Supervision of theses at the chair

The chair for Sustainability Management supervises Master's theses, mainly in the Master Sustainability Management, however students from other programmes are also welcome to apply. To apply for supervision, please contact Philipp Trotter via email. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and should include a short research proposal. Students can choose from the topics listed below or propose their own ideas.

Potential Topics

This is a list of topics related to current interests and projects of the chair members. For more information, please contact the designated contact person.

Topic Suggestions

Scalable business models for renewable energy start-ups in Africa (contact: Philipp Trotter)

• This thesis investigates which business models enable energy start-ups in Africa to scale. In recent years, the share of debt finance in African energy start-ups has increased dramatically, signalling a maturing ecosystem where firms are increasingly seen as creditworthy. For companies, this shift means greater opportunities to scale without diluting ownership, but also higher financial discipline and exposure to repayment risk.
• This thesis investigates which business models among African energy start-ups are particularly successful in attracting debt finance. It will analyse how firm-level characteristics (e.g., asset intensity, revenue stability, technology, customer segment) and macro-economic context variables (e.g., financial sector depth, interest rates, country risk) influence the ability to raise debt. The study can be conducted quantitatively, using regression models on financing and macro-economic data, or qualitatively, through case studies and expert interviews with founders, lenders, and investors.
• The goal is to identify the determinants of “bankability” in the African energy start-up space and assess the implications for firms’ growth strategies, capital structure decisions, and financial sustainability.

Business Models and Innovation in the Global South (contact: Sven Werner):

• Innovative Business Models for Climate Adaptation in Low- and Lower-Middle-Income Countries (LMICs)
• Transition from Grant Funding to Private Capital for Start-ups in LMICs
• Business Models of Food-Delivery Platforms in Nigeria (Optional: Kenya Comparison)

Regenerative Business and Biodiversity (contact Kristin Krebs):

• Conservation entrepreneurship in the Global South
• Business models for regenerative agriculture
• Impact and governance of biodiversity credits for sustainable development