CEO Roundtables Berlin

How Can I Become a Better CTO?

Our first CTO Roundtable Berlin in 2026: **How Can I Become a Better CTO**: Many CTOs step into the role through strong technical expertise, only to discover that success increasingly depends on leadership, communication, and influence. This session will focus on the transition from hands-on technical leadership to broader organizational impact. We will discuss which skills matter most at different company stages, how to shift from problem-solver to decision-enabler, and how to continue growing as a CTO while staying credible with engineering teams. Practical advice, common pitfalls, and personal development strategies will be shared to help CTOs evolve their role intentionally. Expectation of the Event: Join us for an evening of real talk, shared experience, and actionable ideas with other CTOs and tech leaders. **Agenda:** * **18:30** \- Arrival & Drinks * **19:30** \- Panel Discussion: Transitioning to Leadership\, Skillsets by Stage\, and Personal Development * **20:30** \- Networking: Connect with fellow tech leaders and share strategies on evolving your role intentionally\. **The Panel Consists of:** * **Mathias Meyer** \- Startup CTO Coach & Author\, Founder of Travis CI * **Steinunn Arnardottir** \- VP Engineering\, Spread AI * **Bastian Buch** \- CTPO\, GetAway Group **Location:** Zendesk Paul\-Lincke\-Ufer 39/40 \| Hof 4\, Aufgang 7\, 2\. Stock 10999 Berlin\-Kreuzberg\, Deutschland The CTO Roundtable is organized by [Elmar Weber](https://www.linkedin.com/in/elmarweber/) (CTO at [Thieme](https://www.thieme.com/de-de)) and[ Christoph Beckmann](https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophbeckmann/) (Founder/CTO at [TechMiners](https://www.techminers.com)). If you're interested in sponsoring, hosting, or contributing a topic for upcoming events, please don't hesitate to reach out! **Mathias** is a CTO and Executive Coach and a former founder, CEO, and CTO. He co-authored the utterly practical management and leadership guide “The Intentional Organization". **Steinunn** is an Engineering leader with 15+ years of experience across Berlin and Silicon Valley, spanning executive leadership, hands-on engineering, and research. Currently VP of Engineering at SPREAD AI, previously CTO and co-founder of Lottie, a Berlin-based startup helping children navigate the digital world. Former Senior Director of Engineering at Native Instruments, where she led and scaled an organization of 80+ engineers building software and hardware for music production and DJing. Holds a B.Sc. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Iceland and M.A. and M.Sc. degrees from Stanford University. **Bastian** is CPTO of the Getaway Group, which brings together successful travel platforms. His focus is on building successful digital products. In addition, he is the creator of the Mentoring Club, a coaching and mentoring platform that has connected experts from over 160 countries since 2020 and supports the transition from technical expertise to strategic leadership.

Founders beers #30 (and drinks and snacks)

After a longer break we are back with the Founders beers, in a place, where you can also order some snack and other drinks than beer. As usual: the event is free, you "just" pay for your orders. The crowd: experienced founders, founders-to-be, tech people, usually a nice mix to have great conversations during the evening. Hope to see you there in 2026!

AI Memory and Founders Night | Agentic AI, Knowledge Graphs & AI Systems

This edition of **Global AI Berlin** focuses on one of the most important building blocks of modern AI systems: **AI Memory**. **AI Memory and Founders Night** is an in-person AI meetup in Berlin for **developers, founders, and product leaders** working on **agentic AI systems, AI agents, and production-ready AI architectures**. The event explores how **AI memory**, **knowledge graphs**, **context management**, and **multi-agent systems** are designed and operated in real-world AI applications. The focus is on **practical, production-grade patterns**, not theory. With insights inspired by the Berlin AI ecosystem and organizations such as **Neo4j**, **Google**, **Microsoft**, and **Amazon Web Services**, the talks highlight how teams build **scalable, memory-enabled AI systems** in practice. *** ### 🔐 Registration (Limited Spots) Primary registration via: [https://globalai.community/chapters/berlin/events/ai-memory-and-founders-night/](https://globalai.community/chapters/berlin/events/ai-memory-and-founders-night/) *** ### 🎤 Speakers & Topics **Louis Buys** – CEO, Delta Campus *Incubating the Next Generation of Developers and Startup Founders* **Andreas Kollegger** – GenAI Lead, Neo4j *Context Graphs for Agents – What, How, and Why to Act* **Vasilije Markovic** – CEO, Cognee *Building Memory for AI Agents* **Elizaveta Zinovyeva** – Applied Scientist, AWS *Analyzing Codebases with Multi-Agent Systems on Amazon Bedrock* **Christian Kniep** – Agentic Thinker, MemVerge *MemMachine: Agents That Learn, Memory That Lasts* **Abdel Sghiouar** – Developer Advocate, Google *Taming Agentic AI: Running Untrusted Code Safely on Kubernetes* **Christian Glessner** – Microsoft MVP *Microsoft Foundry and Foundry IQ* *** ### 👥 Who Should Attend * AI developers and software engineers * Technical founders and startup teams * Product managers and AI architects * Anyone building **agentic AI**, **AI agents**, **knowledge graphs**, or **memory-driven AI systems**

Sunday Tech Coffee Meetup

Welcome to Sunday Tech Coffee. This is a **networking** event for those in the tech industry in Berlin. We are usually inside and to the right. Ask the barista/bartender if you can't find us.

