Digital Transformers

Traditional insurance models are limited in growth. In this episode with Robert Dietrich, CEO of Hiscox Europe, we discuss what it takes for embedded insurance and AI-driven models to work and dive into a blended cyber-insurance opportunity worth exploring.Welcome to the Digital Transformers Podcast with Kilian Karrasch. On this podcast, you'll hear about the latest next-generation business opportunities, and how you can build new products and business models around them to create more revenue for your business. Plus, you'll learn about the many lessons Kilian and his guests have learned on their path to building and running multi-million euro businesses.About the host: Kilian Karrasch is the founding partner at Boldheart, the leading next-generation product & venture builder. Together with his team, he helps ambitious corporates such as Valora, GEMA, and the International Chamber of Commerce identify, build, and scale successful next-generation digital products and business models.Follow Kilian's socials: LinkedInAbout the guest:Robert Dietrich is the CEO of Hiscox Europe, a specialist global insurer. Under his former leadership, Hiscox Germany quadrupled its growth and expanded into direct-to-consumer, technology, and cyber insurance. Today, Robert continues the transformative growth at Hiscox Europe, leveraging technology to meet the evolving needs of brokers and clients.Follow Robert's socials: LinkedInTimeline: (01:13) - Embedded Insurance - and it's key success factors(10:06) – Building flexible, customer-centric tech systems for modern insurance(16:16) – How AI can enhance underwriting processes and reduce costs(24:45) – Exploring AI-based cybersecurity solutions with insurance benefits

Looking to build new revenue streams in real estate? Discover the latest market dynamics and digital business opportunities and understand how you can use them to your advantage - in this episode with iad Group Portugal CEO Alfredo Valente.Welcome to the Digital Transformers Podcast with Kilian Karrasch. On this podcast, you'll hear about the latest next-generation business opportunities, and how you can build new products and business models around them to create more revenue for your business. Plus, you'll learn about the many lessons Kilian and his guests have learned on their path to building and running multi-million euro businesses.About the host: Kilian Karrasch is the founding partner at Boldheart, the leading next-generation product & venture builder. Together with his team, he helps ambitious corporates such as Valora, GEMA, and the International Chamber of Commerce identify, build, and scale successful next-generation digital products and business models.Follow Kilian's socials: LinkedInAbout the guest:Alfredo Valente is the CEO of Portugal at aid Group, one of the leading real estate networks and service providers. With his innovative approach to the real estate market, Alfredo has been pivotal in integrating digital solutions to enhance property accessibility and investment attractiveness in Portugal. His expertise in navigating the complexities of modern real estate markets makes him a sought-after leader in the industry.Follow Alfredo's socials: LinkedInTimeline: (00:55) - Challenges in the real estate market & how to adapt to them(06:20) - The biggest opportunity in the real estate market along the whole value chain(11:20) - Opportunities for education and advisory services in real estate(18:00) - Rent-to-own models & their potential(18:50) - How to leverage data analytics & AI for market insights 

The insurance industry is ripe for change. In this engaging episode, Nicolas Pöltl, CEO of BNP Paribas Cardif in Germany, and Kilian Karrasch discuss what the future of insurance looks like and how companies can build it best, and explore one of the biggest untapped business opportunities in the insurance market. Welcome to the Digital Transformers Podcast with Kilian Karrasch. On this podcast, you'll hear about the latest next-generation business opportunities, and how you can build new products and business models around them to create more revenue for your business. Plus, you'll learn about the many lessons Kilian and his guests have learned on their path to building and running multi-million euro businesses.About the host: Kilian Karrasch is the founding partner at Boldheart, the leading next-generation product & venture builder. Together with his team, he helps ambitious corporates such as Valora, GEMA, and the International Chamber of Commerce identify, build, and scale successful next-generation digital products and business models.Follow Kilian's socials: LinkedInAbout the guest: Nicolas Pöltl is the CEO of BNP Paribas Cardif in Germany. BNP Paribas Cardif is one of the leading bancassurance and personal insurance providers worldwide with a presence in 30 countries. Nicolas has over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry. His mission at BNP Paribas Cardif in Germany is to leverage data, technology, and agile systems to reinvent traditional insurance models for the 21st century.Follow Nicolas' socials: LinkedInTimeline:(2:03) – Shifting the paradigm: the importance of customer experience in insurance(4:53) – Automating the claims process(7:53) – How to lay the right technical foundation(10:28) – Creating a culture of innovation and teamwork(14:38) – Embedded insurance - and what it takes to succeed(16:11) – Exploring the biggest untapped opportunity: insurance opportunities in the German real estate market(22:13) - The future of AI-driven health insurance

Learn the single best way to screen and validate 100s of ideas & launch multiple new revenue streams in just 1 year— without breaking the bank. This episode unveils how corporates can use "Innoventuring" to redefine the way they build new ventures. Plus, we discuss 2 travel ideas you should start now. Welcome to the Digital Transformers Podcast with Kilian Karrasch. On this podcast, you'll hear about the latest next-generation business opportunities, how to build products and business models around them, and how to create more revenue for your business. Plus, you'll learn about the many lessons Kilian and his guests have learned on their path to building and running multi-million euro businesses.About the host: Kilian Karrasch is the founding partner at Boldheart, the leading next-generation product & venture builder. Together with his team, he helps ambitious corporates such as Valora, GEMA, and the International Chamber of Commerce identify, build, and scale successful next-generation digital products and business models.Follow Kilian's socials: LinkedInAbout the guest: Francesco Ferreri is the Director of Innovation at FUNKE ONE, one of Germany's leading media groups, and the former co-founder of two successful startups. Under Francesco's leadership, Funke One has incubated multiple new business models prone to contribute significantly to group profits in the coming years.Follow Francesco's socials: LinkedInTimeline:(01:59) - The Secret Sauce to Successful Corporate Venture Building(08:24) - How to Set Up a Successful Corporate Venture Structure(10:37) - Creating Deal Flow - and Choosing the Right Approach(16:28) - How to be Scrappy - a Travel Industry Case Study(23:00) - Optimizing Costs in the Innovation Process(27:24) - Opening the Black-Box: Utilizing Consumer Data for 10x Innovation Results(32:07) - The Importance of Accepting Innovation Failures(37:54) - Danger! Disconnect Between Innovators and Business Units(43:08) - Francesco's Pitch for a Conversational AI in Business Travel Planning.(49:56) - Kilian's pitch for Next-Gen Personalization in TravelTravel Idea to Steal: Journey AI - Optimizing Business Travel with AI

