DLD Nature

Auguste von Bayern is a zoologist who seeks to understand how animals think. Her research interests comprise innovative and flexible reasoning skills and vocal learning abilities of parrots. Auguste graduated in Zoology from the University of Cape Town, South Africa.

Helmut Schönenberger is Co-Founder and CEO of UnternehmerTUM, the Center for Innovation and Business Creation at Technical University Munich (TUM). Scalable tech-startups are Helmut’s passion. He is especially interested in startups in the field of smart enterprises, additive manufacturing as well as smart city and mobility solutions.

Martin Stuchtey is the Founder of The Landbanking Group, which uses systems-thinking to stop and reverse nature loss and redefine prosperity for the long-term. In addition, Stuchtey is an Honorary Professor of Resource Strategy and Management at the University of Innsbruck School of Management.

Markus Söder is the Minister-President of the German Free State of Bavaria. A member of the Christian Social Union party, he was elected in 2018 and previously served as Bavarian Minister of Finance, Regional Development and Regional Identity.

Hussain Aga Khan is a nature photographer and conservationist focused on raising global awareness about the protection of threatened species and ecosystems. In 2014, he established the NGO Focused on Nature to support global conservation, advocacy and research aimed at preserving biodiversity.

Dr. Heba Aguib is a Member of the Board of the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt and CEO of its RESPOND accelerator program. She combines a career in health tech and R&D with a deep understanding of sustainable innovation and impact financing. Prior to joining the BMW Foundation, Dr. Aguib co- founded the Aswan Heart Research Centre of the Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation in Egypt, the country where she was raised.

Barbara Bachus is Co-Founder & COO of ExoMatter, a materials science startup that leverages AI and data-mining to speed up R&D. The ExoMatter platform helps companies like Airbus, Audi and BSH reduce their materials development CO₂ footprint by up to 80%. Bachus studied economics and chemistry at the Technical University of Munich.

Nikola Baumschlager is the Venture Consultant for Food & AgriTech startups at UnternehmerTUM and the EIT Food Accelerator Programme Lead in Germany. She has dedicated her academic and professional career to meat alternatives and future-proof agriculture as she believes that changing our food system is crucial to combating the climate crisis.