A new chapter for IGNITE – our board change
A new chapter for IGNITE! We introduce our board with Ben Kaiser, Laurens Rocker and Marie Grevers and look forward to our time together.
By Ben Kaiser @IGNITE Team ·
Your startup spark at Leuphana.
We bring people interested in founding together and turn curiosity into first steps, with workshops, events and a community you can help shape.
What we do
Workshops and events
Try out ideas, share experiences and meet founders. In workshops and events we bring students together with people who have already started.
Hackathons with the Startup School
Together with the Startup School, we help run hackathons. You develop ideas in a team, build first solutions and get feedback.
Knowledge to move forward
Checklists, guides and practical tools help you take the next step with your idea. You can use our materials without being a member.
A community to shape
Meet other people interested in founding, exchange ideas and help shape IGNITE. Whether you have a first question or a concrete idea: your own perspective adds something.
Good ideas start with people who get going.
IGNITE is the student founding initiative at Leuphana. We create opportunities to meet people, ask questions and try out ideas together.
Our goal: make founding accessible. For every field of study and for everyone who wants to make something happen, even without a finished business idea.
Who it is for
For Leuphana students who are interested in founding.
For everyone with an idea of their own and for everyone still looking for one.
For everyone who wants to build something together in a team.
Our Advisory Board
Prof. Dr. Markus Reihlen
Patronage
Professor of Strategic Management & Entrepreneurship
Prof. Reihlen researches corporate and digital entrepreneurship, strategic management and organization theory. He was a visiting professor at the University of St. Gallen and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. With eight Academy of Management best paper awards and ten books as author or editor, he is among the leading experts in his field.
LinkedIn
Prof. Dr. Burkhardt Funk
Advisory Board Member
Professor of Information Systems and Data Science
Prof. Funk researches data-driven services and machine learning in e-commerce and e-health. In 2015 he initiated one of the first data science degree programs in Germany and leads the DATAx initiative on data literacy. As a visiting researcher at Stanford and the University of Virginia, he combines research with founding experience at HelloBetter, Adference and Smartboatia.
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Prof. Dr. Elke Schüßler
Advisory Board Member
Professor of Business Administration, in particular Entrepreneurship and Organization
Prof. Schüßler studies the dynamics of organizational change, with a focus on sustainable forms of organizing and working. She was previously a professor at Johannes Kepler University Linz and a junior professor at FU Berlin. Among other honors, she received the Academy of Management Journal Best Article Award. She is an associate editor at Business & Society and sits on the executive board of EGOS.
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Prof. Dr. Matthias Wenzel
Advisory Board Member
Professor of Organization
Prof. Wenzel studies the interplay of organization and strategy from a practice-theoretical perspective, and its societal implications. His work appears in leading journals such as the Academy of Management Journal and the Strategic Management Journal. From 2025 he is Senior Editor for Organization Studies and co-editor for Media Innovations at the Strategic Management Journal.
Prof. Dr. Pauline Reinecke
Advisory Board Member
Junior Professor of Business Administration, in particular Strategic Entrepreneurship
Prof. Reinecke researches strategic entrepreneurship and how entrepreneurial action can help solve complex societal challenges. Her work connects strategy, organization and innovation, with a focus on social enterprises, digital platforms and sustainable business models.
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Dr. Markus Lemmens
Advisory Board Member
Chief Communication Officer of Leuphana University
Dr. Markus Lemmens has founded several ventures since 1996 (media, public affairs, fusion energy and IT). He works in science management. His focus includes deep technology as a bridge between research and the Mittelstand (Germany's small and mid-sized companies). He is currently Chief Communication Officer of Leuphana University Lüneburg.
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Become part of our board
Advisory Board Member
Your expertise is wanted.
News from our community
Insights and recaps from everyday life at IGNITE.
Questions?
What is IGNITE?
IGNITE is the student founding initiative at Leuphana. We bring people interested in founding together, make entrepreneurship tangible in practice and help you turn curiosity into first steps.
Do I need an idea or founding experience already?
No. Curiosity is enough to start. You can come with an idea of your own or first find out which topic interests you. Students from all fields of study are welcome.
What can I do at IGNITE?
You can attend workshops and events, meet other people interested in founding, or help shape formats and projects in a team. We help run hackathons together with the Startup School. You can find current information on our events page.
How does the application and onboarding process work?
You can apply to join our team via Join us. In the introductory conversation that follows, we talk about your interests and where you would like to contribute. Events have their own participation details.
How much time should I plan for the team?
That depends on your role and the current projects. In the introductory conversation we work out what fits your studies. What matters is reliable agreements and enjoying getting things done together.
Can I sponsor IGNITE?
Yes. You can support our events and projects with expertise, rooms, contacts or funding. Write to us via the contact form if you would like to work with IGNITE.
Become part of IGNITE
Bring your curiosity, your ideas and your perspective. Help us shape the founding culture at Leuphana.