Are you maximizing your corporate venture's potential? Uncover the critical success factors that set corporate ventures apart from traditional startups, learn how to effectively incorporate existing startups to kickstart your venture's success, and discover how to overcome cultural challenges in the process.Welcome to the Digital Transformers Podcast with Kilian Karrasch. On this podcast, you'll hear about the latest next-generation business opportunities, how to build products and business models around them, and how to create more revenue for your business. Plus, you'll learn about the many lessons Kilian and his guests have learned on their path to building and running multi-million euro businesses.About the host: Kilian Karrasch is the founding partner at Boldheart, the leading next-generation product & venture builder. Together with his team, he helps ambitious corporates such as Valora, GEMA, and the International Chamber of Commerce identify, build, and scale successful next-generation digital products and business models.Follow Kilian's socials: LinkedInAbout the guest:Uwe Frers is a serial entrepreneur and CEO of ADAC's camping platform PiNCAMP. After successfully building and scaling three travel companies to exit, Uwe started building PiNCAMP as a corporate startup of ADAC SEs into the number one camping vacation marketplace in Europe. Follow Uwe's socials: LinkedInTimeline:(01:42) - The unique resources, networks, and branding challenges faced by corporate ventures(06:26) - Crucial branding considerations for corporate ventures(07:27) - Key success factors for corporate ventures(10:34) - The importance of agility, customer focus, and scalability in corporate ventures - and how to make the shift(14:02) - Operating approaches for startups in corporate environments(17:16) - How to master strategic prioritization & resource allocation within corporate ventures(20:41) - The role of leadership in bridging corporate and startup cultures.(23:58) - Boosting corporate ventures through integration - and how to overcome its challenges(28:14) - Building high-performance cultures across merged entities

Stuck in the innovation slow lane? Discover how corporate acquisition of startups can turbocharge your growth. Get first-hand advice on navigating the acquisition process, fostering a culture of innovation, and ensuring startups flourish post-acquisition.Welcome to the Digital Transformers Podcast with Kilian Karrasch. On this podcast, you'll hear about the latest next-generation business opportunities, how to build products and business models around them, and how to create more revenue for your business. Plus, you'll learn about the many lessons Kilian and his guests have learned on their path to building and running multi-million euro businesses.About the host: Kilian Karrasch is the founding partner at Boldheart, the leading next-generation product & venture builder. Together with his team, he helps ambitious corporates such as Valora, GEMA, and the International Chamber of Commerce identify, build, and scale successful next-generation digital products and business models.Follow Kilian's socials: LinkedInAbout the guest:Hannes Blum went from building and scaling the European version of Amazon - JustBooks -, against the backdrop of the DotCom bubble to eventually selling it to Amazon for an estimated 100M+ Euro. These days, he's a partner at Acton Capital where he invests in SaaS and consumer internet startups.Follow Hannes' socials: LinkedInTimeline:02:31 - The founding story of JustBooks06:32 - Strategies for PR, online marketing, and engaging the first users08:28 - Lessons on customer-centric product development and continuous iteration15:08 - The strategy behind JustBooks' successful exits20:26 - Why it's important to build sustainable business practices for potential acquisitions24:11 - How to establish value-driven partnerships with potential acquirers29:04 - How to leverage the acquirer's expertise for mutual growth - while maintaining business autonomy33:18 - Navigating cultural integration post-integration38:13 - Core leadership principles for successful growth

Curious about launching a successful HR tech B2B venture? Explore disruptive fields in the HR industry, gain insights on navigating regulatory challenges and implementing tech solutions that attract both businesses and top talent through best practices in sales, culture, and customer service. Plus, we discuss a business idea to steal - in the semiconductor industry.Welcome to the Digital Transformers Podcast with Kilian Karrasch. On this podcast, you'll hear about the latest next-generation business opportunities, how to build products and business models around them, and how to create more revenue for your business. Plus, you'll learn about the many lessons Kilian and his guests have learned on their path to building and running multi-million euro businesses.About the host: Kilian Karrasch is the founding partner at Boldheart, the leading next-generation product & venture builder. Together with his team, he helps ambitious corporates such as Valora, GEMA, and the International Chamber of Commerce identify, build, and scale successful next-generation digital products and business models.Follow Kilian's socials: LinkedInAbout the guest:Frederik Fahning is the Managing Director and Co-Founder of Zenjob and a member of the Board of Directors at Bitkom. Frederik went from founding Zenjob straight out of university to scaling the company into a young-talent staffing platform that has disrupted the industry and has received more than 100M€ in funding to almost reach unicorn status. Follow Frederik's socials: LinkedInTimeline:(01:44) - How to Assemble a Winning Team: Lessons on recruiting smarter and more experienced people.(03:30) - Crafting a Dual-Focused Business Model: Balancing B2C and B2B needs effectively.(04:33) - How to approach and convince first customers about a new HR platform.(06:50) - Cultivating Company Culture: Strategies for embedding strong cultural values.(10:48) - Strategies for Scaling Your Business: Expanding from a small user base to larger markets.(13:01) - Quick Deployment HR Solutions: Offering rapid-response services to gain a competitive edge.(15:33) - Building Strong B2B Networks: Leveraging referrals and networking for sales growth.(19:20) - Navigating Regulatory Landscapes: Addressing challenges in the gig economy to identify new opportunities(26:20) - How to Choose Customer Service Tools That Enhance User Experience(35:16) - Business Idea to Steal: Amazon for SemiconductorsBusiness Idea to Steal: Amazon for Semiconductors 

