Image information
A student holds a greased mechanical component during an automotive training course at Young Africa, a youth skills training centre near the Zimbabwean capital, Harare. Students often travel hundreds of kilometers in order to receive training, and many hope to start businesses of their own once their training is complete. Young Africa is supported in its mission by the Leopold Bachmann Foundation.

Image copyright: Tendai Marima – Leopold Bachmann Foundation – Fairpicture

Entrepreneurship plays an important role in addressing global challenges. Advancing economic development requires private initiative and innovative approaches. That is why the Leopold Bachmann Foundation supports businesses that place sustainability and the common good at the heart of their work and fosters entrepreneurial ecosystems that strengthen entrepreneurship across entire regions.

Impact

In the field of entrepreneurship, the Leopold Bachmann Foundation aims to create jobs and income opportunities. In particular, it seeks to facilitate young people’s entry into self-employment. This is achieved through training and improved access to markets and enabling conditions.

Small and medium-sized enterprises are supported in their growth, thereby creating jobs and additional income. The foundation’s projects also accompany innovative growth companies through critical phases. This benefits employees as well as entrepreneurs along the supply chain. Our programmes connect stakeholders such as start-ups, universities, service providers, and founders.

In Asia:

  • India
  • Cambodia

In Africa:

  • South Africa

In South America:

  • Bolivia
  • Colombia
  • Peru

Our Goals

Drive social innovation

The Leopold Bachmann Foundation supports start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises that develop solutions to social, environmental, and economic challenges. The focus is on projects that have the potential to drive meaningful social change in underserved or marginalized communities, while also creating jobs and income opportunities.

Strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems

The Leopold Bachmann Foundation supports the development of networks and service providers such as accelerators and incubators that help start-ups succeed. It is important that everyone can participate in the ecosystem and that disadvantaged groups are also given pathways to entrepreneurial success.

Supporting business growth

The Leopold Bachmann Foundation supports local companies with growth potential. These create jobs and income, thereby strengthening the local economy. This holds significant potential for poverty reduction, inclusive economic development, and social change. In particular, innovative growth companies contribute to the formalization of the economy. This leads to additional tax revenues, improved working conditions, and positive effects along entire supply chains.

Strengthening knowledge exchange and collaboration

The Leopold Bachmann Foundation fosters knowledge sharing and collaboration by connecting organizations, supporting local networks and platforms, and creating opportunities for peer learning and the exchange of experience. In doing so, it helps establish enduring structures that facilitate long-term knowledge transfer and strengthen agroecological systems.

Facts & Figures

The Leopold Bachmann Foundation currently supports 15 entrepreneurship projects across 9 countries. In the future, the focus will be on six countries with a dynamic private sector: Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, South Africa, India, and Cambodia.

The portfolio comprises 15 projects and will be further expanded in the six countries mentioned. The projects support young graduates on their path to self-employment, promote small and medium-sized enterprises, and invest into innovative growth companies with social impact via impact funds.

Impressions

Peter Matione uses sand paper to smooth down a car before it’s spray painted at Chitungwiza a satellite town near the Zimbabwean capital, Harare.

Image copyright: Tendai Marima – Leopold Bachmann Foundation – Fairpicture
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Samantha Manhandu and Tryness Dzonya braid Chiedza Matambo's hair during a hairdressing course at Young Africa, a youth skills training centre near Harare, Zimbabwe, that prepares young people for employment and self-employment. The extensions are provided free of charge. All students at the centre can get their hair done for free so that the future hairdressers can practise.

Image copyright: Tendai Marima – Leopold Bachmann Foundation – Fairpicture
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We support locally rooted organizations with stable structures that operate regionally or internationally, work transparently, and systematically measure their impact.

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