As a Senior Investment Manager at the DLR_Startup Factory of DLR I bridge cutting-edge science with scalable business potential. I help future-focused investors spot high-impact deep tech startups from DLR before they hit the radar. My mission: Evaluate and accelerate DLR-startups that turn moonshot R&D into market-ready ventures — especially in aerospace, mobility, energy, AI and sustainable tech. I am also responsible for match-making of DLR startups with investors, and support to increase the investment readiness and investment attractiveness of DLR startups. As DLR we also can co-invest as a public investor alongside private investor in DLR spin-offs. To this end, I draw on my experience as a private business angel and mentor to European start-ups. Before the role I was a strategic & foresight analyst - decoding emerging technologies and markets to shape corporate strategy for DLR. I’ve led strategy and innovation ecosystem projects for DLR’s Executive Board, from founding 21 new research institutes to cross-sectoral innovation portfolio design. My background: Aerospace engineer (Univ. Stuttgart) + Master in Strategic Management (HEC Paris). I’ve consulted for Accenture (Financial Services) and DXC Technology (Automotive/ Aerospace Supply Chain – ex-CSC) — so I speak tech, boardroom and venture capital. At Bits & Pretzels, I’m here to connect before all with investors like VCs, family offices, corporate venture arms, Förderbanken, and industry - who want to invest in or use the next generation of European deep tech. Let’s talk about the DLR-startups you’re not seeing yet — but should be.