Speakers

Dr. Arndt Freytag von Loringhoven is a retired German diplomat. He was German ambassador to Poland and the Czech Republic. Prior to that, he was posted to Moscow for six years and subsequently served as Vice President of the BND from 2007 to 2010 and as Assistant Secretary General of NATO for Intelligence Cooperation between 2016 and 2019. He is the co-author of the book “Putin’s Angriff auf Deutschland”, published in 2024. 

Jürgen-Joachim von Sandrart is a retired lieutenant general of the German Army who commanded the Multinational Corps North-East in Szczecin (Poland) from November 2021 to November 2024. He joined the Bundeswehr as a conscript in 1982 and made a career from tank officer to general staff post to supreme command in NATO structures. After his departure, he was retired in April 2025 and honored with a Grand Tattoo (Großer Zapfenstreich).

PD Dr. Frank Sauer is Head of Research at the Metis Institute for Strategy and Foresight, where he advises the German Ministry of Defense on issues at the intersection of security, technology, and society. His expertise spans nuclear weapons policy, AI in defense, and international security. He is the recipient of the Bernard Brodie Prize and author of Atomic Anxiety. Sauer co-hosts the podcast Sicherheitshalber and teaches international politics at the Bundeswehr University Munich.

Anthony Eaton serves as Chief Technology Officer at 2D Photonics, a hardtech spin-out from the University of Cambridge, overseeing advanced technology strategy and product development. 2D Photonics develops ultra-fast, energy-efficient photonic chips using two-dimensional materials to revolutionize data communication and processing. With over 25 years of experience in technology leadership, systems engineering, and semiconductors, Anthony specializes in scaling complex hardware platforms into commercial products.

Joakim Espeland is the co-founder and CEO of QuadSAT, a Danish company revolutionising satellite antenna testing and calibration using drone-based systems. Joakim holds degrees in electrical and mechanical engineering and began his career as a telecom technician before moving into satellite communications for the oil and gas sector, where he identified the need for more agile and accurate ground segment testing solutions.

Andreas Reisenauer is the Group Head of Infrastructure, Datacom and Security at Elia Group, a Belgian transmission system operator. His career spans more than 25 years in the telecoms space, including stints at IBM, Ericsson, AT&T, Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom. An engineer-at-heart and passionate about leveraging digital innovation, he is a frequent public speaker on the impact of digitization in energy and infrastructure sectors.

Christoph Ritschel is a Senior Defense Innovation Executive and Product Owner at the Bundeswehr Cyber Innovation Hub, where he manages a pipeline of over 20 innovation projects—ranging from software-defined defense sprints to logistics tracking initiatives—and won the 2023 NATO Innovation Challenge. A former Army Captain with 14 years of military service, he now leads DefenseTech efforts integrating AI and design thinking into real-world military applications.

Orio Bellezza is the former President of Technology, Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain at STMicroelectronics. He has over 35 years of experience in the semiconductor industry and holds several patents related to non-volatile memory technology. He currently serves as Chairman of 2D Photonics, focusing on advanced photonics and graphene applications.

Patrick Rose is Innovation Manager at Germany’s Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation (SPRIND), where he has built a DeepTech-focused investment portfolio since December 2022. Previously, he was the first Science Director for Synthetic Biology at the U.S. Office of Naval Research Global (ONRG), later becoming Chief Scientist overseeing global investments. He also served as the inaugural Program Manager for the U.S. Department of Defense’s Bioindustrial Manufacturing Innovation Institute, leading its launch and early operations. Patrick holds a PhD in microbiology.

Sebastian Lewis, CFA is a seasoned finance professional and Senior Strategist at Vanguard’s Advisory Research Centre in London. Previously, he held leadership roles including Director of European Research at Bernstein. He started his career at Morgan Stanley and holds a BA and M.A. in Modern Languages from Oxford University. Beyond his advisory work, Sebastian is an active thought leader, regularly speaking at industry forums such as the OwenJames Wealth Management and Private Banking event.

Adrián Senar is the CEO and co‑founder of Kreios Space, a Spanish space‑tech startup pioneering air‑breathing electric propulsion systems for sustainable satellite operations in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO). He holds a Master’s degree in Aerospace Vehicle Design and a Bachelor’s in Aerospace Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, where he focused on propulsion systems and orbital mechanics. He also holds a Master’s in management from Cranfield University. Adrián regularly speaks on the future of sustainable space technologies at international events such as ISC 2024.

