TheVentury - Empowering Innovation

𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗲. And yet, in many organizations, it does: ideas come and go, projects stall and real impact remains unclear. In the latest Venture Insights, Alex Schuh and Max Germann share how to bring more structure, clarity and calm into building new business. 👉 Read the full piece and explore how to build innovation you can actually trust. #Innovation #VentureBuilding #Leadership #NewBusiness

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁. With Wien Energie GmbH, we built 𝗖𝗼𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲 as a venture that brings efficiency and clarity to decision-making in real estate.   From concept to a scalable, market-ready solution, this journey reflects what venture building should be about:  • Identifying real industry pain points  • Building tangible solutions  • Creating measurable value We're proud to see CoAgree now part of the DREA Digital Real Estate Association network and even more excited about what’s ahead! #VentureBuilding #Collaboration #Innovation

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 ✨ 1️⃣The Pioneer In the discussion, it became evident how challenging real change is in complex organizations like Deutsche Bahn: Expectations are high, pressure is constant, and visible progress takes time. 2️⃣ 𝗖𝗘𝗢|𝗖𝗙𝗢 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 is no longer built by optimization alone, but by new business models and technology leverage. 3️⃣ #𝗗𝗧𝗜𝗠𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 The gap between ideas and impact is widening. The organizations that stand out don’t manage innovation as a pipeline, they build it as a system: • Clear venture theses • Evidence over activity • Cross-functional ownership Because in the end, innovation only matters if it translates into business impact. 4️⃣ #𝗦𝗔𝗟𝗭𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 Innovation becomes tangible when ecosystems connect. Bringing together startups, corporates, and technology providers in structured formats creates what many organizations are still missing: 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 → 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 5️⃣ #𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 European companies are moving beyond experimenting with AI → toward embedding it as a strategic capability. From copilots to core capabilities, from tools to operating models, AI is becoming part of how organizations are built and how decisions are made. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆: In a time of geopolitical pressure, economic uncertainty, and rapid technological change, 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀. It is about building the capabilities, structures, and ventures that turn uncertainty into growth. Until next month ✨

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗽 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴. At #DTIM one theme kept coming up in conversations with innovation leaders: Plenty of ideas, full pipeline, but very little clarity on which bets will truly matter and how they will translate into real business impact. What stood out were the organizations that approach innovation differently. Not as a collection of projects, but as a 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱-𝘂𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘀:  • They don’t start with ideas, they start with a clear venture thesis.  • They don’t measure activity, they build evidence (customer insights, validated problems, early unit economics).  • They don’t isolate innovation, they embed it across the organization - bringing in operations, finance, product, and sales to shape real, commercially viable ventures. The takeaway is simple: The next generation of successful organizations will be those that treat innovation as a designed system of ventures and assets, not as a pipeline of ideas. This is exactly where venture building comes in, turning uncertainty into structured progress and ideas into tangible business impact.

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘀 = 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 In this edition of Venture Insights, Alex and Max reflect on what they’re seeing across the market right now, the shifts, the signals, and the questions that feel more important than the noise around them. If you enjoy thinking a few steps ahead, not just about what’s happening, but why it’s happening, this one is for you. You can read the full edition in the link below ⬇️

A few observations from #SALZ2026 Festival: The event clearly reflects the broader movement of 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. It brings together startups, technology providers, and corporate decision-makers in a structured environment that enables early exchange and collaboration. Formats like this create visibility for emerging technologies, support proof-of-concept discussions, and help foster partnerships across the innovation ecosystem. They also contribute to a deeper understanding of new technologies and evolving business models, especially in the context of regional and international innovation trends. Overall, events like this highlight how innovation ecosystems evolve, not through isolated ideas, but through 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, and 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

#𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 One of the strongest signals from this year’s Deutsch-Österreichisches Technologieforum in Vienna: 𝗟𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗜 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆. The conversation is shifting from “How do we use AI tools?” to a much more fundamental question: How can AI reshape competitiveness in Europe? 🔎 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: 1️⃣ From copilots to capabilities: Organizations are beginning to embed AI deeper into products, processes and decision-making structures. Insights from Nikolai Ardey (Volkswagen Group) showed how AI is increasingly shaping entire product and innovation cycles. 2️⃣ AI-driven operating models: The move toward data-driven organizations and integrated AI systems is accelerating innovation cycles and improving strategic decision-making - a perspective also highlighted in the discussion with Michael Petschnig (RPM Gebäudemonitoring). 3️⃣ Focus over dispersion: Investments must be directed toward key technologies - as many European companies now see AI as a driver of technology-led reindustrialization that strengthens production and competitiveness in Europe (Henriette Spyra/Bundesministerium für Innovation, Mobilität und Infrastruktur). 4️⃣ Leadership matters: Successful AI adoption requires clear strategic prioritization, organizational readiness and a willingness to experiment and learn - a point strongly emphasized by Christoph Knogler (KEBA Group). The broader takeaway: In times of geopolitical and economic uncertainty, innovation is no longer optional. Building technological capabilities, especially in AI, is becoming central to securing Europe’s industrial future. A valuable day of insights and perspectives on how technology, strategy and industrial policy are increasingly intertwined.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗽𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖-𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄? A few impressions from the CEO|CFO Forum by Business Circle. Some themes came up repeatedly in discussions with top management: • 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 Geopolitical tensions, trade barriers and economic uncertainty are putting many existing business models under pressure. • 𝗔𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗘𝗢 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮 For the first time, the main productivity gains are expected in white-collar work, not only in industrial automation. • 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 Companies increasingly want to handle data analysis and structuring internally, supported by AI. External partners are expected to bring orientation, prioritization and execution. But one takeaway stood out the most: 𝙎𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚 The most successful tech companies have shown for years that high margins come from: • New business models • Technology leverage • Clear strategic differentiation The real opportunity is therefore not only optimizing existing logic, but creating new paths to profitable growth. 🗣️ What topics are currently occupying your top management the most? © Photos 1/2: Business Circle

𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 ✨ 1️⃣ 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 A quick reality check at the Museum of Illusions, turns out not everything is as it seems (including our photo)! 2️⃣ 𝟭𝟭. 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 Martin's takeaway is that Vienna’s innovation ecosystem is moving, but scaling remains the challenge. 3️⃣ 𝗗𝗛𝗞 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁 Alex joined the Deutsche Handelskammer in Österreich's Business Breakfast on cybersecurity in times of digital transformation. 4️⃣ 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗩𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗮 Delia Wieser co-hosted the Vienna kick-off of Futures Friends with Carla Moss, and Valentin joined the conversation. 3 ideas. 3 slides. 3 minutes. From AI to food systems to culture shifts, fast insights, great people, strong energy. Until next month ✨