
About Steinbeis and IGEI
The Steinbeis Institute for Global Entrepreneurship and Innovation (IGEI) was founded in the very special year of 2020. The IGEI is an interdisciplinary transfer institute at the Steinbeis School of Management and Innovation (SMI). The purpose is to bring research into practice by teaching to students and stakeholders as well as by representing the findings on conferences and within politics The SMI itself offers several study courses for undergraduates and graduates in the field of Business, Innovation and Engineering. The SMI in turn is a business school of Steinbeis University Berlin, Germany’s largest private university consequently following the approach of dual education, fostered by Ferdinand von Steinbeis.
Three overlapping topics
The three overlapping topics Migration, Entrepreneurship and Innovation form the Research and Teaching focus of the IGEI.
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Partners & Memberships
The Institute for Global Entrepreneurship and Innovation can rely on a strong network of partners that support the work and follow the mission. The IGEI is also member of renowned organisations.
The people behind the Institute for Global Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Combining global entrepreneurial track-record and academic excellence

Alexander Ruthemeier
Founding Director
Alexander Ruthemeier began his career in Financial Services, before he moved from Singapore to Berlin working for Rocket Internet, wefox and Element among others. As a seasoned entrepreneur and founder of Expatrio and DEGIS, he is also pursuing his academic path by researching and teaching about Migrant Entrepreneurship.
Prof. Dr. Marc Drüner
Academic Director
Marc Drüner is Co-CEO of Steinbeis School of Management and Innovation, Chief Innovation Officer at Berlin School of Creative Leadership and Professor at Steinbeis Hochschule Berlin for almost 20 years. Marc has founded and led Trommsdorff + Drüner, Innovation + Marketing Consultants, which was successfully acquired in 2018.

Research & Teaching focus
The Institute for Global Entrepreneurship & Innovation (IGEI) constitutes its research and teaching around the topic of Migrant Entrepreneurship with a focus on opportunity-driven business formation in the knowledge intense and digital economy by skilled (im-)migrants, or those migrating to undergo training, i.e. students.
The topic of Migrant Entrepreneurship among the above outlined group has not yet been researched to a satisfactory degree and is presenting a research gap which the IGEI is about to fill.
The Institute for Global Entrepreneurship and Innovation focuses on the following three topics:
MIGRATION
(Im-)migrants of different generations with voluntarily migration background, in particular skilled Expatriates and International Students
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Scientific Entrepreneurship, in general and in particular focusing on opportunity-driven Entrepreneurship among Migrants in knowledge intense industries
INNOVATION
Innovation, in general and in particular driven by Migrant Entrepreneurs as a driver of the future economy and society
Resume IGEI Founding Director
Alexander Ruthemeier
Entrepreneur | Investor | Scientist
Driven by his own migration and work experience in Singapore as well as the strong track record in Europe's start-up capitals Berlin & London, Alexander became curious about the topic of Migrant Entrepreneurship. Henceforth he dedicated his entrepreneurial and academic efforts on the topic of Migrant Entrepreneurship with a special focus on highly qualified entrepreneurs with voluntary migration background starting a business in the knowledge-intense digital economy in Germany.
Co-Founder
Expatrio Global Services GmbH
Expatriates' platform of choice for living, studying and working in Germany, providing relevant information and necessary products like Blocked Account, Health Insurance and more.
Co-Founder & Managing Director
DEGIS - Deutsche Gesellschaft internationaler Studierender gGmbH
Germany's non-profit network for international students.
Lecturer
Steinbeis Hochschule Berlin & School of Management and Innovation (SMI)
Lecturing in the fields of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in undergraduate and gratuate classes.
Entrepreneur & Investor
ANR Ventures Group
ANR Venture Capital GmbH
Investments as a Limited Partner into Venture Capital Funds as well as direct investments into early-stage technology start-ups with a focus on Financial Services.
ANR Venture Philanthropy gGmbH
A non-profit impact investment vehicle.
FSG Finanzservicegesesllschaft mbH
Financial Services and MGA solutions ["Assekuradeur"].
Start-up & corporate work experience
Different positions in fast-pace start-ups with a particular focus on the financial service industry (wefox, ONE Insurance, Element Insurance, Lendico) as well as with incubators (Rocket Internet, finleap) and Accelerators (Startupbootcamp). Relevant corporate experience as internal staff (Allianz) and external consultant (Volkswagen, zeb).
Academical experience
University of Osnabrück
Research and doctoral thesis (Dr. phil.) to be completed in 2022 on the topic of Migrant Entrepreneurship in Berlin's start-up scene at the Institute for Migration Research and Intercultural Studies (IMIS, Prof. Dr. Jochen Oltmer). The IMIS is an interdisciplinary and interdepartmental research center at the University of Osnabrück.
EBS Business School, Oestrich-Winkel
Master in Business & Wealth Management
Saxion Hogeschool, Enschede (NL)
Bachelor in Business Administration & Entrepreneurship
Diverse trainings & certificates in the fields of Financial Services (Certified Financial Planner [CFP©], European Financial Advisor [EFA©], DIN ISO22222 Certified Private Financial Planner), Scrum Master & Product Owner (Scrum.org), Executive Leadership (TAM Akademie), Financial Technology (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), International Relations (London School of Economics and Political Science).
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