Gonçalo Fortes is the founder and CEO of Prodsmart, a company focused on digitizing manufacturing processes for SMEs, which he successfully scaled and sold to Autodesk in 2022. He holds a degree in Computer Science from Instituto Superior Técnico. Following Prodsmart’s acquisition by Autodesk, Gonçalo remains active as a mentor and investor in technology startups.

Dr. Jörg Rocholl has served as President of ESMT Berlin since July 2011. He chairs the advisory board of the German Federal Ministry of Finance and leads the steering committee of the Global Network for Advanced Management. Rocholl is a research professor at the Ifo Institute in Munich, the vice chair of the economic advisory board of Deutsche Welle, a council member of the Virchow Foundation for Global Health, a member of the sustainability advisory council of Deutsche Post DHL Group, and a board member of the Public Governance Institute Germany. Rocholl holds a PhD in finance and economics and an MPhil from Columbia Business School. 

David Galbraith is a technology entrepreneur and designer with more than 30 years of experience. He co-founded MRL Ventures, where he led the development of Yelp, and contributed to projects including Moreover Technologies and The Origins Network. An architect by training, David started his career with Norman Foster and now works at the intersection of product design, technology strategy, and venture innovation.

Dr. Bastian Giegerich is a German political scientist specializing in European security and defence policy. He earned his PhD in International Relations from the London School of Economics in 2005 and has held fellowships at LSE, the Aspen Institute, and the Bundeswehr’s social science institute. From 2010–15, he worked for the German Federal Ministry of Defence in research and policy roles, while also serving as an IISS Consulting Senior Fellow for European security before joining the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in London as Director of the Institute’s Defence and Military Analysis research programme before being appointed Director-General and Chief Executive in October 2023.

Ander Allas works at the Estonian Ministry of Defence as an Innovation Advisor and Estonian European Defence Fund Program Manager. 

Ben Olivier is an experienced aerospace engineer and executive with over 30 years in space systems. He began his career at British Aerospace, later holding senior roles at Matra Marconi Space and SEA, where he established the company’s space division. As CEO of Thales Alenia Space UK, he oversaw significant organizational growth and spacecraft production. Ben has since held leadership roles at Arqit Quantum, iCOMAT, and Space Forge, and serves on several UK space industry advisory boards.

Elie Talj is the founder and CEO of Hypercritical, a London-based startup specializing in AI-driven automation of control software development for safety-critical systems. With a background in Mechatronics and Computer Science from the University of Melbourne, Elie has held engineering leadership roles at Jaguar Land Rover, McLaren, and Arrival. At Hypercritical, he leads the development of machine learning models that generate production-grade code, aiming to enhance efficiency and reliability in industries such as automotive, aerospace, and defense.

As Founding Partner at Join Capital, Jan Borgstädt focuses on deep tech and industrial tech investments, backing early-stage founders that are driving the next wave of innovation. He is passionate about connecting startups pioneering new technologies with leading global corporations to shape the enterprise, industry and defence sectors of tomorrow. Formerly VP and Head of European Ventures at Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments, Jan has spent more than 20 years in VC with a focus on early-stage investments. He previously co-founded Cologne Publishing Group and sekretaria.media, later acquired by Haufe Media Group. He holds an MSc in Marketing from EADA and a Dipl. Kaufm. from the University of Münster.

Pierrick Poulenas is the CEO and Co-Founder of Picterra, a geospatial analytics company based in Lausanne. Picterra uses machine learning to transform geospatial imagery into actionable, be it for sustainability and environmental insights or security and surveillance purposes. Prior to founding Picterra, he held business development roles in engineering consulting and holds a dual Master’s degree in Business and Political Studies. 

Sebastian von Ribbentrop is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with 25+ years in venture capital, real estate, and private equity. As Founding Partner of Join Capital, he focuses on early-stage investments in deep tech and industrial tech startups. He is also the Founder of WunderHouse, a co-living venture in Dublin and Madrid. His career includes roles as Managing Director at WestLB, managing a €2bn portfolio, and Principal at Steadfast Capital, where he led venture and buyout deals.

Sebastian holds a degree in Finance and Computer Science from Humboldt University and served as a Group Leader in the German military.

Paul Heiden is the CEO of Optics11, the world leader in fiber optic sensing technology for ultra-sensitive early warning systems on land and underwater. Paul began his career in the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps, rising to the rank of Captain, before founding BHOLD, an identity management software company. He successfully sold BHOLD to Microsoft, where it remains a key component of the Microsoft Identity Manager suite.

Dr. Hira Virdee is the founder and CEO of Lumi Space, specializing in satellite laser ranging to measure satellite positions with cm-level accuracy. He holds a Ph.D. in astrodynamics focused on modeling natural forces on orbital debris. Hira is a Visiting Fellow at Oxford University, supporting the commercialization of science-based technologies, and serves as an advisor to Spaced Ventures on space-related investments.

