I'm a mechanical engineer at heart, drawn to the complex interplay of systems and the distinct smell of a machine shop. My career has provided a deep dive into the lifecycle of industrial processes—from design and simulation to manufacturing and production planning. During my studies, I focused on how machine learning, especially reinforcement learning, could revolutionize manufacturing processes like production scheduling and control.
The captivating mini-series Small Empires initially piqued my entry into the startup world. However, it was the discovery of a community of pragmatic, innovative engineers that truly felt like finding "my people"—a stark contrast to the business graduate-dominated tech scene in Europe. My travels to various international tech hubs revealed that Europe's shortfall wasn't in innovative ideas but in translating those ideas into successful outputs. This realization drove me to lead PionierGarage, one of Germany's largest entrepreneurship groups, where I also spearheaded the creation of a startup incubator for university projects.
Now, I am committed to nurturing the next generation of engineers in the startup ecosystem. By supporting tech innovators, I aim to ensure that industry transformations are led by those who understand the fundamental mechanics of technology. My journey from engineering to venture capital is more than a career path; it's a mission to champion engineers who are equipped to effect substantial changes.