The Munich-based BonVenture Group, with its social entrepreneurship fund “BonVenture III,” is investing a mid-six-figure sum in the Tech4Good startup Volunteer Vision. Volunteer Vision GmbH offers the first software-as-a-service solution for digital mentoring in companies: employees support young people in their career entry via video chat and embedded eLearning materials.
This is the first round of financing for the social enterprise founded in 2016, which was previously financed through an EXIST start-up grant and business angels.
"With Volunteer Vision's SaaS solution, companies can, for the first time, leverage the potential of eLearning to engage their employees in social engagement – and thus scale their impact. For example, the software enables employees to prepare refugees for career entry through German courses and academic advising in virtual classrooms. We are very impressed by what the team has already achieved since its launch and are convinced that Volunteer Vision can become the market leader for digital mentoring in the CSR and HR sectors."
explains BonVenture partner Angela Lawaldt.
“We were particularly impressed by the founding team, the high impact, and the professionalism of Volunteer Vision’s digital solution.”
Growth plans: Educational technology will be further expanded
The Volunteer Vision GmbH With its multilingual SaaS solution, it now combines digital mentoring across 10 countries. The investment marks the beginning of the next phase of growth:
“We are pleased to be able to further invest in the expansion of our educational technology through this investment.”
explained Dr. Suska Dreesbach-Bundy, Founder and Managing Director of Volunteer Vision GmbH.
"Our technology empowers every participant to become a valuable mentor. With this investment, we are developing supporting learning tools such as a virtual browser and motivating gamification elements. A community will connect the digital mentors, thus strengthening the sense of community and engagement. But what we are most excited about, of course, is that we can expand our programs to new target groups."
The current program portfolio supports refugees seeking language sponsorships or studying, young people from socially disadvantaged backgrounds with career guidance, people with disabilities entering the workforce, and young professionals with leadership skills. Volunteer Vision GmbH's 15 clients include Deutsche Telekom, Deutsche Bank, Kienbaum, and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. Partners from the social sector include Malteser Deutschland, SOS Children's Villages, and Kiron Open Higher Education.
