[Save the Date] Digitale Leute x REWE digital (DL Meetup #11)
Details
Digitale Leute Meetups are BACK!
It’s been a while. But good things take time – and great communities are worth the wait. After a few years of pause, we’re excited to announce that the Digitale Leute Meetup Series is back – and restarting at our place at REWE digital!
Digitale Leute has always been about one thing: bringing together the people who shape digital products. The thinkers, the builders, the ones who care deeply about how technology is made and why it matters. Over the years, our community has grown – but we’ve missed the magic that only happens when you’re in the same room, sharing ideas, swapping stories, and sparking conversations that no Slack channel can replicate.
So we decided: it’s time to bring our meetups back.
## First stop: Cologne, April 23rd
It only makes sense that Digitale Leute restart where it all began. Digitale Leute is a Cologne original – and so is our comeback. We’re launching the new chapter of our meetup series right here on April 23rd, hosted by one of Cologne’s most exciting digital teams – REWE digital (hey, that's us!).
The doors open at 6:00 pm, followed by the official welcome by Stefan Vosskötter at 6:30 pm. Talks, interviews, and Q&A will take place from 7:00–8:00 pm, followed by plenty of time for networking. The event will wrap up around 9:00 pm.
When: April 23, 2026, doors open at 6:00 pm
Location: This meetup will take place at our REWE digital premises in Cologne.
REWE digital, Schanzenstraße 6-20, Building 2.20 Cologne
Talk #1: Stop Building Features. Build the Factory That Builds Them. by Benedikt Stemmildt 👨🏼💻🧙🏼♂️ & Gero Duppel
You've got your agents, your custom skills, your [CLAUDE.md](http://claude.md/). It works. But every feature still starts with you. Benedikt and Gero will show you how to make the real shift: from using AI to build features, to building a production line that builds them for you – from ticket to pull request, with minimal intervention.
Two hard truths included 👀
Talk #2 AI-First: Two Perspectives from Our Daily Work at REWE digital
Cemile Genc (Product Ownerin) & Juri Wiens (AI Research Engineer, both REWE digital)
AI is rapidly changing how we work – but what does “AI-first” actually look like in practice?
In this talk, we share two complementary perspectives from our daily work at REWE Digital: from product management to engineering.
From shifting roles and new ways of working to hands-on experience with AI systems – we show what is already changing today and what it means going forward.
(Talk #1 in English, Talk #2 in German)
**About REWE digital**
REWE digital is the technology powerhouse behind one of Germany’s largest retail groups, with nearly 2,500 people working across five European countries – the majority of them right here in Cologne. Their team has been shaping the future of retail through technology since 1984, from e-commerce and apps to warehouse logistics and data infrastructure. We’re glad to call them our hosts.
Good to know:
- Drinks and Snacks are – as always – on us
- Everyone is welcome, come as you are
- We speak (at least) English, German and Code
- Our "Arena Neon" Meetup location is reachable by e.g. wheelchair
How to find us:
We encourage you to use public transportation. For example, take KVB Line 4 to Keupstraße. From there, it’s a 10-minute walk to REWE digital. From Cologne Mülheim Station, it takes about 15 minutes. If you do decide to come by car, you can use the parking spaces designated for REWE digital on the premises.
See you soon!