Jan has founded several companies. Expertise in sales, marketing, finance, M&A. He specializes in networking for funding for starting and growing ICT and eBusiness companies.

Maria started working in a startup and developed a variety of skills such as brand marketing, event manager and project development. Currently, she works as a brand marketing manager at GetBoarded.

After a convincing performance, the Ludwigsburg municipal council elected Renate Schmetz as First Mayor of the baroque city in March 2021. The 53-year-old took up her new office on 1 May 2021. Her department includes an enormous range of tasks with the department of civic engagement, social affairs and housing, the department of citizen services, the departments of fire brigade and civil protection, education and family, sports and health as well as the staff office of the equal opportunities commissioner.

Manuel is a Senior Consultant for Business Model Innovation and Coach in the Bosch Accelerator Program. His professional background is in Logistics, SCM, and Sales in Hydraulics and Factory Automation at Bosch. He thrives for explorative innovation and has first-hand experience in starting-up a new venture. 

Jolanta is a studied publisher. She has an innovative spirit and coordinates the innovation network of the city of Ludwigsburg. Here she works with partners from business, industry and research institutions in a cooperative manner. The collaboration is intended to develop impulses for new, innovative technologies that can be tested on site under real conditions in the urban space.

Ertan is the founding partner of Multiple Capital, a European venture capital fund of funds. He has more than 9 years of experience in the venture capital industry and has invested in more than 31 early stage VC funds.

Anna is a senior lecturer at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg’s Animationsinstitut in Ludwigsburg where she serves as a head of the subject area Interactive Media. Working for over 10 years as a freelance designer and producer for apps, games, immersive media, and spatial communication, Anna is now working as a consultant for media production companies and agencies on supervising creative productions.

Christian is a founder of a mediaproduction company - eyecatchproductions. Since 2003 he realises a wide range of short, feature and business films, as well as animation driven / interactive content and live events. In January 2006 he has joined the team of Animationsinstitut at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, currently working as head of commissioned productions and talentinitatives.

Jürgen studied economics with a focus on IT in Hohenheim. After his studies, he worked as a consultant for renowned management consulting agencies for large companies, including DAX companies. But there were also some small companies he was allowed to advise at the public sector, such as municipal and national energy suppliers.  Since 2021, Jürgen has been Head of the Digitalisation & IT Department at Ludwigsburg City Council.

Ana supports sustainable practices in Amazonian traditional communities to allow both land and people to flourish. 

Ralph is Research Associate and PhD Candidate at Institute for Entrepreneurship, Technology-Management and Innovation (EnTechnon) at the Karlsruher Institute of Technology. He is responsible for the coordination of research activities in the field of Entrepreneurial Ecosystems. Ralph is a member and former marketing executive of the Pioniergarage e.V., which is the largest student entrepreneurship group in Germany. 

Oliver is responsible for the economic development of the county of Ludwigsburg since 2021. With 15 years of experience in supporting industrial companies, he is now developing strategies and initiatives for the county to stay a top place for production and innovation. This also includes building a fruitful environment for startup companies.

Andrea is a Consultant at Bosch Management Consulting. Her focus is on strategy development and scenario management. In addition, she empowers customers methodically and operationally with practical approaches to achieve high effectiveness in systematic business model innovation. Before joining Bosch in 2005, Andrea was self-employed and worked for various advertising agencies.

A driven business strategist and digitalization expert with a strong passion for innovation and technology.

Nicolas is the Chief Data Scientist of Political Risk at Michael Bauer International GmbH. Previously he has worked as the Chief Executive Officer at CONIAS Risk Intelligence. 

Wohnungsbau Ludwigsburg GmbH (WBL) - is the housing company of the city of Ludwigsburg. It provides adequate living space and shapes the cityscape with its diverse urban development measures. For this, it was awarded the " MyFairTenant" seal of quality.

Award winning Inventor of two patented products, founder of  Cleantech company, a Digital Commerce platform, Sustainability consultancy, Innovation Speaker, Business Coach,  Non Executive Director, Podcaster and former fundraiser for Renewable Energy projects. He is mentor for Natwest Bank, EIT Climate KIC and Creative Quarter Nottingham and working with UK Government on COVID recovery funding for small businesses. Supporting innovators with achieving their business potential.

Julia is an International City Promotion Advisor at Barcelona City Council, where she actively presents the city and its economic opportunities in order to bring economic activity through foreign investment and create quality jobs in the city.  A civil servant since 2016, she is committed to the city of Barcelona and its citizens.

Dr. Ellie Amirnasr started her career as innovation project manager at M+H in 2013. She is the founder of MANN+HUMMEL first corporate startup, qlair, focusing on intelligent solution for clean air management in commercial and industrial buildings. While growing the business for qlair and crossing the chasm she realized the difference between corporate and startup KPIs and developed corporate startup governance process for M+H.