entrepreneurship Summer School” in 2008. He a founding member of 4Entrepreneurship, the Entrepreneurial Think Tank of the 4 Munich Universities and holds teaching positions at the LMU and at the EM Lyon Business School in France.
In addition to his professorship at the Bundeswehr University, which he held from 1999 onwards, Professor Katzy taught at the School of Management at Leiden University in the Netherlands. In 2015, Professor Katzy passed on far too soon, to our great sorrow. In loving memory of him, we award the “Bernhard-Katzy prize“ for unconventional thinkers every year during the Global Entrepreneurship Summer School.
Contact: kristina.notz@seakademie.de
// “Over ten years ago, I found my way into social entrepreneurship. Then as now, for me, SEA is the place I want to work. I am very happy with our amazing team and with being able to work with so many exciting and committed people.“
Co-founder
Dr. Achleitner completed her studies, her two PhDs and her habilitation at the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland. From 1994 to 2000, she was a professor for banking and finance at the European Business School (ebs) in Oestrich Winkel, prior to which she worked as a business consultant for McKinsey & Company, Inc. and the MS Management Service AG in St. Gallen. Her preferred fields of research are venture capital/private equity, family businesses and Social Entrepreneurship. Dr. Achleitner has received many awards and honors for her accomplishments in research and teaching, including the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
OUR TRAINERS
We love to work with people who share our vision and mind-set. Therefore please meet our trainers of the SEA:start workshop. They have all been trainted by us and will share their experience and expertise that they’ve gained in several workshops throughout Europe with you in our workshops.
Inform yourself about the upcoming SEA:start workshops and apply in time.
Parallel she advises customers of the German Entrepreneurship GmbH, as an innovation architect, on innovation- and corporate acceleration projects. With Moving Mountains, she accompanies high potentials and high-performing teams on their way to explore and use their own potential in hiking coaching and mountain retreats - all in motion and in nature. Previously, Natalie led the Accelerator of the LMU Entrepreneurship Center and developed entrepreneurial programs for young people.
Her goal at SEA:start is, to convey to people that are interested in social entrepreneurship, the know-how behind it and to help to find a few first ideas for a „better“ world.
Laura is an independent trainer of the SEA and professor for entrepreneurial leadership at the MBA „innovation and business creation “at the technical university of Munich.
Johannes has a passion for complex systems and ecosystems. Therefore, he prefers to work with people of different disciplines in co-creative processes and brings his passions for art, music & theatre, nature and systemic change.
He is the founder of MIWO e.V., a club that wants to open a dormitory for international students in Munich. He leads the transformation of the monastery in Schlehdorf to become a lively cohouse where living, working, further training, free time and rehabilitation are in perfect balance.
Today Christine is a guest lecturer and project leader in the field of social entrepreneurship at the Pop Academy in Mannheim and at the university Witten/Herdecke.
As a co-founder of two non-profit organisations in the field of education and science, she is motivated by accompanying budding founders on their creational way to achieve an unbeatable team. As a sociologist and design thinker, she combines cognitive, psychological and systemic methods equally together.
After completion of the SEA:certificate program, she became also a social entrepreneurship educator and continues a training in systems thinking for social change. Connecting perspectives continuously motivates her, which is why she’s currently organising a pilot project called „SEA:start together“. In this project, Maria wants to bring together people from many different backgrounds to work together on social challenges.
Marlon is enthusiastic about innovative ideas and their digital implementation. As Digital Marketing Manager at Media Lab Bayern, he supports startups in the founding process. His passion for creative, innovative work, combined with his enthusiasm for teaching social entrepreneurship, has led him to work as a freelance trainer for the Social Entrepreneurship Academy.