Patrick Huke

We are Black Semiconductor, a fast-growing tech startup based in Aachen, Germany. We use the 2D material graphene to create ultra-fast, energy-efficient, and scalable chip fabrics by connecting thousands of chips to interact as one.

cylib GmbH is a research-based company for holistic battery recycling enabling the green energy transition by ensuring the supply of sustainable raw materials for the battery industry. cylibs proprietary end-to-end recycling process is characterized by an efficient, resource- and climate-friendly recovery of all raw materials in a battery, including lithium, graphite, nickel, cobalt and manganese from battery packs, production scraps, or micromobility batteries. Founded in 2022 in Aachen, Germany, the company builds on nearly a decade of research by the founding team. cylib was founded by Dr. Lilian Schwich (Co-CEO), Paul Sabarny (Chief of Special Operations), and Dr. Gideon Schwich (Co-CEO), with the mission to create a true circular economy.

Retorio provides a video-based AI Coaching Platform. The platform combines artificial intelligence with insights from modern behavioral research and helps companies identify and drive winning behaviors across their organization.

Valence protects organizations from threats created by SaaS and AI sprawl. By unifying SaaS discovery, SSPM, AI security, and ITDR, Valence delivers the comprehensive coverage needed to find and fix SaaS and AI risks. The platform uncovers shadow AI and AI agents, flags misconfigurations before they become incidents, and detects unusual activity across human and service identities. Valence goes beyond visibility with one-click remediation, automated workflows, and guided collaboration to help security teams operationalize their SaaS and AI security programs. Trusted by leading organizations, Valence enables secure SaaS and AI adoption.

Workerbase aims to transform manufacturing by digitizing operations with automated workflows and equipping frontline workers with AI powered digital tools. Our platform is designed to seamlessly integrate into existing manufacturing environments and streamline task management, communication, and data access, empowering workers to make smarter, faster decisions. Workerbase’s consolidated platform also allows for a holistic view of all your operations allowing for actionable insights from customizable analytics. This has enabled industry leaders using Workerbase’s platform to reduce downtime, improve efficiency, and drive continuous performance across the production line. Our founding team have a combined experience of more than 30 years in IT, manufacturing, mobile and product development. Workerbase is backed by several venture capital funds such as Point Nine, Porsche Ventures, Almaz Capital and Bayern Kaptial as well as an excellent team of angel investors.

Collective cover by Laka We exist to rewrite the rules of insurance so it’s something people stand with, not against. That’s why we’re building a collective that gets stronger as it grows, covering each other as we fight against the broken and archaic in the pursuit of better. For press and media inquiries, please contact: press@laka.co

1KOMMA5° wurde gegründet um Millionen Gebäude in Europa klimaneutral immer mit dem günstigsten Strom zu versorgen - ganz ohne fossile Energie. Mit „Heartbeat AI“ betreibt 1KOMMA5° Europas größtes dezentrales Kraftwerk. Heartbeat AI steuert Elektroautos, Batterien, Wärmepumpen oder Klimaanlagen und handelt sie in Echtzeit an der Strombörse. Das System kauft Strom wenn er besonders günstig ist und verkauft Strom wenn er teuer ist. In Summe profitieren Nutzer von nahezu kostenlosem Strom. Das Konzept gilt als günstigere Alternative zu fossilen, zentralen Kraftwerken und könnte laut einer Roland-Berger-Studie aus dem Jahr 2025 bis zu 255 Milliarden Euro an Stromkosten einsparen. Inzwischen steuert „Heartbeat AI“ rund 50.000 Energiesysteme mit einer Leistung von 600 Megawatt, was etwa der Leistung eines modernen Gaskraftwerks entspricht. 1KOMMA5° ist aktuell in sieben Ländern aktiv und betreibt 80 Standorte, um Installation und Service als "One Stop Shop" für Kunden regional und in höchster Qualität sicherzustellen.

Via is on a mission to create public transportation systems that provide far greater access to jobs, healthcare, and education. Our platform serves as the technology backbone for modern transit networks, transforming antiquated and siloed public transportation systems into smart, data-driven, and efficient digital networks. With hundreds of agency partners in 30+ countries, Via is recognized as the leading transportation technology and service provider for governments. Via’s platform has pioneered microtransit — a new mode of mass transit — and today offers a comprehensive, end-to-end public transit solution that helps our customers design, operate, and optimize their transit systems using software, services, and billions of proprietary real-world trip data points. The result: lower costs, equitable access, and better passenger experiences.

Fleetonomy’s AI-based solutions are powering fleet owners, auto manufacturers and mobility service providers to maximize their fleets by rolling out customized ridesharing, dynamic shuttle routes, on-demand rental, and car subscription services. We provide an end to end platform for planning, operating and optimizing fleets of autonomous vehicles.

We are Black Semiconductor, a fast-growing tech startup based in Aachen, Germany. We use the 2D material graphene to create ultra-fast, energy-efficient, and scalable chip fabrics by connecting thousands of chips to interact as one.

cylib GmbH is a research-based company for holistic battery recycling enabling the green energy transition by ensuring the supply of sustainable raw materials for the battery industry. cylibs proprietary end-to-end recycling process is characterized by an efficient, resource- and climate-friendly recovery of all raw materials in a battery, including lithium, graphite, nickel, cobalt and manganese from battery packs, production scraps, or micromobility batteries. Founded in 2022 in Aachen, Germany, the company builds on nearly a decade of research by the founding team. cylib was founded by Dr. Lilian Schwich (Co-CEO), Paul Sabarny (Chief of Special Operations), and Dr. Gideon Schwich (Co-CEO), with the mission to create a true circular economy.

Retorio provides a video-based AI Coaching Platform. The platform combines artificial intelligence with insights from modern behavioral research and helps companies identify and drive winning behaviors across their organization.

The worlds largest social impact accelerator, based at the London School of Economics. Our goal is to create cohorts of social unicorns driving positive change around the world – at scale. Seeking solutions to social problems can feel like an uphill struggle. That’s why 100x is here. The home of bravery and breakthroughs, championing impact over profit in the world’s most challenging markets. A place to level mountains. And a space for the world’s most promising visionaries to come together and change more, together. Entrepreneurs will be offered £150,000 of catalytic, impact-first capital, world-class resources, door-opening connections, and 12 weeks of programming to catapult their social venture into the future.

Valence protects organizations from threats created by SaaS and AI sprawl. By unifying SaaS discovery, SSPM, AI security, and ITDR, Valence delivers the comprehensive coverage needed to find and fix SaaS and AI risks. The platform uncovers shadow AI and AI agents, flags misconfigurations before they become incidents, and detects unusual activity across human and service identities. Valence goes beyond visibility with one-click remediation, automated workflows, and guided collaboration to help security teams operationalize their SaaS and AI security programs. Trusted by leading organizations, Valence enables secure SaaS and AI adoption.