Q&A to founders
| As founders, we have it in our hands: we can change our economy sustainably. Away from turbo-capitalism, towards maximising the common good. The means are there – we just have to use them. With his company WEtell, Andreas Schmucker is already successfully working for this new economy: From sustainable financing strategies to common good accounting to long-term security through responsible ownership. |
Organiser
As a regional developer, Thomas Köhler has many years of experience in process and project management as well as in the acquisition of funding. The development of a lively, active network with sustainably managed farms from the field to the plate, in which consumers are also involved, is a forward-looking topic for him. As a member of the Regionalwert board, he wants to campaign for more regional organic produce in Münsterland.
Jonas Heeke is a serial entrepreneur. His innovative spirit became apparent during his studies at the University of Münster, when he founded his first company with ten fellow students. Over the years, he continued to build on his expertise and passion for innovation and is co-founder of liba, homebeis and zwanzig20, among others. What is striking here is that all the companies bear the Münster stamp and give something back to the region. Jonas Heeke is a blessing for many people in Münster. This also applies to the football club FC Münster 05, which he founded in 2005 and which is still an active and flourishing sports club for the student scene and far beyond.
The brothers Carsten and Samuel Waldeck founded SHIFT GmbH in 2014. Their modular and repairable SHIFTPHONES are lovingly developed in Germany and final assembled in their own small technology factory in Hangzhou, China. In the focus of their company philosophy you can find values like sustainability, fairness or waste avoidance instead of pure economic interests and financial success. They have firmly anchored meaning instead of profit maximization in the life and actions of the company.
Andreas Schmucker, co-founder and CEO of sustainable mobile company WEtell GmbH, is an activist social entrepreneur for climate protection and fairness. Under his leadership, WEtell combines privacy, transparency and sustainability to promote positive economic transformation. In addition to his management, Schmucker is responsible for marketing, sales and stands for the core value “fairness and transparency”. As an expert in responsibility ownership and thanks to his close connection with the Purpose Foundation, he played a crucial role in WEtell’s transformation into a responsibility ownership in 2022, and his efforts for sustainability and privacy in digital communications are underlined by his active role in the FairTEC initiative. With a background in microsystems engineering and renewable energy, Schmucker strives for companies to take a public stance on climate change.
Monika Wacker is the founder of the online community paartherapie-direkt.de (pt-d). pt-d is the digital expert network for people looking for professional and serious counseling on sexuality and partnership. Monika Wacker is a Master of Counseling, Dipl. Päd., Dipl. Theologin (non-denominational), has been a couple and sex therapist in Telgte and Münster for over 10 years and is committed to de-tabooing sexuality in everyday life. According to Wacker, happy relationships lead to happy employees.
Photo: Grit Siwonia, Berlin
