Bernhard Kowatsch, Director, Global Accelerator & Ventures, World Food Programme
- Growing up in Austria with strong interests in business, mathematics, technology, and music
- Transition from aspiring professional pianist to a business-focused career
Podcast
Overview
In this inspiring episode of The Brand Called You (TBCY), host Stephen Ibaraki sits down with Bernhard Kowatsch, Director of Global Accelerator & Ventures at the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).
From co-founding the globally celebrated ShareTheMeal app to building the world’s largest humanitarian innovation accelerator, Bernhard shares his extraordinary journey and the cutting-edge technologies helping combat hunger worldwide—including AI, blockchain, robotics, and agritech.
00:02:17- Major Inflection Points in Bernhard Kowatsch’s Life
- Growing up in Austria with strong interests in business, mathematics, technology, and music
- Transition from aspiring professional pianist to a business-focused career
- Decision to apply business expertise for large-scale social impact
- Consulting experience at Boston Consulting Group and entry into the humanitarian sector
00:13:21- Why Bernhard Left BCG for the World Food Programme
- Seeking purpose beyond profit
- WFP’s uniquely business-driven, measurable humanitarian model
- Applying private-sector supply chain and operational excellence to global aid delivery
00:19:17- How ShareTheMeal Became a Global Movement
- Discovery that WFP can feed a child for just $0.80 per day
- Building the app during a sabbatical with a co-founder
- Over 290 million meals donated, recognized by Google and Apple as a top global app
00:23:56- Birth of the WFP Innovation Accelerator
- Realization that more ShareTheMeal-like solutions were needed
- Launch of the Accelerator in Munich (2015)
- Supporting 18 programs annually across hunger, health, climate, and resilience
RESOURCES:
Learn more about Bernhard Kowatsch: LinkedIn
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Profile
- Growing up in Austria with strong interests in business, mathematics, technology, and music
- Transition from aspiring professional pianist to a business-focused career
- Decision to apply business expertise for large-scale social impact
- Consulting experience at Boston Consulting Group and entry into the humanitarian sector
