Since 2013, the Young Digital Economy Advisory Board has been advising the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy on economic policy issues related to digitalization and the new economy. Members of the Digital Council therefore have a stronger voice among political decision-makers in Berlin than others.
For the first time, the 29-member Digital Council has more women than men. The board includes founders, investors, lobbyists, and a scientist.
Three Munich residents in the Digital Council
Due to the city's strong ties to politics, the vast majority of council members are based in Berlin. Association representatives and lobbyists, in particular, are concentrated in the capital. Among the nine startup founders represented on the Digital Council, however, there are three Munich residents.
Lisa Gradow is co-founder of Usercentrics. The Munich startup, which includes the Maschmeyer-VC Alstin Capital has invested, enables the data protection-compliant collection of user data for marketing purposes. Gradow was the company's CPO until June of this year. She is also active as an angel investor and holds a stake in Parkdepot, among others. Furthermore, Lisa Gradow is a board member of the German Startups Association.
Celonis and Flixbus are also represented
Also among the members of the Digital Council is Bastian Nominacher, Founder and Co-CEO of the Munich unicorn startups CelonisThe process mining company was valued at $2.5 billion following its last $290 million funding round last year.
With André Schwämmlein Another prominent startup founder sits on the Digital Council. The co-founder and managing director of Flixbus has made his company one of the largest European mobility player However, the green bus empire, which now also operates trains, suffered greatly during the Corona crisis. #CoronaUpdate with Munich Startup Schwämmlein reported in June: “It is a very difficult situation for us.”
