Dr. Markus Freiburg

Founder & CEO

By building FASE to become the leading social finance intermediary in Germany and Europe, Markus combines his strategic and financial expertise with his passion for social entrepreneurship. Today he is recognized as a thought leader for social finance, with an active presence in public discourses e.g. as a member of the Expert Group on Social Entrepreneurship (GECES) of the EU Commission and the German National Advisory Board of G7 Social Impact Investing Taskforce. He was also selected for the 40 under 40 European Young Leaders Class 2017. Markus studied Economics at Witten/Herdecke (Dipl.-Ök.) and Cambridge (M.Phil) and was promoted at the WHU Koblenz on investments by institutional investors in private equity funds. He also contributes his experience as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company and pro-bono advisor to social entrepreneurs.

For Markus’ full professional profile please click here.

Ellinor Schweyer

Founder & Managing Director

Ellinor discovered her passion for financing sustainable business models in 2012 when working as an investment manager for the German impact fund Bonventure. Before Ashoka Germany approached her to become a co-founder of FASE, she also supported social entrepreneurs in her role as a fundraiser and social impact lecturer at the Munich-based Social Entrepreneurship Akademie (SEA). For FASE, Ellinor contributes her broad network of investors, multipliers and supporters as well as her extensive marketing and fundraising knowledge to build a pool of engaged impact investors. Through her father, Rolf Dienst, a seasoned venture capitalist, she knows the VC business from scratch and leverages her own entrepreneurial experience as a start-up founder. Ellinor is a frequent panellist for impact investing and social finance in workshops and conferences within and outside the impact sector. Originally, she obtained a bachelor’s degree in hotel and restaurant management from Lausanne and Oxford and ran marketing initiatives for premier brands such as Dom Pérignon, Dior and Falke.

Bernhard Sommer

Executive Assistant to the Managing Directors

Bernhard joined FASE in October 2023 as an Executive Assistant to the Managing Directors. He is excited to combine his experience from the world of foundations with his interest in the start-up scene to support impact enterprises on their growth journeys. Bernhard worked in foundation management for 15 years – most recently as a commercial director – and has been engaged in various foundations and associations on a pro bono basis. Since 2023, he is also in the process of founding his own start-up for the joint development of ideas (co-ideas). Bernhard holds a degree in economics from Leibniz University Hanover and is a qualified bank clerk.

Dr. Alexandra Nitzlader

Regional Manager Austria

Alexandra joined FASE as Regional Manager for Austria in January 2021. She brings more than 25 years of experience in the international corporate finance business with banks, private equity and venture capital companies. In the course of her work, Alexandra has structured and placed a wide variety of financing solutions for customers, from debt to mezzanine to equity instruments. Her passion for impact-oriented startups and social entrepreneurship made her participate in the Ashoka Visionary Program in 2018. Alexandra studied both Law and Business Administration and wrote her thesis in international tax law. She is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). Alexandra strives to connect impact investors and social entrepreneurs in a meaningful and highly professional way.

Simone Pourier

Regional Manager Benelux

Simone joined again our core team in October 2022 to support our activities in the Benelux region, first as a Senior Adviser, and since January 2024 as Regional Manager. Before, she was leading the Benelux region for four years and then continued to be a pro bono advisor for several months. Simone brings more than 25+ years of experience in business development, obtained through senior management positions in the staffing industry and as a partner in several startups. After fulfilling pro bono advisory roles at startup companies, Simone decided to use her business skills to support social enterprises. Before FASE, she supported Ashoka in the Netherlands during their startup phase and studied business economics (Tilburg University) and business administration (Rotterdam School of Management). Simone is also researching the scalability of social enterprises at Utrecht University in the Netherlands.

Zsolt Pethe

Regional Manager CEE

Zsolt joined FASE in September 2018 as a regional manager for CEE. Over the past 20 years, he has accumulated a unique blend of business background and non-profit experience. Zsolt spent six years building a start-up Hungarian NGO focused on youth engagement and experiential education, for which he was elected an Echoing Green global fellow in 2001. Having built a stable organization, he was recruited by GE Capital and spent the following ten years in various leadership positions in banking. Always keen on helping mission-driven organizations develop, he set out to follow his passion and became the Country Representative for Ashoka Hungary in 2015. For FASE, Zsolt focuses on developing a diverse ecosystem around social entrepreneurs across the CEE region.

