Markus Gilles

Co-CEO and Co-Founder at Planet Wild. Rewilding our home planet, one mission at a time.

Berlin, Berlin, Germany

About

After exiting a German media startup in the US and working in New York for a couple of years, I took a break from startup life and backpacked from Alaska to Patagonia. What started from a desire to explore our natural planet turned into a mission to save it. Seeing firsthand how our ecosystems have come under threat, I co-founded Planet Wild to help protect and restore the world we love.

Experience

  • Co-CEO & Co-Founder at Planet Wild
    Mar 2023 - Present · 3 yrs 5 mos

    Planet Wild is a global community that anyone can join to help our planet bounce back. Every month, we work with wildlife pioneers worldwide to 🦁 bring back endangered species 🌊 clean up our oceans 🌳 revive forests and rewild landscapes Every member can vote on how we spend the money. Every mission is video-documented. Anyone can join. The bigger the community grows, the bigger these missions will get!

  • CEO & Co-Founder at Klima (acquired)
    Sep 2019 - May 2025 · 5 yrs 9 mos

    Klima allows anyone to take climate action, every day: understand, reduce and compensate your personal carbon emissions. Then track your impact in real time. • Number 1 climate app in Europe • Fully 5-star rated on App Store and Play Store • Apple Design Award Nominee • Biggest Series A raised for any climate app • 300.000 tonnes of CO2 removed In 2025, Klima was acquired by Wren. Head over to Wren.co

  • CEO Hyper @ Mic.com at Mic
    2016 - 2017 · 1 yr

    Mic helps young people process the present with authentic storytelling, original reporting, and thought-provoking content that fuels curiosity, creativity, and most importantly, change. • Led the Hyper team post-acquisition across Europe and the US • Launched 2 new products, both awarded „App of the Year“ by Apple • Signed key media partners, incl. National Geographic, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Vogue, Wired • Grew Hyper platform to 1MM+ users organically

  • CEO & Co-Founder at Hyper (acquired)
    2014 - 2016 · 2 yrs

    Hyper was a digital video magazine with a unique vision and experience: Watch curated videos every day, delivered in a clutter-free design and preloaded to your device every night for buffer-free viewing in a pre-LTE era. "Sleek and of-the-moment in the best way possible" – The Verge "Leaps and bounds better than any other video app!" – The Boston Globe "Makes you want to watch and discover" – Wired • BEST OF THE YEAR - Apple • BEST OF THE BEST - Red Dot Design Award • BEST NEW APP in 100 countries - App Store • BEST UX DESIGN - Webby Award Nomination In 2016, Hyper became part of Mic. Head over to Mic.com

  • CEO & Co-Founder at Pinio
    2012 - 2014 · 2 yrs

    Pinio was a video-based discussion platform: Record a 30-second video statement and watch how face-to-face discussions unfold. • Selected for 1st batch of Microsoft Ventures Accelerator • Awarded Exist Founder Grant by the European Union • Voted „Top 10 Most Innovative Startups” at the world’s largest consumer electronics fair, IFA • Live product launch with German Chancellor Angela Merkel & UK Prime Minister David Cameron