Struggling to bridge the gap between corporate innovation and startup agility? Discover the secrets of successful corporate venture building from Christian Lüdtke, a pioneer who transformed the landscape of corporate Germany with the Lean Startup Principle. Learn firsthand about the challenges and triumphs of creating ventures within a corporate structure, the importance of selecting the right team, and how to effectively engage with venture builders.Welcome to the Digital Transformers Podcast with Kilian Karrasch. On this podcast, you'll hear about the latest next-generation business opportunities, how to build products and business models around them, and how to create more revenue for your business. Plus, you'll learn about the many lessons Kilian and his guests have learned on their path to building and running multi-million euro businesses.About the host: Kilian Karrasch is the founding partner at Boldheart, the leading next-generation product & venture builder. Together with his team, he helps ambitious corporates such as Valora, GEMA, and the International Chamber of Commerce identify, build, and scale successful next-generation digital products and business models.Follow Kilian's socials: LinkedInAbout the guest:Christian Lüdtke is co-founder & CEO of the innovation hub BRYCK which empowers startups to build a livable future. Before he co-founded etventure, one of the largest corporate venture builders in Germany that was eventually acquired by EY. He went from building up corporate innovation departments and ventures at Bertelsmann and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt - the largest education publisher at the time - to importing the lean startup principle to Germany and helping hundreds of organizations build innovation units and ventures. These days, he helps entrepreneurs develop the skills they need to successfully build their ventures.Follow Christian's socials: LinkedInTimeline:(10:35) - From corporate to startup mentality: how to make the mindset shift happen(16:32) - The importance of CEO support and the right mindset in corporate venture success(20:23) - When is the right time to pursue corporate venture building?(23:47) - How to overcome C-level objections on new business investments(29:39) - Internal development vs. partnering up(32:09) - The critical role of internal IT departments - and how to engage them in your innovation projects(33:09) - How to build the right founding team(36:26) - Sales strategy and customer engagement: Picking up the phone and the importance of direct communication(39:04) - The significance of investor readiness and how to prepare for fundraising rounds

Facing hurdles in transforming your innovative ideas into successful corporate ventures? Here's the blueprint for crafting ventures responsible for over $5 billion in equity value. Learn the secrets to fine-tuning incentive structures, selecting lucrative new business opportunities, and assembling the dream team for your venture.Welcome to the Digital Transformers Podcast with Kilian Karrasch. On this podcast, you'll hear about the latest next-generation business opportunities, how to build products and business models around them, and how to create more revenue for your business. Plus, you'll learn about the many lessons Kilian and his guests have learned on their path to building and running multi-million euro businesses.About the host: Kilian Karrasch is the founding partner at Boldheart, the leading next-generation product & venture builder. Together with his team, he helps ambitious corporates such as Valora, GEMA, and the International Chamber of Commerce identify, build, and scale successful next-generation digital products and business models.Follow Kilian's socials: LinkedInAbout the guest:Jordan Schlipf is the founder and CEO of Rainmaking and Rainmaking Venture Studio. Jordan went from founding several small startups, over launching Startupbootcamp - the world's largest industry-focused startup accelerator network, to building Rainmaking into one of the leading corporate venture builders in the world that has built companies with a total equity valuation of $5B+ to date.Follow Jordan's socials: LinkedInTimeline:(03:52) - Shift your focus: empowering talented founders for venture success.(07:48) - Why corporates struggle with generating new business ideas - and how to change that (14:07) - The ideal adjacency for new business models(18:01) - The pivotal role of incentives in driving entrepreneurial behavior within ventures(22:48) - The ideal structure of a venture board(29:17) - Why few corporate ventures build successful new businesses.(36:13) - How to balance the investment portfolio and select the right business ventures (39:46) - Entrepreneurial ambitions? A reality check for corporate employees

Struggling to reinvent your company for the digital age? Learn why traditional approaches to innovation often lead to dead ends and how to pivot towards methods that guarantee success. In this episode, we discuss essential strategies and governance structures that have propelled over 100 ventures to success.Welcome to the Digital Transformers Podcast with Kilian Karrasch. On this podcast, you'll hear about the latest next-generation business opportunities, how to build products and business models around them, and how to create more revenue for your business. Plus, you'll learn about the many lessons Kilian and his guests have learned on their path to building and running multi-million euro businesses.About the host: Kilian Karrasch is the founding partner at Boldheart, the leading next-generation product & venture builder. Together with his team, he helps ambitious corporates such as Valora, GEMA, and the International Chamber of Commerce identify, build, and scale successful next-generation digital products and business models.Follow Kilian's socials: LinkedInAbout the guest:Jan Sedlacek is the founder of one of the globally leading corporate venture builders - Stryber -, which has created over 100 ventures and worked for major companies such as Nestlé, ADQ, Migros, Generali, Vorwerk, and many more.Follow Jan's socials: LinkedInTimeline:(01:13) - The failure of traditional innovation methods(04:32) - Choosing the right innovation tools and strategies for business model enhancement.(06:35) - How to develop innovation capabilities and mindset within organizations.(09:08) - The impact of corporate gravity on venture success.(11:02) - Deciding between corporate venture building and M&A based on strategic needs.(14:15) - How to establish a corporate venture building strategy with effective governance.(22:11) - Designing governance structures to support venture success.(33:22) - Managing ventures in adjacent areas for operational independence and strategic relevance.(42:17) - Planning for long-term asset leverage in scale-up venture scenarios.(43:43) - Risk mitigation by scaling ventures incognito before leveraging corporate assets.(47:05) - Understanding future governance options for ventures, including integration or management as new business lines.Teaser: How to Establish Effective Governance Structures for Venture Success