Juliane von Boeselager

Head of Impact & Investor Relations

Since early 2022, Juliane has been active for FASE, first as an impact & IR manager for FASE and since November 2024 as the head of impact & IR. The immense potential to deliver positive social and ecological impact convinced Juliane to commit to helping social enterprises attract growth capital. Previously, she worked in auditing, as a consultant for a microfinance NGO in Guatemala as well as a project manager in development cooperation (including in Tajikistan). Most recently, Juliane was a consultant for impact investing and impact measurement. She studied at the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management (B.Sc. in Business Administration), ITÁM in Mexico and the University of Copenhagen in Denmark (M.Sc. in Global Development). On top, she completed the postgraduate training programme at the German Development Institute (DIE) in Bonn and Mozambique and established and co-chaired a working group on impact measurement & management under the German Federal Impact Investing Association e.V. (“Bundesinitiative Impact Investing”). As an expert on sustainable development & impact, Juliane has already held various talks and workshops.

Tom Josczok

Investor Relations Manager

Tom joined the FASE team in January 2025 as Investor Relations Manager, bringing over five years of experience in the social entrepreneurship and startup sector. Most recently, he was Head of Programme for a Berlin-based early-stage accelerator. He co-founded and built a non-profit organisation, for which he continues to volunteer as executive director. He has also been involved in the creation of numerous initiatives in the field of impact networks and regenerative business models. His particular talent lies in building trusted networks that effectively connect people and projects. Tom has a keen interest in funding opportunities for social innovation. He is passionate about harnessing the potential of social innovation to address societal challenges that deliver economic value in addition to societal (social or environmental) value. Through his role at FASE, Tom wants to focus even more on investor relevance and help ensure that socially valuable projects find the right partners.

Christoph Rohde

Head of Transactions

Christoph joined FASE in February 2021 as a transaction manager and since November 2024, he acts as head of transactions. What drives Christoph is to support impact startups in their funding rounds. Previously, he built an accelerator program for impact startups from emerging and developing countries for the Westerwelle Foundation and founded a fair fashion online store. Christoph studied Economics (BA) at Witten/Herdecke and International Political Economy (MA) at Warwick and also brings with him his experience from management consulting at A.T. Kearney.

Maria Pfeffer

Jr. Transaction Manager

Maria joined FASE in November 2024, bringing with her experience of working in Business Development, Management Consulting and Fundraising. Her practical expertise includes working with early stage start-ups, supporting strategic projects and facilitating investments within a business angel club. Maria’s academic journey began with a degree in Business Administration from Humboldt University in Berlin and Bocconi University in Milan. She later honed her skills in Strategic Management for Global Business at the Università Cattolica in Milan. Passionate about innovation and creative problem solving, Maria furthered her knowledge with a Design Thinking course at the renowned Hasso Plattner Institute in Potsdam. With a strong foundation in both business strategy and innovation, Maria is committed to driving impactful transactions and fostering growth in the dynamic field of impact investing.

Marie-Kristin Wysk

Transaction Manager

Marie joined FASE in November 2024 as Transaction Manager. With experience as a founder of an impact venture, she knows first-hand the challenges of raising capital. She is driven by the goal of facilitating access to growth capital for non-profit start-ups and supporting founders on their journey. Previously, Marie worked for five years in the consulting and corporate VC environment, both as an independent consultant and as a project manager in strategic consulting. She focused in particular on the development of new business models. Marie’s passion for sustainability and social change is also evident in her private life: she is a volunteer for a Hamburg-based non-profit organisation that provides education in the field of marine and coastal protection and inspires people of all ages to protect marine ecosystems. Marie studied Business Administration at the Universities of Münster and Hamburg. Through her work at FASE, she wants to make a real difference – and work with inspiring people on great ideas.

