About us

Entrepreneurs of HHL e.V. (Unternehmerinnen und Unternehmer der HHL) is the non-profit association for the entrepreneurs and executives who studied at HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management. Until 2026 we were the Gesellschaft der Freunde der HHL e.V. (GdF, “Friends of HHL”) — our story.

Our mission

Our statutes set one charitable purpose: to promote science and research by raising funds and passing them on to HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management gGmbH. We also promote the exchange between HHL, its students, its alumni and the public, above all business and entrepreneurship.

In practice that means: we fund scholarships and research at HHL, and we bring HHL’s entrepreneurs together so that they support the next generation.

  • Network and Learning

    A peer network for HHL entrepreneurs: founders, owners and executives meet, share what works and learn from each other in small, trusted formats.

  • Scholarships

    We fund scholarships that open the door to an HHL education and reward outstanding talent.

  • Funding

    We help finance the professorships that keep HHL’s teaching and research at the front.

  • Partnerships

    We build ties across business, the City of Leipzig and the HHL ecosystem — from chairs and incubators to the Alumni Association and the HHL Foundation.

From GdF to Entrepreneurs of HHL

The association stands in the tradition of the Gesellschaft der Freunde der Handels-Hochschule Leipzig, founded in 1922. As the Gesellschaft der Freunde der HHL e.V. it has supported HHL for decades and is one of the shareholders of HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management gGmbH.

On 27 August 2026 the members’ meeting unanimously resolved to rename the association Entrepreneurs of HHL e.V. (Unternehmerinnen und Unternehmer der HHL). The Finanzamt Leipzig II confirmed on 8 October 2026 that the revised statutes meet the requirements for charitable status. The Amtsgericht Leipzig entered the new name and the new statutes in the register of associations on 2 November 2026. Same association, same register number (VR 1176), same purpose.

The websites hhl-unternehmer.com and hhl-unternehmer.de belong to this association.

Registered as

Entrepreneurs of HHL e.V.
VR 1176, Amtsgericht Leipzig

Non-profit status

Charitable association, recognised by the Finanzamt Leipzig II; donations and fees are tax-deductible in Germany.

Address

Jahnallee 59
04109 Leipzig, Germany

Board

Stefania Abbondi (Chair)
Dr. Steffen Zoller (Deputy Chair)

Our board

The board of Entrepreneurs of HHL e.V.

Click any board member to read their bio.

Portrait of Stefania Abbondi

Stefania Abbondi

Chair

Stefania Abbondi (MBA, HHL) chairs the association. An HHL alumna and founder of Känguru Salsa, she sets the association's direction and works to keep the HHL entrepreneur community connected and growing.
Portrait of Dr. Steffen Zoller

Dr. Steffen Zoller

Vice Chair

Dr. Steffen Zoller studied at HHL from 2003 to 2005, specializing in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. After two years in digital consulting, he founded Betreut.de (later acquired by Care.com) in 2007 and subsequently launched more than ten additional companies. Alongside his entrepreneurial activities, Steffen earned his doctorate from the University of Witten/Herdecke and currently serves on several supervisory and advisory boards.
Portrait of Dr. Jenny Müller von Bennigsen

Dr. Jenny Müller von Bennigsen

Board

Dr. Jenny Müller von Bennigsen completed her doctoral studies under Prof. Dr. Kirchgeorg at HHL between 2008 and 2012, during which she also taught Marketing and Statistics. After spending five years in corporate strategy at the REWE Group, she founded a food-tech startup developing solutions that extend the freshness of fresh-cut fruit and vegetables and help reduce food waste. Today, Jenny continues this work through a joint venture with the food and beverage company Döhler.
Portrait of Philipp Ewald

Philipp Ewald

Board

Philipp Ewald has been a member of the Board since January 1, 2026. He brings extensive experience in real estate development, management consulting, and entrepreneurship. His professional focus lies particularly in growth strategies, public funding programs, and energy efficiency. Since 2021, he has been working independently, advising companies and projects in these areas.

As Managing Director, his primary responsibilities center on the development of integrated energy concepts and the strategic advancement of real estate projects. In addition, his background as a management consultant has provided him with broad expertise in project management, digital transformation, and strategic development. Philipp holds an MBA from HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management and a degree from TU Dresden, combining technical expertise with a strong business perspective.

In his role as a board member, Philipp aims to further strengthen the association's strategic positioning and ensure its long-term sustainability. He is particularly committed to fostering sustainable growth, modern organizational structures, and a practical, member-focused approach, thereby contributing to the continued success of the association.
Portrait of Prof. Dr. Thor Stephan Stubner

Prof. Dr. Thor Stephan Stubner

Board

Stephan Stubner has been closely connected to HHL since 1998. As one of the university's earliest students, he has accompanied HHL's development for more than 25 years in a variety of roles.

After several years in consulting with The Boston Consulting Group and multiple entrepreneurial ventures, Stephan returned to HHL in 2007, where he played a key role in building and expanding the university's entrepreneurship program. Since 2012, he has held the Porsche AG Chair for Strategic Management and Digital Entrepreneurship and currently serves as Co-Lead of HHL's Research Group Strategic Entrepreneurship together with Dominik Kanbach, supervising a community of more than 60 doctoral researchers.

During his time at HHL, Stephan also helped develop the DIGITAL SPACE incubator and continues to support numerous startups both as a private investor and through the HHL-affiliated venture capital firm Monkfish Equity.

Stephan has also been actively involved in HHL's governance, having served for many years on the GdF Board. Following the completion of his term as Rector, he is particularly pleased to once again devote more of his time and energy to the association. In his current board role, he focuses primarily on strengthening engagement and outreach among HHL's entrepreneurial alumni community.
Portrait of Christian Klemenz

Christian Klemenz

Board

Christian is the Founder and CEO of Bierothek Group GmbH, where he combines his passion for entrepreneurship with his enthusiasm for beer culture.

An HHL alumnus holding an M.Sc. degree, Christian has remained closely connected to the university ever since graduating. His entrepreneurial journey began during an exchange semester toward the end of his studies and led him directly from the classroom into entrepreneurship.

Through his investment company, Brand Passion Ventures GmbH, Christian is involved in a wide range of entrepreneurial ventures across sectors including engineering, hospitality, and media. He invests in brands and supports founders strategically, operationally, and with genuine passion.

He also contributes his expertise as a long-serving board member of Bamberg StartUps e.V. and as an elected member of the local Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) committee, where he actively advocates for entrepreneurs, SMEs, and business networking initiatives.

As a lecturer and keynote speaker, Christian regularly shares his knowledge with students, founders, and executives. Since studying in China and India, he has maintained a strong focus on Asia and international markets.

During the new board term, Christian intends to focus primarily on strengthening the connection between successful HHL entrepreneurs and the association.

Statutes (PDF, version of 2013, superseded; the new statutes registered on 2 November 2026 will be published here) · Impressum · What we fund · Contact