September 20, 2024 – After its successful launch in 2023, the fellowship program has expanded fivefold, to 506 fellows from 36 countries. The new fellows came together for the first time at four regional summits in India, South Africa, Mexico, and Germany. As an invited guest Mercedes-Benz had the opportunity to engage with these young innovators and their promising ideas.
How can we use bacteria to solve the problem of plastic waste? How can the fashion industry become truly circular? How can we combat food insecurity? What types of incentive schemes will persuade consumers to behave more sustainably? For each of the challenges, and hundreds of others, the young innovators of beVisioneers: The Mercedes-Benz Fellowship are coming up with solutions. A global fellowship, funded by donations from Mercedes-Benz, beVisioneers provides ecopreneurs aged 16 to 28 with the training, resources and support to bring their sustainability ideas to life.
Eye-level encounters
At regional summits in India, Mexico, South Africa and Germany, the new cohort of fellows had the opportunity to meet each other and the wider beVisioneers community in person. The first of the summits kicked off in Berlin, Germany, where Katherin Kirschenmann, founder of the DO School Fellowships gGmbH (The DO School), which independently designs and runs the beVisioneers program, encouraged the 100-plus Europe-based fellows to reflect on their place in this growing community.
“Every one of us here decided that we would not stand by, but that we would take action,” she said, adding that beVisioneers: The Mercedes-Benz Fellowship was here to provide meaningful support. “The change we want to see isn’t going to happen in a year. It won’t happen in two or three years. We're in this for the long run, and you’re invited to stay connected, even as your idea advances or changes.”
Over three days at each of the summits, the fellows brought their infectious energy and enthusiasm to sessions on purpose, community building, storytelling, peer mentoring and the innovation process. For many fellows, learning opportunities such as these were a big draw to the program.
Projects from plastic-eating bacteria to smart farming solutions
“I appreciate that there are people here across all stages of entrepreneurship,” said Malika Cornwall, who is developing her project around textile circularity in London. “Personally, I’m excited to learn more about the innovation process and apply things we’re learning, such as letting go of the need for everything to be perfect before you start with your venture.”
“We have to stop wasting waste,” says Sophie Fasshauer, a student of international relations and bioengineering in the German city of Kleve. She’s challenging the current waste management system by bioengineering bacteria that are able to break down waste products including plastic – a huge cause of environmental pollution. She has a big vision, which is why she was drawn to beVisioneers. “It’s a program that focuses on you as a person and helps you to grow as an individual while further developing your project at the same time.”
“My aim is to enhance food security through smart agricultural practices,” says Kenyan Martin Ogumo, who is based in Budapest, Hungary where he’s studying electrical engineering. He’s developing a tech-based solution to bring agricultural innovations such as soil quality sensors and accurate weather forecasting to subsistence farmers who’ve so far been marginalized. “If they can leverage these innovations, they could have excess crop yield, allowing them to earn an income. This would have a great impact.”
Dr. Nanditha Srinivasan is dedicated to addressing the environmental impact of fly-ash disposal from thermal power plants in India. With a deep understanding of the detrimental effects of unscientific fly-ash disposal on local ecosystems, including erosion, leachate generation, and air pollution, Dr. Srinivasan is committed to finding innovative solutions. By repurposing fly ash into valuable products, such as surgical apparel, she seeks to minimize adverse environmental impacts while promoting sustainability.
Fellows to meet their mentors and begin turning ideas into action
After the summits, fellows returned home to begin working more intensively on their projects. In addition to 24 hours per month of online training and quarterly meet-ups at local hubs, one of the most important components of The DO School’s beVisioneers program is the 1-to-1 mentoring each fellow will receive over the coming year. Mentors provide the personalized guidance, support and contacts that fellows need to realize their visions.
