Haufe Group Stage

The AI era is a time of radical uncertainty. For CEOs, entrepreneurs and every single one of us, the following now applies: the future is what we make of it together. What we need for a future that is both innovative and humane is less dogmatically rigid, ‘dumbed-down’ reason – and more brain and heart. Critical (self-)thinking, intuition and empathy are humanity’s most essential USPs. By embracing a courageous, responsible and creative ‘we’, we can create genuine added value – and confidently shape transformation. NOW.

Speakers

• Dr Rebekka Reinhard, philosopher & founder, human magazine 

Do all the big ‘unicorns’ come from Silicon Valley? No, not all of them. Cortec is taking on Elon Musk with its brain implants. How are they managing that?
What do AI start-ups from southern Baden, such as Hivr.ai, have to offer the market? 
And above all: how does high-tech from the Black Forest secure the necessary venture capital?
These questions are at the heart of the Badische Zeitung’s podcast panel and get straight to the heart of the debate on capital, scaling and the region’s strengths.

Speakers

• Lena Hornecker, Manager of Start-ups & Scale-ups, Bitkom e. V.
• Nikolaus Raupp, Partner, High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) 
• Martin Schüttler, Chief Technology Officer, Cortec
•  Frank Hutter, CEO, Priorlabs

Moderator

• Markus Hofmann, Head of Digital Content (Deputy Editor-in-Chief), Badische Zeitung

Freiburg was once the solar energy mecca, but today China is leading the way in this industry. Nevertheless, the Freiburg-based start-up Nexwafe is enjoying a meteoric rise. 
How are they managing this? And what can the research carried out by Freiburg’s largest Fraunhofer Institute offer the local industry?
In the Badische Zeitung podcast panel, these questions will be discussed with leading experts and placed within the broader context of competitiveness, technology transfer and global market pressures.

Speakers

• Frank Siebke, Co-Founder, Nexwafe
• Ralf Preu, Head of Photovoltaics Research, Fraunhofer ISE
• Jochen Rentsch, Co-founder, Nexus GreenTech

Moderator

• Dora Schöls, Audio Editor, Badische Zeitung

Why should companies, public authorities and politicians no longer allow themselves to be deterred by risk? Today, resilience is built through a willingness to take responsibility, decisive action and the courage to tolerate uncertainty. 
With the analytical depth of a business graduate and the directness of a practitioner, Joe Kaeser makes it clear: the region that makes decisions more quickly builds its own future, rather than having it handed to it on a plate. His talk is a powerful plea for a new understanding of responsibility and a culture that recognises courage as a strategic resource.

Speakers

• Joe Kaeser, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Siemens Energy & Daimler Truck

Moderator

• Silke Beikert

Europe needs to pick up the pace. What are the real game-changers driving transformation in leadership, culture, technology and decision-making?
Three outstanding figures from the German business world offer a behind-the-scenes insight and provide inspiration to drive concrete change within your own organisation.

Speakers

• Joe Kaeser, Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Siemens Energy & Daimler Truck, an international business and industry leader: embodies strategic foresight, industrial transformation and global competitiveness.
• Aya Jaff, tech entrepreneur and author, one of the defining voices of the digital generation: embodies the digital future, speed, a tech mindset and a new generation of innovators.
• Birte Hackenjos, CEO of the Haufe Group, embodies transformation, leadership and the question of what role responsibility and the use of innovative technology play in shaping a successful future.

Moderator

• Silke Beikert

Baden-Württemberg is one of Europe’s strongest business hubs, but hardly anyone knows the people behind it. Journalist Joti and entrepreneur Chris are setting out to change that. They talk to founders about pace, uncertainty and the decisions that turn an idea into a business model. Milk from a laboratory sounds like science fiction. But Svenja Dannewitz is building a business around it. With Senara, she is working on cultured milk and is one of the first to drive this technology forward in Europe.

How does research turn into a product that can transform markets? What does it take to convince investors and partners of something that doesn’t yet exist in this form? And how do you build a business around a technology that challenges or revolutionises entire industries?

This conversation highlights what it takes to develop a business from a radical approach.

Speakers

• Dr Svenja Dannewitz, Founder & CEO, Senara
• Chris Veit, Moderator, Köpfe der Szene

The t3n podcast brings together voices shaping the digital future – from female entrepreneurs and academics to female innovators in the field. The focus is on personal conversations about AI, transformation, new technologies and the people behind the ideas.

At the Käpsele Innovation Festival 2026, t3n will be interviewing Claudia Alsdorf from Schwarz Digits, amongst others, and talking to her about digital sovereignty, AI and the future of technological infrastructure in Europe.

Speakers

• Claudia Alsdorf, Schwarz Digits
• Stella-Sophie Wojtczak, t3n

In ‘Boss Stories’, the podcast produced by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce for the Southern Upper Rhine, entrepreneurs from the region talk about the challenges they face, their strategies and their personal experiences. Previous guests have included Europa-Park CEO Roland Mack, successful start-up founder Dorothea Helmer from Freiburg, SC Freiburg captain Christian Günter, and David and Karl Josef Duttliner, the co-CEOs of Black Forest ‘hidden champion’ August Weckermann. 

You can listen to Boss Storys wherever podcasts are available:
Podcast: Boss Storys – IHK Südlicher Oberrhein.

At the Käpsele Innovation Festival, Florian Kech interviews Hendrik Hey, the founder of the hit programme “Welt der Wunder”. The focus is on the question: How do you turn a format into such a strong and enduring brand? 

Speakers

• Hendrick Hey, founder of “Welt der Wunder”
• Florian Kech, IHK Südlicher Oberrhein

As one of the most popular business podcasts, “Handelsblatt Disrupt” brings to the fore the decision-makers who are truly driving transformation. Larissa Holzki analyses the dynamics behind the AI boom, billion-euro valuations and new power dynamics. She is at the heart of the most exciting start-ups, investments and technologies.

Robin Rombach is building precisely one of these technologies: with Black Forest Labs, he and his team are developing AI with global ambitions. The Freiburg-based start-up is regarded as one of Europe’s “AI hopefuls” and is competing with the world’s biggest players.

How does research give rise to a company that can hold its own on the international stage? What does it take to build scalable AI from within Europe? And where do the concrete opportunities lie for companies that need to act now?

Speakers

• Robin Rombach, CEO of Black Forest Labs
• Larissa Holzki, podcast host at Handelsblatt Disrupt