About me.
I connect three worlds that rarely meet: industry, entrepreneurship and research.
As a management consultant and co-founder of a venturing boutique, I built corporate venturing units for industrial companies. Then life forced a turning point – and at exactly that moment, Erik Wirsing asked me to build his unit at DB Schenker. I switched sides, and I kept pushing these topics forward as an entrepreneur from the inside – even when that meant moving a boundary or two, which I truly enjoy. Together, we built an award-winning venture client unit – 150+ pilots, 55 in daily operations, more than €150 million in cost reductions.
In November 2024, I met Nils Wagner in Paris – we were both there to receive an award from the European Commission. His grandfather founded REHAU in 1948. One great conversation led to the next, and when DSV took over DB Schenker in spring 2025, I joined REHAU to build its venture client unit. Today, we drive the AI transformation for the entire group.
My PhD is pure passion. Founders like to tell their pivots as heroic turnarounds – I research what really drives the decision to change course, or to hold on too long. Because we need a more honest narrative about failure.
As a supervisory board member at Accederate, I bring exactly this to the table: hands-on transformation experience, backed by research.
Career.
- We built REHAU's venture client unit from scratch and have successfully piloted our first 15 startups
- The mandate grew into the group-wide AI transformation: the AI Academy builds competence, the AI Space is our secure access to leading LLMs, and in the AI Factory we build skills, agents and workflows for the organization
- Startup with a solution to pilot? Send REHAU New Ventures the problem you've identified, your solution, potential KPIs for a pilot and, if possible, some reference customers – and we'll have a look.
- Built an award-winning venture client unit – one of the leading in logistics
- End-to-end operating model, governance and KPIs for scaling across all regions and business units
- 150+ pilots · 55 scaled into daily operations · more than €150 million in cost reductions
- Corporates: built corporate venturing units – from venture building to venture clienting – with leading players in automotive, rail, logistics and health care
- Startups: supported founders on go-to-market, business model and fundraising
- Venture capital: advised funds on fundraising, selection process and portfolio management
- Led a corporate venture from idea to global roll-out – €1.5 million in corporate funding secured, product still live
- With House of Innovation, we built an ecosystem connecting corporates, startups and investors
- Restructuring: supported companies through restructuring – from analysis to implementation
- Post-merger integration: designed the integration blueprint for a DAX company and led the roll-out
- Digital transformation: change programs and agile ways of working in mobility, transportation and health care
Accederate helps young RegTech companies win their first customers and the right networks – and helps established companies develop new business models and grow revenue.
On the board, I bring the view of the industrial buyer: which solutions really get adopted, scaled and paid for. Open to further mandates in mid-sized industrial companies.
meet the board →Frankfurt School · University of St. Gallen · WHU · Hanken · HWZ Zurich
see speaking & teaching →Education.
Business model innovation & venture pivots, Chair of Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Technological Transformation. Research question: why organizations hold on too long – and how to decide in time.
Finance & Strategic Management: corporate finance, capital allocation, ownership structures and governance.
Finance & Economics: Mergers, Acquisitions & Restructurings and The International Economy & Business.
Strategy & finance: global consulting, financial strategy, international business strategy. Spanish language course, level C1.
International Business Administration: financial management, innovation & technology management.
International business, marketing and international relations. Spanish language course, level B2.
About me.
I connect three worlds that rarely meet: industry, entrepreneurship and research.
As a management consultant and co-founder of a venturing boutique, I built corporate venturing units for industrial companies. Then life forced a turning point – and at exactly that moment, Erik Wirsing asked me to build his unit at DB Schenker. I switched sides, and I kept pushing these topics forward as an entrepreneur from the inside – even when that meant moving a boundary or two, which I truly enjoy. Together, we built an award-winning venture client unit – 150+ pilots, 55 in daily operations, more than €150 million in cost reductions.
In November 2024, I met Nils Wagner in Paris – we were both there to receive an award from the European Commission. His grandfather founded REHAU in 1948. One great conversation led to the next, and when DSV took over DB Schenker in spring 2025, I joined REHAU to build its venture client unit. Today, we drive the AI transformation for the entire group.
My PhD is pure passion. Founders like to tell their pivots as heroic turnarounds – I research what really drives the decision to change course, or to hold on too long. Because we need a more honest narrative about failure.
As a supervisory board member at Accederate, I bring exactly this to the table: hands-on transformation experience, backed by research.
Career.
- We built REHAU's venture client unit from scratch and have successfully piloted our first 15 startups
- The mandate grew into the group-wide AI transformation: the AI Academy builds competence, the AI Space is our secure access to leading LLMs, and in the AI Factory we build skills, agents and workflows for the organization
- Startup with a solution to pilot? Send REHAU New Ventures the problem you've identified, your solution, potential KPIs for a pilot and, if possible, some reference customers – and we'll have a look.
- Built an award-winning venture client unit – one of the leading in logistics
- End-to-end operating model, governance and KPIs for scaling across all regions and business units
- 150+ pilots · 55 scaled into daily operations · more than €150 million in cost reductions
- Corporates: built corporate venturing units – from venture building to venture clienting – with leading players in automotive, rail, logistics and health care
- Startups: supported founders on go-to-market, business model and fundraising
- Venture capital: advised funds on fundraising, selection process and portfolio management
- Led a corporate venture from idea to global roll-out – €1.5 million in corporate funding secured, product still live
- With House of Innovation, we built an ecosystem connecting corporates, startups and investors
- Restructuring: supported companies through restructuring – from analysis to implementation
- Post-merger integration: designed the integration blueprint for a DAX company and led the roll-out
- Digital transformation: change programs and agile ways of working in mobility, transportation and health care
Accederate helps young RegTech companies win their first customers and the right networks – and helps established companies develop new business models and grow revenue.
On the board, I bring the view of the industrial buyer: which solutions really get adopted, scaled and paid for. Open to further mandates in mid-sized industrial companies.
meet the board →Frankfurt School · University of St. Gallen · WHU · Hanken · HWZ Zurich
see speaking & teaching →Education.
Business model innovation & venture pivots, Chair of Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Technological Transformation. Research question: why organizations hold on too long – and how to decide in time.
Finance & Strategic Management: corporate finance, capital allocation, ownership structures and governance.
Finance & Economics: Mergers, Acquisitions & Restructurings and The International Economy & Business.
Strategy & finance: global consulting, financial strategy, international business strategy. Spanish language course, level C1.
International Business Administration: financial management, innovation & technology management.
International business, marketing and international relations. Spanish language course, level B2.