About the Episode:Is your organization's digital transformation journey hitting roadblocks? This episode is your guide through the maze. From establishing direction to the nuances of ongoing engagement and value creation to protecting the vision and the team, this conversation sheds light on what it takes to sustain transformation efforts.Check out the full Transformation Guide: Reflections on Organizational TransformationAbout the Host: Kilian Karrasch is a founding partner at Boldheart, the leading next-generation product & venture builder. Together with his team, he helps ambitious corporates identify, build, and scale successful next-generation digital products and business models. Follow Kilian's socials: LinkedInAbout the Guests: Michael Rammelsberger and Franziska Jörg are seasoned experts in organizational transformation, each bringing a rich tapestry of experience from the world of retail, consumer goods, and e-commerce. As executives and change leaders, they have spearheaded strategic initiatives and operations overhauls in some of the leading SMEs and stock-listed companies in Europe. Follow Michael's socials: LinkedIn; Follow Franziska's socials: LinkedInTimeline: (0:58) - Introduction.(4:36) - Unveiling key principles for successful change.(9:18) - Effective communication strategies across diverse teams.(15:00) - The necessity of engaging stakeholders at all organizational levels(17:26) - How to manage complexity in large-scale transformations.(20:11) - The significance of adding value and achieving early wins.(30:56) - Persistence and adaptability as keys to sustaining efforts.(37:43) - How to foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.(45:27) - How to protect transformations and personnel from negative factors.(54:14) - Conclusion

About the Episode:Embarking on a digital transformation but worried about the pitfalls? This episode is your guiding light. Richard and Joachim, with over 50 years of combined experience, share invaluable insights on setting a clear direction, the importance of sponsorship and choosing the right partners, and learning how to engage and motivate your team for a seamless transition.Check out the full Transformation Guide: Reflections on Organizational TransformationAbout the Host:Kilian Karrasch is a founding partner at Boldheart, the leading next-generation product & venture builder. Together with his team, he helps ambitious corporates identify, build, and scale successful next-generation digital products and business models. Follow Kilian's socials: LinkedInAbout the Guests: Richard and Joachim are esteemed figures in the realm of digital transformation, boasting over 50 years of collective experience. As former executives and current advisors to C-level teams, they've spearheaded major transformation projects across prominent companies and governmental organizations in Europe.Follow Richard's socials: LinkedIn;Follow Joachim's socials: LinkedIn"Timeline: (00:50) - Introduction(05:00) - Discussion on the inception of the "Reflections on Organizational Transformation" document.(07:20) - The Importance of collaboration in digital transformation.(09:40) - Organizational transformation vs. mere change.(12:30) - Real-world examples of transformation: Nokia and Hugo Boss.(14:55) - The necessity of transforming organizations and how to recognize existential threats to the business.(17:10) - Discussion on the high failure rate of digital transformations and how to navigate it.(19:45) - The role of clear direction and clarity in successful transformation.(22:30) - The challenge of securing leadership sponsorship and alignment.(25:00) - Selecting the right partners for transformation efforts.(27:50) - Addressing internal dynamics and engaging the team for transformation.(30:15) - Strategies for dealing with different mindsets within the organization towards transformation.(33:00) - Importance of establishing credibility and showing early successes.(35:45) - The continuous process of transformation beyond the initial stages.(38:20) - Closing remarks and anticipation for the next episode on maintaining momentum in transformation.

Startup Founders!If you are looking to gain access to markets and capital, a corporate partner can be a game changer. But how do you select the right opportunities and partners and avoid getting stuck in endless processes and "slow-boat mentality"?In this third episode of the Boldheart x PwC Exclusive "Innovation Unbound - The Definite Guide to Corporate and Startup Collaborations", we dive into the key indicators to look out for and discuss the dos and don'ts from a startup perspective that will help you navigate the field.If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, like, or share this podcast to spread the word.

Corporate Leaders! Do you want to connect to startups? Identify new market opportunities? Learn about best practices to drive speed? Or simply foster a connected culture of innovation?In this second episode of the Boldheart x PwC Exclusive "Innovation Unbound - The Definite Guide to Corporate and Startup Collaborations", we dive into the prerequisites you need to fulfill from a corporate side to accomplish those goals.Step by step, we talk about the different innovation options (both internally and externally) and take a critical look at what it takes to go from "zero to hero".If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, like, or share this podcast to spread the word.

Have you ever thought of collaborating with a corporate or startup to accelerate your innovation success?In this Boldheart x PwC Exclusive "Innovation Unbound - The Definite Guide to Corporate and Startup Collaborations", we dive into dos and don'ts and reveal best practices when it comes to kickstarting and accelerating collaborative innovation at any stage.Whether you are a corporate innovator or a startup founder, learn the ideal timing and prerequisite to drive innovation success through:Hackathons,Innovation challenges,Accelerator and incubator programs,Venture clienting,Digital units,Venture building and more...If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, like, or share this podcast to spread the word.

