The members of the startup association elected a new board at the beginning of November. In addition to Chairwoman Verena Pausder, Heike Freund, COO of the Munich-based startup, will also be a member. Marvel Fusion, and Nils Aldag, CEO of the Dresden-based hydrogen company Sunfire, joined the board. Both are considered leading figures in the German deep tech scene. At the inaugural meeting, the members unanimously confirmed Verena Pausder as chairwoman of the board.
With Freund's election, another Munich-based female founder is joining the top committee of the nationwide startup association. Freund is responsible for operations at the nuclear fusion startup Marvel Fusion and is considered a leading voice in the fields of deep tech and climate technologies.
The new board team also includes Benedict Kurz (Knowunity), Helmut Schönenberger (UnternehmerTUM), Jochen Engert (Flix), Kati Ernst (ooia & Lifestyle of Longevity), Magdalena Oehl (TalentRocket), Sebastian Pollok (Visionaries Club & Visionaries Tomorrow) and Zoé Fabian-Frey (Noteus Partners).
Focus on deep tech and scaling
The startup association aims to further strengthen the country's innovative capacity with its new team. The members' shared goal is clear: to make Germany an internationally competitive location for startups and scaleups.
Verena Pausder, Chairwoman of the Startup Association, says:
"Especially in the current economic downturn, we need startups and scaleups more urgently than ever. They bring together speed, technology and drive – and show what is possible in Germany when ideas meet entrepreneurial courage."
Germany, with its research landscape and ambitious founders, has good prerequisites to be successful as a startup and scaleup location, says Pausder, who also warns:
"But now we need to create the environment so that startups and scaleups can become international market leaders and global champions."
According to Pausder, the new additions should also contribute to deepening the association's strategic work:
“With Heike Freund and Nils Aldag, we have gained two outstanding figures from the German startup and scaleup ecosystem. Their many years of experience and special expertise further strengthen the association's deep tech and scaleup capabilities. The new board perfectly reflects the breadth and diversity of the German startup and scaleup ecosystem. Together, we are passionate about harnessing this momentum for Germany and Europe.”
The term of office for the newly elected board members is two years. Hélène Huby (The Exploration Company) and Nicole Büttner-Thiel (Merantix) are leaving the committee.
