About Paula
Paula Schwarz is an entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, and mother of three.
Over the past 15 years, she has founded, invested in, and advised ventures that bridge technology, social impact, and systemic change. Her work spans space exploration, ethical data governance, migration-focused innovation, and women’s empowerment in STEM.
Selected Milestones
2025 – Finalist at Miss Germany (Mover of Society category)
2025 – Established a €60M endowment for the Cosmopolis Foundation to support women in STEM and drive systemic change in Germany
2024 – Founded the Cosmopolis Foundation to connect people in need with targeted support through the Cosmopolis App
2023 – Launched the Cosmopolis App to link helpers and those seeking help through data-driven matching, improving access to opportunities
2020–present – Investor & Board Member at Zero2Infinity, a Spanish aerospace company specializing in stratospheric satellite launches and eco-friendly carrier systems
2020 – Co-founded Cloud Law with the Universities of Bern and Fribourg to protect personal sovereignty and relative rights
2019 – Member of the XPRIZE Innovation Board, advising on breakthroughs in space, environment, and education
2017 – Founded the World Datanomic Forum to promote the ethical use of biometric, personal, and psychological data for humanity’s benefit
2016–2017 – Board Member of Bayer Foundations, supporting strategic initiatives in science, education, and social innovation
2015 – Founded Migration Hub, a co-working space for migration-related entrepreneurship; co-developed projects such as RefugeeHost, First Contact by StartupBoat, StartupAid, Kiron University, Moni (Bank for Refugees), and more
2015 – Founded StartupBoat, a mobile incubator for innovation inspired by the Venture Bus concept
2014 – Awarded a scholarship by 500 Startups (now 500 Global) for startup development at Stanford University
2014 – Winner of Venture Bus Africa (supported by the German Federal Foreign Office) with the platform JamboCar
2010 – Co-founded the agencies Good Cop Bad Cop GmbH and The Exponential Network GmbH
2008–2009 – Humanitarian and cultural work with Human Rights Watch, the European Fundraising Association, and Berlinische Galerie
Education:
Executive Management Program – University of Oxford (2025)
Investor Training Program – Stanford University (Top of Class, 2014)
BA in Political Science – Freie Universität Berlin (2011)