Our vision
More educational equality and opportunities
First-class education is expensive. But education is worth it. Brain Capital helps to remove the high costs of tuition fees as a barrier for studying and enables everyone to develop their professional potential. With our proven and tested financing model, we offer qualified students a fair and secure way to finance their studies.
Vision und Mission
"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest"
- Benjamin Franklin -
Our mission also follows this approach: investing in education pays off! That is why we invest in young professionals. We offer everyone the opportunity to complete their desired course of study - regardless of their financial resources. The income-related payments after graduation also enable a new generation of students to enjoy a carefree period of study without the burden of tuition fee payments.
The advantages of Brain Capital’s financing model have been proven year after year by the independent student loan test of the Center for Higher Education Development (CHE).
Education should not be measured by the amount of money you have. That is why we have been offering qualified students an entrepreneurial solution for financing their tuition fees since 2005. Our model enables independent access to higher education, thus promoting social equality and upward mobility.
Dr. Elisabeth Rudolf-Sipötz
Managing Director Brain Capital
Facts and Figures about Brain Capital
10000 +
Funding contracts
5000 +
Students in payment period
300 Mio. +
Assets under Management
50 +
Partner Universities
500 +
Degree Programs
220 +
Investors
20
Years experience
25 +
Employees
Brain Capital
The Team
Markus Hüren
Managing Director
Dr. Elisabeth Rudolf-Sipötz
Managing Director
Dr. Marco Vietor
Managing Director
Julia Catharina Andreh
Key Account Managerin
Malte Blechschmidt
Financial Controller
Sabrina Buchstäber
Office-Management
Daniel Busch
Payment-Management
Eva-Maria Czech
Key Account Managerin
Christian Dietz
Key Account Manager
Stefanie Fenske
Payment-Management
Christina Heler
Key Account Managerin
Andrea Hermann
Payment-Management
Thomas Jansen
Payment-Management
Dennis Kirsch
Mediadesign
Gordon Kirstätter
Key Account Manager / Online Marketing Manager
Sarah Kotthoff
Payment-Management
Marvin Kurz
Key Account Manager
Ann-Kristin Nett
Key Account Managerin
Seda Sargsyan
Payment-Management
Maurice Schmitt
Payment-Management
Kirsten Schmitz
Personal Assistant
Horst Schuster
IT / Controlling
Torsten Stelljes
IT
Olga Wall
Office-Management
Andreas Zerbach
Payment-Management
History of Brain Capital
Starting from the idea of a fair & flexible tuition fee financing to the leading partner for students, universities, and investors in the implementation of alternative financing concepts.
A different approach to financing tuition fees. Our story begins in 2005 as a start-up at WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management in Vallendar. Marco Vietor was doing his doctorate under Prof. Dr. Markus Rudolf on "Human Capital Contracts". The focus of his academic research concentrated on an innovative and customer-oriented student financing solution that meets the needs of students. WHU alumni were the first investors to be convinced with this idea, in the spirit of a reverse generation contract. This led Brain Capital to be known now as the largest provider of education funds.
Roadmap
2023
Change in Management neu: Markus Hüren. Our new partner universities with HSBA Hamburg School of Business Administration, Mediadesgin Hochschule, Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg, Vinzenz Pallotti Universität, XU University.
2022
Portfolio expansion with IE University Madrid, BSP Business & Law School Berlin, Lancaster University Leipzig, Medical School Hamburg, including institutes with engineering programs with Northern Institut of Technology at TU Hamburg and EIT Innoenergy Master Schools as well as Pilot Training at Lufthansa Aviation Training. New institutional investor and 300 Mio. Assets under Management.
2021
Digital Transformation Funding agreements are signed digitally via DocuSign (QES) and online identity verification via IDnow. New partner university with Goethe Business School.
2020
15th year of Brain Capital funding over 5,500 students at different private universities. Internationalization strategy continues - – ESADE Business School as first Spanish partner university. Further capital acquisition with institutional Investors. Change in Management Dr. René Maler.
2019
Sechste Brain Capital GmhH as an investment vehicle for private Investors. Dr. Elisabeth Rudolf-Sipötz becomes third managing director of Brain Capital GmbH.
2018
New partner universities with Jacobs University Bremen, Hochschule Fresenius and SRH Hochschulen. INSEAD Business School becomes the first international and non-German speaking partner university.
2017
With the university-independent Masters education fund, Brain Capital offers funding for every tuition-based master’s program worldwide.
2016
Expanding cooperation with private universities and offering our funding agreements to students of Hertie School (Berlin) and ESCP Europe.
2015
Cooperation with new partner universities Cologne Business School (CBS), Zeppelin Universität (ZU), Friedrichshafen and FH Wedel and university-independent MBA education fund. Relaunch of the Brain Capital Website.
2014
Income Share Agreement for medical students at Paracelsus Medizinische Privatuniversität in Nürnberg and Salzburg. Conception of the LL.M. education fund in cooperation with the German American Lawyers Association e.V. to finance LL.M. studies at law schools. Relocation of office at Heerstraße in Vallendar.
2013
The Bucerius Studienfördergesellschaft is founded. The latest education fund of Brain Capital receives a rating from Creditreform AG
2012
Independent education fund International University of Applied Sciences Bad Honnef (IUBH).
2011
Further education funds from institutional investors.
2010
Brain Capital supports the University of Lübeck in the establishment of the first university-specific education fund at a public university in Germany and takes over the administration of this education fund. Another education fund managed by Brain Capital was also created for Kühne Logistics University in Hamburg.
Johannes Frankenfeld becomes second managing director of Brain Capital GmbH.
2009
Company name changed to Brain Capital GmbH. The office space in Vallendar was expanded as the team grew.
2008
Income Share Agreement The concept of the Income Share Agreement was introduced to the bachelor's program at the Bucerius Law School in Hamburg as well as the International University of Applied Sciences Bad Honnef ("Honnef Bildungsfonds"). The Bucerius Law School decided to hand over the management of their tuition funding agreements to Brain Capital.
2007
First education funds with institutional investors.
2006
The first education fund with private investors is founded.
The first undergraduate students at WHU can participate in the funding model.
2005
The idea of fair & flexible tuition fee financing Foundation of WHU Brain Capital GmbH is launched, Founders: Prof. Dr. Markus Rudolf, Dr. Marco Vietor and Tobias Hundhausen
Top ratings in the CHE student loan test
European support for our beneficiaries. The European Investment Fund (EIF) has signed a guarantee agreement with various Brain Capital subsidiaries. The agreement is supported by the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) pilot project on skills development and education.
