Martin Essl is the Founder of the Essl Foundation, which through the Zero Project is committed to a world with zero barriers. As an entrepreneur – and coming from an entrepreneurial family in Austria – Martin Essl is well-known for his dedication to social responsibility and modern arts. After selling the bauMax conglomerate in 2015, Martin Essl now concentrates on philanthropy and real estate investing. Martin and Gerda Essl, together with their children, established the Essl Foundation in 2007. The Essl Foundation supports social innovation and social entrepreneurs, with a focus on persons with disabilities and employment. Currently the Zero Project is the Essl Foundation’s main focus. It is also a member of ‘Sinnstifter’, a joint initiative by twelve Austrian Foundations that co-finance social innovations. Moreover, the Essl Foundation is a member of the Disability Thematic Network Group within the European Foundation Centre (EFC). Furthermore, Martin Essl supports Ashoka Austria and has co-initiated the ‘Haus der Philanthropie’, which translates to House of Philanthropy. It is a co-working space for charitable foundations in Vienna.