My name is Kilian Karrasch and in this episode, I talk to Filip Dames, Founding Partner at Cherry Ventures and former Chief Business Development Officer at Zalando and founder of Zalando-Lounge.Filip went from founding a first small startup to joining Zalando as part of the founding team to helping build it into one the largest fashion retailers in Europe. Now, Filip is Germany's "Investor of the Year 2022" and has joined the ranks of the FORBES Midas List Europe as one of the most influential investors on the continent.In our podcast episode, we talk about:how to hire the right talent to fuel your innovation ambitionshow to successfully identify, validate and scale innovations internallyand some of the hottest trends in the marketIf you enjoyed this episode, please take a minute to subscribe, like, or share this podcast to spread the word, so I can continue bringing you outstanding guests and conversations.

My name is Kilian Karrasch and in this episode, I talk to Michael Müller-Wünsch, CIO of OTTO and responsible for the digital platform business within the Otto Group.During his tenure, Michael successfully transformed Otto from catalog to platform business, and with that led one of the few truly successful digital business model expansions in Europe. Today, the platform business already makes up 30% of OTTO's business revenue, and Michael, for his successes has been named CIO of the Year.In today's episode, we talk about:The secret behind Otto's corporate innovation structure How to master technology-driven innovation and successfully identify the next digital business field of your organization?How to build a product-driven organization that outcompetes the market - even in a large corporate?Michael's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/muewueIf you enjoyed this episode, please take a minute to subscribe, like, or share this podcast to spread the word, so I can continue bringing you outstanding guests and conversations.

My name is Kilian Karrasch and in this episode, I talk to Rainer Karcher, Global Head of IT Sustainability at Allianz Technology, about: the importance of IT sustainability - and how to properly sell it best practices to make your IT more sustainableand 3 tips on how to get startedIf you enjoyed this episode, please take a minute to subscribe, like, or share this podcast to spread the word, so I can continue bringing you outstanding guests and conversations.

My name is Kilian Karrasch and in this episode, I talk to Johannes Reichert, Head of Global IT and Chief Information Officer at Hilti Group.During his career, Johannes drove the global IT agile transformation and large-scale IT projects, introducing not only an innovative CRM system and top-notch ERP functionalities but also developing a microservice-based infrastructure to enable Digital Products in one of the least digitized industries in the world.In our podcast episode, we talk about:his core learnings on launching microservices at startup speed in the corporate IT department?best practices on how to transition a multinational company step-by-step into an agile way of working?how to evaluate the degree of agility needed in large-scale IT projects?and much more…If you enjoyed this episode, please take a minute to subscribe, like, or share this podcast to spread the word, so I can continue bringing you outstanding guests and conversations.

My name is Kilian Karrasch and in this episode, I talk to Daniel Hanemann, CEO and Co-Founder of Wundertax.Daniel went from building up Foodpanda in Hong Kong to founding Wundertax, one of the leading tax software in Germany.But his story has a twist that taught him many lessons…In our podcast, we talk about: what his experience as a re-founder taught him about succeeding as an entrepreneurwhat most entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs get wrong when starting outgrowth strategies on how to grow your business 60% y.o.y. - without increasing your costsDaniel on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hanemannWundertax: wundertax.deIf you enjoyed this episode, please take a minute to subscribe, like or share this podcast to spread the word, so I can continue bringing you outstanding guests and conversations.

Today I welcome Marketing Executive and Keynote Speaker Maria von Scheel-Plessen to the show.Maria started her career as an e-commerce manager at Hugo Boss and - after leadership roles at Amazon and the rocked-backed Asian Zalando Zalora, went on to digitally transform the luxury maison Montblanc to move it into the omnichannel age. She has been nominated Luxury Women to Watch 2021, Business Punk Watchlist 2022 & Business Insider Future Shaper 2022.In today's episode, we talk about: how to transform a luxury maison into a leading digital player3 tactics to successfully market to GenZand her personal advice on building a successful career in the luxury industryConnect with Maria on her socials

Serial entrepreneur and angle investor Robert Ermich went from being a consultant to building one of the fastest-growing online portals for mobile phones and contracts, which he later exited to Mobilezone.

In this episode, I talk to Victor Henning, serial entrepreneur, investor, and former advisor to the UK and Dutch governments on technology policy.  Victor went from opening and raising 75000€ for the first student cafe in the town where he did his Bachelor, to building Mendeley, one of the world's leading platforms for scientific research. After his successful exit, he then went on to build the world's best smartphone camera system with Fjorden.Victor has been nominated “Best European Startup Founder” by Techcrunch and holds investments in more than 15 startups.  In today's episode, we talk about the following:how to identify strong customer pain points and build a business around ithow to organically acquire tons of customers - in B2B and B2Cand other core learnings of building leading tech companiesVictor Henning on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/victorhenningVictor's smartphone camera system Fjorden: fjorden.co

In this episode, I talk to Bonita Grupp, Head of E-Commerce & HR at TRIGEMA and possible successor to the current CEO Wolfgang Grupp. As a member of the family business dynasty, Bonita has played a key role in the digital transformation of the traditional clothing retailer - and has been recognized as Top 40 under 40 for her achievements. In our episode, we talked about the following: what it takes for traditional family businesses and organizations to succeed in digital transformations?how to win over GenZ employees - also for classical functions such as productionwhy strong values will be the core differentiator for companies in future?Bonita Grupp on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bonita-grupp-396a4923Jobs @TRIGEMA: https://www.trigema.de/karriere/jobs/