Philipp Rabut

Senior Transaction Manager

Philipp joined the FASE team in December 2024 as a Senior Transaction Manager, bringing over 16 years of professional experience to the role. Prior to this, he held senior positions in investment banking and M&A at Lehman Brothers and Nomura, as well as various roles at the DAX-listed company Henkel. In 2021, Philipp co-founded the sustainable cleaning product start-up Blaue Helden, following the aim of contributing to the reduction of plastic waste and CO2 emissions in the cleaning product industry. Philipp has established a strong network within the German ecosystem for sustainable start-ups, having made several investments as an angel investor and provided advisory services to start-ups and venture capital funds.Philipp holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Passau and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from ESCP Europe, having studied in Paris, London and Berlin.

Katharina Felicitas Heilmaier

Jr. Communications & Event Manager

Katharina joined the FASE team in November 2024, bringing more than five years of valuable industry experience from her roles at Siemens and KUKA, as well as in-depth expertise from her work as a PR consultant at a leading German communications agency. Most recently, she has worked on international communications projects and social media campaigns with a focus on innovation and digitization, as well as non-profit initiatives in the field of sustainable development cooperation. Katharina is passionate about shaping the future of impact investing through the power of strategic communications, believing that thoughtful storytelling and targeted messaging can bridge the gap between innovative solutions and the investors who can bring them to scale. Deeply motivated by the belief that high-impact innovation has the power to address pressing social and environmental challenges, Katharina is committed to using her expertise to amplify the voices of startups shaping a more sustainable and equitable future.

Sandra Haltmayer

Finance and Accounting Manager

Since March 2024, Sandra is supporting impact enterprises by bringing her experience from the commercial sector to her role as Finance and Accounting Manager at FASE. As a freelance finance manager and the founder and manager of the e-commerce start-up Weinnatur, she combines her holistic view on impact entrepreneurship with her expertise in financial planning. Sandra has studied Facility Management (B.Sc.) at the Albstadt-Sigmaringen University, Germany, and Business Engineering (MBE) at the Steinbeis University Berlin, Germany.

András Harsányi

Advisor CEE

András supports FASE in the CEE region since Q1 2024 for our Social Enterprise Idea Development Program with Porticus. He has a diverse experience of working with both for-profit and non-profit organizations. Over the last 10 years, he has mentored numerous non-profit organizations and social enterprises, primarily focusing on financial management and business development. He currently serves as the senior advisor of Cseriti, the leading charity shop chain in Budapest. Additionally, András is the co-founder of Scale Impact, an organization dedicated to developing non-profits and social enterprises. He holds a degree in economics and an MBA from Central European University.

Pieter-Jan Van de Velde

Co-Founder ECIIF II

In the past 10 years, Pieter-Jan Van den Velde he has built a strong reputation in the Belgian impact investing ecosystem. As Investment and Fund manager of Trividend, the Flemish Investment Fund for the Social Economy, he has developed this cooperative public-private partnership into the main early stage investor in impact ventures in Flanders. Currently Trividend is managing over 75 direct investments, including subordinated & convertible loans and equity participations.

Pieter-Jan also plays a pivotal role in the development of the impact entrepreneurship ecosystem. He co-founded Belgium Impact, the Advisory Board for Social Entrepreneurs and, recently, Steward-Owned, an association which aims to promote the concept of steward ownership in Belgium. He is also member of the place-based impact investing working group of Impact Finance Belgium, the National Advisory Board for Impact Investing.

Zoé Constantin

Co-Founder ECIIF II

Alexandra Heraeus

Advisor

Alexandra joined FASE in April 2016 after gaining her transaction and project management experience in M&A and merger integration at Henkel Adhesives in Duesseldorf, Germany. After leaving FASE in early 2019, she has been supporting us as a pro bono advisor. Alexandra discovered her enthusiasm for solving social problems with economically sustainable business models during her studies. To link both worlds more closely, she co-founded “SensAbility”, the largest conference in Germany organized by students around the topic of social entrepreneurship. Alexandra holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management, Germany, and a Master’s of Law and Business from WHU/Bucerius Law School.

Thomas Knaack

Advisor

Thomas has been active as a business angel for many years, which includes several investments in social enterprises. In 2008, he established a foundation together with his wife to support projects in the area of microfinance across the globe. Thomas has more than 25 years of experience, first as a banker and then as the managing partner of a consultancy firm in the financial services sector. Since September 2016, he has strengthened the FASE team as a senior advisor.

