Organization · Other
Westerwelle Foundation
The Westerwelle Foundation for International Understanding is a nonprofit organization based in Berlin, Germany, focused on promoting entrepreneurship in emerging markets. It supports digital and tech-enabled startups in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Overview
What Westerwelle Foundation does
What Westerwelle Foundation is
The Westerwelle Foundation for International Understanding is a nonprofit organization based in Berlin, Germany, focused on promoting entrepreneurship in emerging markets. It supports digital and tech-enabled startups in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports funder and community capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Other
- Founded
- Founded in 2013
- Approximate age
- About 13 years
- Structured capabilities
- Funder · Community
- Last reviewed
- March 19, 2026
Official channels
Find Westerwelle Foundation elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
Westerwelle Foundation as a funder
Investment thesis
The Westerwelle Foundation aims to create equal opportunities by promoting entrepreneurship in emerging markets, focusing on democracy, market economy, rule of law, and tolerance.
Focus narrative
The Westerwelle Foundation invests in and supports entrepreneurs in Africa, Asia, and Latin America through various programs and startup hubs. It targets digital and tech-enabled startups with high market potential, particularly in sectors such as sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, environmental conservation, and inclusive financial systems.
Value beyond capital
The Westerwelle Foundation provides access to resources, training, mentoring, and networking opportunities for entrepreneurs, particularly in emerging markets, to help them scale their businesses and create sustainable solutions.
Focus and fit
- Sectors
- Renewable Energy
- Regions
- AfricaAsiaLatin America
Availability
- Currently deploying
- Not published
Portfolio and track record
Portfolio context
The foundation has launched several notable programs, including the Young Founders Programme, a 6-month fellowship for young entrepreneurs; the WSH Kigali Entrepreneurship Programme, a 9-month acceleration program for Rwandan startups; the WSH Tunis Entrepreneurship Programme for Tunisian startups; the AfroGreen ClimAccelerator focused on women-led climate startups in Africa; and the SHEignites Greenpreneur Programme empowering women entrepreneurs in climate solutions.
Capability profile
Westerwelle Foundation as a community
Community overview
The Westerwelle Foundation for International Understanding is a nonprofit organization based in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 2013 by Guido Westerwelle and Ralph Dommermuth, the foundation aims to create equal opportunities for all by promoting entrepreneurship in emerging markets. Its mission focuses on fostering democracy, market economy, rule of law, and tolerance.
Community focus
The Westerwelle Foundation invests in and supports entrepreneurs in Africa, Asia, and Latin America through various programs and startup hubs. It targets digital and tech-enabled startups with high market potential, particularly in sectors such as sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, environmental conservation, and inclusive financial systems.
Member value
Members benefit from access to various programs, mentorship, networking opportunities, and resources aimed at fostering entrepreneurship and innovation in emerging markets.
Membership
- Pricing models
- free
Format and cadence
- Modality
- in-person
- Schedule
- cohort-based
- Commitment
- moderate
Availability
- Membership state
- Accepting
Audience and fit
- Audience
- Founders · Students
- Benefits
- mentorship and network-access
- Program types
- fellowship, accelerator, community, and incubator
- Selection criteria
- application
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed
- Sectors
- Renewable Energy · Fintech
- Regions
- AfricaAsiaLatin America
Community activity
Events and activity
The foundation organizes several programs including the Young Founders Programme, WSH Kigali Entrepreneurship Programme, WSH Tunis Entrepreneurship Programme, AfroGreen ClimAccelerator, and SHEignites Greenpreneur Programme, which include workshops, conferences, and networking events.
Notable members
Michael Mronz (Chairman of the Board), Ralph Dommermuth (Member of the Board), Nadja Eschmann (Global Finance Manager), Oliver Reisner (Managing Director).
Common questions
What to know about Westerwelle Foundation
Upseed classifies Westerwelle Foundation under the Other organization type. Its current public profile includes funder and community capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
March 19, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.