Building the future of entrepreneurship at LMU Munich

71 710 people calling. An Olympic Stadium packed to the rafters. That’s what it feels like when LMU Munich asks you to become its first Vice President for Entrepreneurship.

Boston, May 2025. 

I’m in a buzzing biotech incubator. Founders elbow-to-elbow. Instruments humming.

Then my iPhone lights up: 

📱 “Philipp, will you take the lead? We want to build something big – LMU-style.”

Heart racing, I step outside, call my wife.

“Feels like a once-in-a-lifetime call to duty.”

She laughs, “Then answer it.”

I said: YES. 

From October 1, I’m in - full power - to:

* Walk the talk

Germany needs more founders. 

I'll help 'make' them.

* Give back 

Public schools turned a village kid into a biotech founder. Now it's on me to return the favor.

* Unleash talent 

54 616 students, 835 professors, 6 137 researchers , 10 122 who keep it going. Across law, arts, medicine, economics… an Olympic Stadium full of ideas. Let's run! 

* Build bridges

From world-class research to breakthroughs that reach clinics, courtrooms, classrooms and climate labs.

(That’s LMU's grand staircase behind me, the first bridge I’m crossing.)

My guiding light:

Freedom. Freedom of research.

Freedom of entrepreneurship. 

What’s the #1 thing a university should do to empower its future founders?

Tell me what worked, or what’s still missing. 

Let’s build better bridges, together.

P.S.

Dear LMU-Alumni, we'll need your strong support.