Inspiring global urban tech solutions. Get to know the makers behind the stories.

Panel

Knowledge Transfer

Thomas Bachem

The multitude of companies that Internet entrepreneur Thomas Bachem has significantly helped to shape ranges from his own start-ups to the founding of a private university for digital product development, the CODE University of Applied Sciences in Berlin. He fosters the entrepreneurial spirit not only as a business angel, but also as the deputy chairman and co-founder of the interest group Bundesverband Deutsche Startups e.V., where he works to promote a functioning start-up ecosystem in Germany.

Hubertus Breier

Hubertus Breier is Vice President Innovation at OSRAM in Munich. He has more than 15 years of experience in the high-tech electrical industry – and develops the potential of new user cases including business models and market launch strategies. He coordinates the technological activities with the key internal and external stakeholders and creates holistic approaches to the complex challenges of the market.

Panel

Digital Transformation

Christian Dyck

Christian Dyck has been involved in e-commerce and digitization since 1999. Today he is CEO and CEO of kloeckner.i, driving the vision of a digitized steel and metal industry. He previously worked for companies including Scout24, affilinet and Amazon in Seattle, where he helped amazon.de to set up and operate the Performance Marketing channel. Dyck focuses in particular on open interfaces, agile software development and lean startup.

Panel

Energy & Mobility

Alexander Gerfer

Alexander Gerfer is CEO and CTO of one of the largest European manufacturers of electronic and electromechanical components with around 7,000 employees at locations in Waldenburg, Munich, Berlin and Barcelona. A graduate in electrical engineering, he learned his trade from the ground up. Before and during his studies at the University of Applied Sciences Cologne, the qualified radio and television technician worked in sales and as a technician. Today he is an author in the field of consumer electronics, co-author of various specialist books and holds numerous patents. He was part of the company from the very beginning and is responsible for strategy and consequently for product management, quality control, supply chain management, research and development.

Panel

Digital Transformation

David Gilford

David leads the Connected Communities practice at Intersection, an urban innovation company based in New York. Taking a long-term and holistic approach to technology, his team has created digital master plans for over 40 million square feet of communities. Prior to joining Intersection, David held multiple leadership positions with the City of New York, most recently as Vice President for Urban Innovation & Sustainability at the New York City Economic Development Corporation. He has been recognized among the 40 Under 40 Rising Stars in Economic Development in the USA, as well as one of New York State’s Top Ten Energy Government Leaders

Panel

Energy & Mobility

Dr. Henning Heppner

Dr. Henning Heppner is co-founder and managing director of several cleantech start-ups in Berlin such as Greenbox Global Holding, Ebee Smart Technologies and the Palmetto Group. Prior to that, the industrial engineer worked held management positions at leading automotive suppliers. At Siemens, the Huf Group and Continental AG, among others, he was responsible for large multinational business units and successfully acquired and integrated companies in Russia, South Korea and the USA.

Panel

Energy & Mobility

Kathrin Küttner-Lipinski

The Berlin-based software company VIOM GmbH was founded with the focus on the use of new technologies for an increasingly mobile society. As Managing Director and CEO, Kathrin Küttner-Lipinski is responsible for Corporate Strategy & Organization. Having worked in quality management and the conceptualization and introduction of e-training materials at the Berlin software company IVU Traffic Technologies AG, she is now working on the expansion and transformation of existing mobility concepts.

Panel

Knowledge Transfer

Udo Schloemer

Udo Schloemer runs Germany’s largest start-up community – and recognized the potential of digitization early on. He is the founder and CEO of the Innovation Community Factory in Berlin. Since 2011 Schloemer has been combining his passions – real estate and digitization – through start-up investments. In this way, the Factory has succeeded in bringing together actors from such diverse worlds as business, politics, science, technology and art – a unique network that is helping to accelerate digital transformation.

Panel

Energy & Mobility

Nancy Sutley

She is responsible for the Los Angeles Sustainability Program – and previously headed the White House Council for Environmental Quality for five years: Nancy H. Sutley is one of the world’s most sought-after experts in the field of environmental protection. In 2013, she developed the Climate Action Plan for former President Barack Obama. Today, the Harvard graduate’s tasks include overseeing the city’s environmental initiatives at the LA Department of Water and Power.

Panel

Knowledge Transfer

Urte Zahn

Urte Zahn began her professional career by training as a farmer – since then, in addition to founding and building up the smartB company, she has also worked at Robert Bosch GmbH as Vice President Corporate IT & Consulting Lead Central Functions and EMEA. From purchasing, logistics and finance to human resources and research, she was responsible for all internal IT projects. Since July 2018, the entrepreneur has been working on two projects of her own that are close to her heart on the topic of smart health and agriculture.

Panel

Knowledge Transfer

Harald Zapp

Harald Zapp is the founder and CEO of Next Big Thing AG, an IoT company builder based in Berlin whose vision is to provide a complete range of services for the establishment of IoT joint ventures. The company launches several initiatives a year and provides seed financing, engineering expertise and support for start-ups. Previously, the sought-after expert on the Internet of Things und Industry 4.0 founded iThing4U GmbH, which today operates under the name relayr Inc. Harald Zapp is a member of the Bitkom Board of Directors.

Panel

Digital Transformation

Prof. Dr. Anna Zeichhardt

Prof. Dr. Anna Riedel teaches at the HTW Berlin, with a focus on digital business. After completing her doctorate in media economics at the UdK Berlin, she first became head of the Berlin office of the consulting firm VORN Strategy Consulting from its foundation and head of research and consulting at the Institute of Electronic Business. Her research focuses on digital transformation, internal social communication and their implementation.