In this episode, I talk to Carsten Priebs, CIO of Randstad.Carsten is a multi-award-winning digitalization, IT, and innovation top-level executive who has led hundred-million dollar transformation and innovation projects at some of the leading companies in their industry, including DB Netz AG and Randstad. In this episode, we talk about the following:how he as CIO took one of Randstad's award-winning apps from “zero” to market in 6 weekshis top learnings as an innovation executiveand his suggestions for everyone who wants to build highly successful digital products and services fastCarsten's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/carstenpriebsCarsten's Blog: https://www.tech-leadership.de/

Christian Ammer climbed the IT ranks at Siemens Financial Services and Real Estate and later led major international IT carve-out projects at Siemens before shifting into the Financial SME and Legal Sector.He has been awarded twice Top10 CIO of the year and won the Digital Transformation Award in 2021 for his outstanding work.In today's episode, we talk about the following:what it takes to transform companies in traditional industries such as legal services into digital leadershow organizations can leverage digitalization to enhance their service business and why IT M&As only make sense in particular circumstances - and what it takes to make them a successChristian on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cha23xChristian's book - Praxis Guide für Digital Leader: https://www.hanser-kundencenter.de/fachbuch/artikel/9783446475625

Today I talk to Marcus Stahl, the founder of Tonies SEAt the age of 45, Marcus and his co-founder created a digital story playback device for small children and within only 6 years of starting operations, scaled the company to IPO.Today, Tonies has won numerous design awards and has sold its category-defining products to users in more than 100 countries. But their story wasn't easy. Frustrated by the lack of child-friendly solutions to consume audio dramas, Marcus and his co-founder dedicated 3 years to creating a solution before hitting the market. In the process, they learned what it takes to conquer the next generation of customers.  In today's episode, we cover:why iterative product development is wrong when launching radically innovative products and why you should focus on product perfection insteadthe importance of customer knowledge and passion across the team when building a category-defining productand other important factors when building and scaling a hardware-based company to IPO.Marcus on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marcus-stahl-b77a5022bTonies (Company): tonies.de

In this episode, I talk to Manuel Müller, Founder & CEO of Emma the Sleep Company, Entrepreneur of the Year 2021, WHU, Kellogg, HKUST, and Harvard alumni, and angel investor.Manuel went from founding his first business at the age of 19 during his traineeship to building Emma The Sleep Company into the leading D2C Sleep Company in the world that is on the path of reaching $1B in sales - despite only having raised only 7M in total funding and despite facing competition from half a billion funding behemoths such as Casper. We'll talk about his 3 core learnings when it comes to building market-leading D2C companies, notably about:how a lack of investor funding helped him to build the leading company in the spacetips on how to stay close to the customers while scalingthe smartest way to identify opportunities worthwhile pursuingPlus we cover many more insights on founding teams, inspiring the right culture, etc.Manuel Müller: linkedin.com/in/manuel-mueller-6300022bManuel's company: emma-sleep.com

In this episode, I talk to serial entrepreneur and super angel investor Stephan Schubert.Stephan went from bootstrapping his company Onvista to taking it public in 1.5 years and has since exited 3 more companies. As an investor, he has since invested in more than 60 companies including unicorns such as Spotify, Airbnb, Zooplus, and Audibene, and has supported first-hand the rise of many category-leading companies. In our episode, we discuss: how you can maximize your chances of building a successful company - and of achieving true financial freedomthe best indicator for sustainable product-market fithow to nail sales and minimize costs as a startup from day 1Stephan Schubert: linkedin.com/in/stephanschubert1Investment Anfragen an hi@sts-ventures.de

In this episode, I talk to Ante Spittler, Co-Founder and CEO of Moss.Ante went from quitting his well-paying job in consulting and founding his first successful business to facing bankruptcy.But instead of giving up, he went all in again and today has built up one of the leading financial management companies for SMEs that has been backed by some of the most renowned global investors and is currently valued at 500M€. We talk about:how to find your passion project and successfully take the leap from a corporate employee to a founderhow to rebound successfully after hitting rock bottom with your business or innovation projectand how to build incredibly successful, disruptive businesses from scratch in the absence of any blueprintPlus, we talk about his #1 learnings as a founder and the finance industry's future.Ante Spittler: linkedin.com/in/ante-spittler-241654116

Today I talk to Alexander Mrozek, CEO at Oetker Digital, columnist at WirtschaftsWoche, and host of the Digitale Optimisten Podcast, one of the most streamed podcasts globally.As the leader of Dr. Oetker's digitalization and venture-building unit, founder of an award-winning startup, and owner of the best database for business ideas in Germany, Alex is an absolute expert on identifying new exciting business models.In today's episode, we thus talk about: some of the hottest product ideas to start nowthree ways to spot successful business ideasand why side hustles are a great way to get started as an entrepreneurAlexander Mrozek: linkedin.com/in/dr-ajmDigitale Optimisten Webseite: https://www.digitaleoptimisten.de/Digitale Optimisten Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1FXCSCa3gecpbZi4Ud9bc7?si=2d7715c6d6644834

In this episode, I talk to Jochen Engert, Co-Founder and Supervisory Board Director of FlixJochen quit his promotion and stepped away from a secure career in consulting to found and scale Flix into a unicorn company and one of the largest long-distance mobility networks in the world. In our recording, we amongst other things, talk about:courage, the importance of timing, and testing value propositions - without huge capital expenditureshow to successfully manage M&A transactions with other innovative companiesleadership in times of uncertaintyJochen Engert on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jochen-engert-61a4a31

