Start-up entrepreneurs donate half a million euros to FDP

Among the donors are Frank Thelen and Julian Teicke. They would like to see a black-yellow federal government.

The FDP can look forward to a donation of 500,000 euros. The money comes from well-known figures from the start-up industry, including DHDL judge Frank Thelen, GetYourGuide founder Tao Tao and Wefox founder Julian Teicke. The men's goal is to make topics such as digitalization, innovation and debureaucratization more prominent in the upcoming legislative period.

"We are committed to business and technology-friendly policies in Germany that are sustainable, protect our climate and our resources, and yet do not lose sight of reality," says Frank Thelen - while warning on Twitter against a red-red-green government.

According to the start-up founders, they have looked at all election programs and have come to the conclusion that the Liberals should be represented in the next federal government. "Government constellations without the participation of the FDP would, in my estimation, damage our economy and thus our global negotiating position," says Thelen. "I am committed to a government consisting of the CDU/CSU and the FDP."

The Free Democrats are pleased about the large donation. Secretary General Volker Wissing said to the. BILD newspaper: "It is a sign of recognition for our demand for a policy that takes more pleasure in inventing than in prohibiting."

Only in April it became known that investor and DHDL colleague Georg Kofler donated three quarters of a million euros to the FDP. His motive is also a government participation of the party. He made it clear that he is "trying to prevent a government participation of the Greens", as he told the Handelsblatt said.