Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Three questions ambitious shareholders of industrial Mittelstand companies and search fund operators bring most often: - How do we use AI and emerging technologies in a way that lifts what we already do well? - How do we get serious about international markets as German growth has stalled, the transatlantic relationship is getting unstable, and local competition in China is proliferating? - What does our company need to become to keep growing consistently for decades, and come out stronger from future crises? Here is what I bring to each: 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿. My high-hard goals of building businesses were only reached by forging a winning culture with the people I worked with. As a self-funded founder I started in the dot-com era, then operated through partner, board, and CEO roles at scale — most recently, at Brandt Zwieback-Schokoladen group, a ~1,000-person manufacturing company. Despite inheriting an existential crisis, we delivered double-digit growth in year one. Later we were recognized for the strongest growth in the category two years in a row. During my tenure, we built earnings power that absorbed the COVID aftermath, Ukraine war, and commodity shocks. 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆. I architected and applied technology across business functions in industrial and digital settings alike. Three angel investments along the way exited to Mittelstand acquirers. Currently, Inupio runs on AI agents I built — sourcing, research, decision support, daily workflows. It is a working lab that delivers real value and teaches what holds up in operating conditions. Today the focus is AI; tomorrow whichever frontier matters next. 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹. I lived and worked more than seven years abroad and gained deep operating experience, especially in the US and China. The work included professionalizing sales organizations in established Mittelstand companies as well as in digital scale-ups. Under my leadership, we expanded into new verticals and internationally, both organically and through M&A. We systematically won and developed major global enterprise accounts with deals up to nine figures. Are you the driving shareholder of a profitable industrial Mittelstand company aiming for ambitious long-term growth? Do you believe technology will be the engine and international markets matter to your business? If that sounds like you, or someone you know, please get in touch.
*** Inupio is my long-horizon investment vehicle: a portfolio of direct and search-fund investments in operating companies. *** - INVESTING in profitable industrial B2B Mittelstand and amplifying them with technology. Selective stakes in late-stage deep-tech providers. - ADVISING owners/shareholders and operators in their process of applying technology as the "10x" lever. Grounded in operator background and metrics. - BUILDING Inupio's own AI agents and tools for our day-to-day work.
*** The iconic food brand in Germany with the world's most advanced chocolate hollow figure manufacturing facility *** The group behind Germany’s iconic brand with the smiling kid’s face is the market leader for toasts in Germany (market share >80%) and ranks second in crispbread. As the world’s leading outsourcing partner for chocolate hollow figures, the family-owned company, founded in 1912, employs over 800 people at six locations in Germany and the United States. My role: - Strategic Leadership: Development and implementation of strategies at the shareholder, group, and business unit levels, as well as execution of corporate transactions, including the acquisition and management of the US subsidiary - Leadership and Talent Development: Comprehensive restructuring, building and managing a team of executives, introducing modern leadership tools (e.g., OKRs, stand-ups, KPIs), and establishing a winning culture through trust and systematic HR development - Sales: Implementation of significant price increases, negotiation and conclusion of multi-year contracts with key clients, and expansion into new export markets, including acquiring major new customers - Marketing and Product Development: Development and execution of brand strategies, establishment of social media marketing, introduction of innovative product lines (e.g., vegan mini toasts), and multiple recognitions of the “Burger Knäcke” brand as “Top Brand of the Year” by Germany’s leading industry publication (2023, 2024) - Supply Chain Management: Implementation of a demand planning system (SAP IBP) to improve forecasting accuracy and optimization of key supply chain processes - IT/Processes: Development and execution of the IT strategy, implementation of modern IT systems (e.g., SAP Cloud applications, Asana, ChatGPT), and execution of a comprehensive IT security roadmap
*** Driving transformation through digital technologies and innovative business models *** - Strategy consulting - Topics: digital / traditional sales strategy and execution, M&A transaction services - Clients: private equity funds and their portfolio companies as well as owner-managed family businesses
*** On a mission to find a cure for endometriosis *** - Developed a formula for a medication inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine, designed to be scientifically testable using industry-standard practices. - Conducted initial trials and filed a patent application to secure the innovative concept. - Created and managed an online knowledge base featuring high-quality, medically reviewed content to support those affected by endometriosis.
*** Pioneering software-driven Amazon marketing services in Europe *** As one of the leading firms in the field, we help brands sell more on Amazon by combining intelligent software with agency performance. Currently, more than 120 top global brands are served from 8 locations in Europe and the USA with more than 130 employees. My role: - Building and managing the global business development and sales organization at factor-a - part of Dept - Winning and developing major accounts - Helping other units within agency group develop Amazon business - Running external partner program