A Founding Partner at JOIN Capital in Berlin, Tobias Schirmer is leading early-stage venture investments in deep tech, industrial innovation, and enterprise software across Europe. Since co-founding the firm in 2015, he has directed over 30 investments spanning more than 10 countries, collaborating closely with startups and corporate partners to scale breakthrough technologies. Tobias started his career at Deutsche Bank, then moved on to found his own company before joining Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments, investing in early stage start-ups across Europe and the US. Tobias holds an MBA from IE Business School and a BA in Business & Management from the University of Exeter.

Julian Riebartsch is the co-founder and CEO of Calvin Risk, a Swiss-based startup specializing in AI risk management and governance. Founded in 2022 as a spin-off from ETH Zurich, Calvin Risk develops a platform that provides real-time, adaptive assessments of AI models, enabling organizations to manage technical, ethical, and regulatory risks effectively. Under Julian's leadership, the company has secured over $5 million in funding and secured collaborations with major clients in banking and insurance.

Dr. Douglas Aguiar is the co-founder and CEO of PhotonPath, a Milan-based deep tech company specializing in integrated photonic circuits for high-speed communication and advanced sensing applications. Founded in 2019 as a spin-off from Politecnico di Milano, PhotonPath develops programmable photonic chips designed to reduce energy consumption and increase efficiency in optical signal processing. 

Dr. Florian Grigoleit is the co-founder and CEO of modelwise, a startup specializing in AI-driven software for automated safety analysis in engineering. He earned his master's and Ph.D. degrees in computer science from the Technical University of Munich (TUM), focusing on AI-based modeling. Under his leadership, modelwise has participated in prestigious accelerator programs, including UC Berkeley's SkyDeck and Intel Ignite.

Dr. Ryan Guterman is the co-founder and CEO of FaradaIC Sensors GmbH, a Berlin-based startup pioneering the miniaturization of electrochemical gas sensors on microchips. Holding a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Western University in Canada, he previously led a research group at the Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces. Under his leadership, FaradaIC has developed the world's first oxygen gas sensor on a chip, targeting applications in IoT, logistics, wearables, automotive and medical devices.

John Tang is an Operating Partner at Join Capital - and an AI research scientist turned operator turned investor, with deep expertise across the full AI stack—from infrastructure and hardware to foundation models and applications. Previously, John was Chief Data & AI Officer at Cerberus Capital Management, Chief Data Scientist at Barclays UK Information Business, and Head of EMEA Data Science for J.P. Morgan Chase Intelligent Solutions. John holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Cambridge and a MSci in Computer Science from UCL.

An insightful Investment Manager at Join Capital, Simone is on the pulse of emerging technologies, identifying promising investment opportunities within the dynamic European startup landscape.

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Dr. Kevin Füchsel is the co-founder and CEO of Quantum Optics Jena GmbH, a deep-tech startup based in Jena, Germany, specializing in quantum communication technologies. Founded in 2020 as a Fraunhofer spin-off, the company develops quantum key distribution (QKD) systems based on entangled photon sources, aiming to provide ultra-secure communication solutions for critical infrastructures. Under Kevin's leadership, Quantum Optics Jena has expanded its operations internationally, with activities in Europe, North America, and Asia.

Isabel Badia is Portfolio Manager at MBDA Deutschland, where she is responsible for future systems, developing and implementing innovative solutions that address both market opportunities and the complex security challenges. She previously spent six years at Diehl Defence, focusing on drone technologies. Isabel holds an M.A. in Political Science and Philosophy. 

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Juliana Süß is a is a researcher in the Security Policy Research Group in the Strategic Threat Analysis and Nuclear (Dis-)Order (STAND) project for the Stifung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP). Juliana was formerly the Research Fellow for Space Security as part of the Military Sciences team at Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London She hosts the RUSI podcast War in Space and contributes to thought leadership on the use of space technologies in defense contexts.

Aron Kirschen is the co-founder and CEO of SEMRON, a Dresden-based startup pioneering a new generation of 3D-scaled AI chips. With a background in industrial engineering and mathematics from the Technical University of Dresden, Kirschen leads SEMRON's development of CapRAM™ technology, which utilizes memcapacitive computing to enable energy-efficient AI processing on edge devices. 

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A sharp-minded Principal at Join Capital, Julia leverages her international finance background to identify and support high-potential startups across Europe, with a focus on transformative technologies and strategic growth.