ABOUT FoB
Friends of Bata bridges the gap between academia and the startup world — connecting the Next Gen with real mentors, real networks, and real context.
The Next Gen is the most entrepreneurial generation in history — but the infrastructure hasn't caught up. Accelerators want traction. Universities teach theory. Networking events aren't built for you.
FoB fills the gap: mentorship, practical context, and a community that meets you where you are.
Why We Created Friends of Bata — Thomas Archer Bata
130K+
Students supported
20+
Active mentors
50+
Events globally
15+
Case studies
WHAT DRIVES US
New ideas that drive sustainable impact.
Real resources for global startups.
Partnerships and shared learning.
Openness in everything we do.
A passion for learning and creativity.
THE TEAM
Co-Founder
CEO and Founder at MGG and TripleB International. Co-Founder and Chairman of INTENNSE tennis and Friends of Bata. Investor. Sports and entrepreneurship enthusiast.
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Co-Founder & Partnership Lead
Co-founder and Partnership Lead, helping expand our network of partners, while organizing and leading both online and in-person educational sessions.
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Platform Lead
Platform & Project Lead at Friends of Bata. Iv'e redesigned FoB's vision, mission and strategy. I manage content, events, student engagement, and produce our pitchlab podcast.
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Advisor and Ambassador
Main advisor for and ambassador for Friends of Bata in Spain.
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Advisor and Ambassador
Main advisor and ambassador of Friends of Bata in Switzerland.
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Digital Strategy Manager
Managing our digital strategy and its implementation throughout the entire ecosystem.
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Podcast Technical Producer
Podcast expert leading all podcast recording, editing, distribution, and ... way more!
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Advisor and Ambassador
Main advisor and ambassador for Friends of Bata in Czech Republic & Slovakia.
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