Sabine Kaiser

Advisor

Sabine joined FASE in May 2016 as a senior transaction manager. Today, she continues to support FASE as a pro bono advisor. Sabine is passionate about technological and social innovations that have a significant positive impact on people’s lives. She draws upon her experience from more than 20 years of consulting and entrepreneurial investing. Previously, she worked with McKinsey & Company, Technologieholding VC GmbH, 3i plc and BTV, an internationally active German family office. Sabine holds a Diploma in Human Biology from the Philipps-University of Marburg and a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School.

Karsten Zengerling

Advisor

Karsten has supported FASE since its inception, first as Senior Advisor and since September 2022 as Chief Operating Officer Transactions. Starting in February 2024, he will continue to engage as a Pro Bono Advisor. Karsten brings more than 30 years of experience in corporate finance, banking and consulting, with a focus on structuring and implementing equity and mezzanine financings and M&A transactions. Before working for FASE, he was heading the business unit Equity Investments and Participations of Germany’s ethical bank GLS. Earlier, he was Managing Director with WestLB AG, Senior Investment Manager with 3i and Senior Manager with A.T. Kearney. Karsten holds a master’s degree in business administration from WHU Koblenz.

Dorothee Vogt

Advisor

Dorothee joined FASE in February 2018, first as a Senior Transaction Manager and then as Head of Investor Relations. Acting as a pro bono advisor since mid-2019, she continues to contribute her extensive experience in social entrepreneurship, impact investing and philanthropy that she gathered e.g. as an investment manager at the German impact fund pioneer BonVenture, as head of business development of the social business Change.org Germany, as well as a project manager at Körber Stiftung, one of the largest German foundations. Dorothee holds a master’s degree in cultural sciences and studied at Leuphana University Lüneburg (Germany) and Universitá degli studi di Macerata in Italy. As a passionate advocate for social change, she also has several pro bono roles for organisations with a social mission.

Dr. Adrian Fuchs

Advisor

Adrian has strengthened the FASE team as a transaction manager until September 2022 and continues to support the team as an advisor. He studied business economics in Maastricht (BSc.) and London (MA) before receiving his PhD from the University of Hamburg on the subject of impact investing for German charitable foundations (Dr. rer. pol.). Adrian gained relevant project management experience at Bonventure – where he assisted in the establishment of the first German social venture capital fund for foundations (MRI pilot fund) – and at Bertelsmann Foundation. He is driven by the goal to professionalise the impact sector.

Felix Oldenburg

Vorstandssprecher gut.org

Felix Oldenburg is a pioneer of social entrepreneurship, social innovation and bottom-up ideas. Most recently, he served as Secretary General at the Association of German Foundations, and as chair of DAFNE (donors and foundations networks in Europe). Ranked three times in Germany’s „40 under 40“ list, he is a member of the Baden-Baden CEO Conference and recipient of the German PR Award 2007. He started an internet company before he graduated in Philosophy (Bonn, Tübingen, Oxford) and Policy Management (Georgetown). He worked with McKinsey & Company in London and later led a series of large-scale citizen participation projects across Europe before joining Ashoka as Germany director in 2009. In this role and as European director, he pioneered several innovations including the first Financing Agency for Social Entrepreneurship, new Ashoka programs in Austria, Turkey, Netherlands and Southern Europe, and helped co-create governmental social innovation strategies. Felix serves on several boards and speaks and publishes internationally. He lives with his wife and two children in Berlin.

Bjoern Struewer

Founder and Co-CEO Roots of Impact

Bjoern Struewer is the Founder and Co-CEO of Roots of Impact. He has more than 20 years of experience in the finance sector, including 12 years at Credit Suisse, most recently as a managing director. After leaving the banking industry, he started working closely with public funders and impact investors to scale enterprises and innovations with strong potential for positive impact. With his team at Roots of Impact, he developed pioneering solutions such as Social Impact Incentives (SIINC) and Impact-Linked Finance as well as the Social Finance Academy. He also leads the Initiative for Blended Finance at the University of Zurich and is a Senior Collaborator at the Center for Sustainable Finance and Private Wealth. Bjoern is a member of various investment committees and advisory boards, served as a senior advisor to Ashoka on social finance and is co-founder of the Financing Agency for Social Entrepreneurship (FASE) and initiator of the Ashoka Angels Network.