In this episode, I talk to Bernd Preuschoff, former IBM Partner, CDO and CEO at companies such as Schwan-Stabilo and Uvex and winner of the CIO of the Decade Award 2021 & 2022.During his 20 year career in the digital field, Bernd built up the interactive experience practice at IBM, led major digital transformations and corporate venture-building projects at Schwan-Stabilo and Uvex, and was awarded multiple times digital leader, transformer, and CIO of the year. Bernd is also a sought-out keynote speaker and the author of the German book “Als Gäbe es keine Schwerkraft: Business Leadership durch die Augen eines Tänzers''. In this episode, we talk about :what the recent firing of prominent innovation leaders like Tina Müller, the Ex-CEO of Douglas, reveals about the state of digital transformationwhich 3 core principles any leader who wants to successfully transform and innovate has to masterand what it takes to successfully cooperate with the young generation in digital innovationBernd Preuschoff as Speaker – Premium Speakers (premium-speakers.com)Book: “Als gäbe es keine Schwerkraft: BUSINESS-LEADERSHIP durch die Augen eines Tänzers” - Preuschoff, Bernd (Amazon.de)Audio-Books:iTunes: https://apple.co/3R4ABDCSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3TtIDaOThalia: https://bit.ly/3R5tkUbBernd Preuschoff on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bernd-preuschoff

Today I talk to Marco Vietor, co-founder of the hearing aid unicorn Audibene (aka Hear.com). Since launching Audibene in 2011, Marco has grown the company to become the world's largest online hearing aid seller, with over 1000 employees serving millions of customers around the globe and grossing over $100m in revenue each year.We talk about: the most important characteristic that every innovator has to have to be successfulhow to systematically develop the confidence to take risks in teams (as well as why it's so important to do so)and other crucial factors to winning the innovation marathon.Marco Vietor on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marco-vietor-3a9aa

In the second episode, I talk to Franck Denglos, former CEO of Adidas Italy.Franck Denglos went from being a business unit manager at Adidas, over assuming global leadership roles in marketing and sales and leading one of the largest transformation programs at Adidas to becoming the CEO of Adidas Italy.Along the way, he repeatedly had to reinvent himself and made crucial learnings when it comes to leading and transforming some of the largest organizations on the planet. We'll talk about:The 4 crucial steps leaders have to nail in the first 30 days when kickstarting a company-wide transformation (learning, developing relationships & building a team (casting visions, identifying supporters, communication), establishing credibility (role modeling, creating early wins)why creating supportive alliances is one of the most important tasks of any innovation leader - and how you can successfully do so?why timing is so crucial for innovation success - not only for startup but also in corporates and the #1 tip Franck would give anyone who wants to become truly successfulFranck Denglos on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/fdenglos

In this first episode of the Digital Transformers Podcast season 2 Kilian introduces himself, talks about his background, what he struggles with, and what ultimately led him to the creation of a business and this podcast.

Welcome to the Digital Transformers Podcast Season 2

Das Staffelfinale des Digital Transformers Podcast S1Benedict Kleindienst teilt hier nochmal seine Top 5 Learnings von den Gästen aus der ersten Staffel, zu:Design (Felix Haas)Product ( Patrick Haede & Kilian Karrasch)Innovation (Prof. Nadine Kammerlander)Digitalstrategie (Dr.Volker)Vielen Dank an alle Gäste und Hörer der ersten Staffel!Die zweite Staffel kommt voraussichtlich Ende Oktober!Wenn ihr Unterstützung bei eurer Digitalen Transformation oder Innovation braucht, Kilian Karrasch hilft euch gerne in einem kostenlosen Gespräch: https://bit.ly/3loGf5j

In der Folge spricht Benedict Kleindienst mit Volker Glaeser, CEO HOSPITALITY.digital GmbH der Metro AG, darüber:Warum Digitalisierung & Innovation in der Gastronomiebranche notwendig ist ❓Warum die Metro AG die HOSPITALITY.digital GmbH gegründet hat ❓Wie die Metro AG von der HOSPITALITY.digital GmbH profitiert

In our first englisch episode of the podcast, Charles speaks to Markku Wilenius, Professor for future studies, Author and UNESCO Chairholder, about the future:What technologies could look like in 50 years?

In der 20.Folge unseres Digital Transformers Podcast erklärt Ben, in unserer Digital Product-Marketing Reihe, die Unterschiede zwischen B2B-

In der 19.Folge spricht Benedict Kleindienst mit Charles Augsdörfer, Marketing and Podcast-Producer bei hatch, über digitales Marketing und welche Strategie für dein Business Sinn.Dabei zeigen sie dir Vor- und Nachteile auf und vergleichen:Bezahltes vs. organisches MarketingBrand Awareness vs. direct response MarketingSearch vs. Discovery MarketingProduct vs. Service MarketingHöre jetzt rein und folge unserem Kanal, um wöchentlich mehr darüber zu erfahren, wie auch du erfolgreich digital transformieren kannst.Ben Kleindienst: linkedin.com/in/benedictkleindienst-innovationsuccsessCharles Augsdörfer: linkedin.com/in/charles-augsdörferWenn du mehr darüber erfahren möchtest, wie wir dich unterstützen können, dann schaue auch auf unserer Website vorbei: https://bit.ly/3loGf5j

In der 18.Folge spricht Benedict Kleindienst mit Werner Katzengruber, Psychologe, Expert for Change Management and and Leadership, Management Consultant Executive Coach, Profiler, Author, Speaker darüber:Was sind die Charakteristiken der erfolgreichen Innovations-TeamsWie stellt man ein erfolgreiches Team aufWelche Problemquellen sind zu vermeiden Höre jetzt rein und folge unserem Kanal, um wöchentlich mehr darüber zu erfahren, wie auch du erfolgreich digital transformieren kannst.Mehr zu Werner Katzengruber: linkedin.com/in/werner-katzengruber-84a76321Webseite von Werner Katzengruber: katzengruber.com/Mehr Infos zu hatch - digital product & Venture Building company findest du hier: bit.ly/3NKJaB6

In der 17.Folge spricht Benedict Kleindienst mit Lara Sophie Bothur, Voice of Innovation bei Deloitte, LinkedIn Trainer, Speaker und Moderator darüber:Wie sie erfolgreich auf LinkedIn geworden istWelchen konkreten Wert ihre LinkedIn Reichweite für Deloitte hatWie Innovation intern bei Deloitte stattfindet Höre jetzt rein und folge unserem Kanal, um wöchentlich mehr darüber zu erfahren, wie auch du erfolgreich digital transformieren kannst.Für mehr Tipps zu LinkedIn könnt ihr Lara's LinkedIn abchecken: linkedin.com/in/lara-bothurMehr Infos zu hatch - digital product & Venture Building company findest du hier: bit.ly/3NKJaB6

In der 16.Folge spricht Benedict Kleindienst mit Kilian Karrasch, General Partner bei hatch, WHU Guest-Lecturer und ehemaliger Advisor u.a. für Mapify darüber:- Welche Kernfragen man sich als Gründer und Unternehmen stellen sollte, bevor man ein Platformmodell gründet?- Wie man das klassische Chicken-and-Egg Problem einer jeden Plattform am besten überwindet?- Was zu beachten gilt, um exponentielles Wachstum von Plattform-Modellen zu erreichen?Höre jetzt rein und folge unserem Kanal, um wöchentlich mehr darüber zu erfahren, wie auch du erfolgreich digital transformieren kannst.Mehr zu Kilian Karrasch findest du hier: linkedin.com/in/kiliankarrasch-innovationsuccessDu hast Fragen oder brauchst Hilfe bei der Umsetzung deiner Plattform? Hier kannst du ein kostenloses Erstgespräch mit Kilian buchen: bit.ly/3loGf5jMehr Infos zu hatch - digital product & Venture Building company findest du hier: bit.ly/3NKJaB6

In der 15.Folge spricht Benedict Kleindienst mit Leon Merkel, Co-Founder von bumpee - das neue Networking Tool über:Die Gründerstory von bumpee aus Leon's perspectiveDie Technik hinter der neuen VisitenkarteWelche Möglichkeiten NFC-Chips für Unternehmen bietenHöre jetzt rein und folge unserem Kanal, um wöchentlich mehr darüber zu erfahren, wie auch du erfolgreich digital transformieren kannst.Mehr zu Leon Merkel findest du hier: Leon Merkel15% Rabatt bei bumpee mit Code: DigitalTransformers:https://www.bumpee.de/discount/DigitalTransformersWenn du mehr darüber erfahren möchtest, wie wir dich unterstützen können, dann schaue auch auf unserer Website vorbei: https://bit.ly/3loGf5j

In der 14.Folge spricht Benedict Kleindienst mit Christian Mohr, Geschäftsführer von UnternehmerTUM und Initiator von FamilienUnternehmerTUM über:Die Tätigkeiten der UnternehmerTUMNachfolgeprobleme in Mittelständischen FamilienunternehmenDie Bayerische Start up SzeneHöre jetzt rein und folge unserem Kanal, um wöchentlich mehr darüber zu erfahren, wie auch du erfolgreich digital transformieren kannst.Mehr zu Christian Mohr findest du hier: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-mohr-921b56b7/Wenn du mehr darüber erfahren möchtest, wie wir dich unterstützen können, dann schaue auch auf unserer Website vorbei: https://bit.ly/3loGf5j

In der 13.Folge spricht Benedict Kleindienst mit Charles Augsdörfer, Marketing and Podcast-Producer bei hatch und Gründer des Creator-Vereins darüber:Welche Faktoren beachtet werden müssen bevor man mit der Vermarktung eines digitalen Produkts beginntWarum ein iteratives Vorgehen beim Marketing wichtig istWas man unter paid- und organischen Marketing verstehtHöre jetzt rein und folge unserem Kanal, um wöchentlich mehr darüber zu erfahren, wie auch du erfolgreich digital transformieren kannst.Mehr zu Charles Augsdörfer findest du hier: linkedin.com/in/charles-augsdörferWenn du mehr darüber erfahren möchtest, wie wir dich unterstützen können, dann schaue auch auf unserer Website vorbei: https://bit.ly/3loGf5j

In der 12.Folge spricht Benedict Kleindienst mit Christian Bredlow, Keynote-Speaker, Investor und Geschäftsführer der Digital Mindset GmbH darüber:Warum Digitalisierung nicht primär mit Technologie sondern mit der Veränderung der Geisteshaltung zu tun hatWie Organisationen intern das richtige digitale Mindset forcieren könnenHöre jetzt rein und folge unserem Kanal, um wöchentlich mehr darüber zu erfahren, wie auch du erfolgreich digital transformieren kannst.Mehr zu Christian Bredlow findest du hier: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianbredlow/Die Digitale Musiksprechstunde von Christian Bredlow: http://wunschwort.nullfuenfelf.de/Wenn du mehr darüber erfahren möchtest, wie wir dich unterstützen können, dann schaue auch auf unserer Website vorbei: https://bit.ly/3loGf5j