DVC Data & AI Lunch Meetup Berlin February

🍕 **Data & AI Lunch Meetup – Pizza & Exciting Conversations** 🍕 The second **DVC Data & AI Lunch Meetup Berlin** is coming up! We’ll gather for a **shared lunch** and discuss everything around **Data & AI**. **When:** Friday, February 27, 2026, 12:30 PM **Where:** Monte Mente, Das Center am Potsdamer Platz **Cost:** Self-pay **Topic:** Exchange on Data & AI Join us for a great time of pizza and discussion on the latest developments in the **data world**! Looking forward to an exciting exchange with you! 🍕🤝 [#Data](https://www.datavaluecreation.com/search/posts?query=%23#Data) [#AI](https://www.datavaluecreation.com/search/posts?query=%23#AI) [#Meetup](https://www.datavaluecreation.com/search/posts?query=%23#Meetup) [#Networking](https://www.datavaluecreation.com/search/posts?query=%23#Networking) [#Innovation](https://www.datavaluecreation.com/search/posts?query=%23#Innovation) [#DataStrategy](https://www.datavaluecreation.com/search/posts?query=%23#DataStrategy)

Berlin Cybersecurity Social #24

This session is part of the Berlin Cybersecurity Social community’s monthly meetup, where security professionals, leaders, and enthusiasts come together to share knowledge and connect. So are you a cybersecurity professional looking to connect with like-minded professionals, share experiences, and make friends? Look no further! **Cyber Risk in Banking & Finance: Regulation, Reality, and Measurement (Roundtable & Lightning Talk)** ​Ever wondered what is really happening in banking and finance when it comes to cybersecurity regulation, risk, and board-level accountability? ​Join the Berlin Cybersecurity Social community at the **Deutsche Bank Berlin Technology Centre** for an evening focused on how cyber risk is understood, measured, and communicated inside some of the most highly regulated organisations in the world. ​This month’s edition brings together senior security leaders from banking and fintech sectors for an open discussion and lightning talk on cyber risk, decision-making, and operating security programs in complex, regulated environments. ​**🔹 Roundtable Discussion - 45 mins** ​The evening will open with a roundtable conversation featuring: * ​Deputy CISO from **Deutsche Bank** Carsten Fischer * ​CISO of **N26** Reinhold Wochner * ​CSO of **Upvest** Sebastien Jeanquier ​The discussion will explore how security leaders assess and manage risk, align cybersecurity with business priorities, and communicate effectively with executive leadership and boards. ​**🎤 Lightning Talk 1 - 30 Mins** ​**Cyber Risk Quantification: From Theory to Practice** **Dr. Sybe Izaak Rispens** ​Traditional cybersecurity metrics often fail to express risk in business terms. This session explores how cyber threats can be translated into financial impact using quantitative frameworks such as FAIR. Dr. Rispens will walk through practical steps including identifying critical assets, estimating loss event frequency and magnitude, and using simulations to support decision-making. ​Drawing on real-world experience from financial institutions, including leadership roles at **Klarna AB** and **Trade Republic Bank**, the talk shows how cyber risk quantification helps security teams prioritize investments, justify budgets at board level, and integrate cybersecurity into enterprise risk management. ​ ​**🎤 Lightning Talk 2 - 30 mins** **​Entropy and Empathy: Applying Technical Writing Principles to Cybersecurity** **Dustin Smith – DB Security Strategy and Frameworks** ​Despite significant investment in cybersecurity technologies, many successful cyber-attacks still originate from human behavior rather than technical failure. This talk explores why traditional, information-based security awareness programs often fail to translate into secure behavior, and why cybersecurity culture should be understood as a behavioral and organizational change, not just a compliance or training exercise. Drawing on insights from behavioral economics, psychology, and real-world breach data, it highlights how attackers exploit human decision-making habits and social dynamics, and why simply knowing the “right thing” is rarely enough. ​The presentation introduces a transformational approach to cybersecurity culture that focuses on shaping behavior, norms, and shared responsibility across the organization, especially under pressure and during incidents. It connects cybersecurity culture to cyber resilience, a critical concern for financial institutions, and examines how these challenges are amplified in the AI era, where attacks are faster, more convincing, and more personalized. The goal is to offer a practical, strategic perspective on how financial institutions can move beyond awareness and compliance toward sustainable, human-centered security. *** ​As always, expect thoughtful discussion, practical insights, and meaningful connections with peers from across the Berlin cybersecurity community. **About Berlin Cybersecurity Social:** This meetup is open to cybersecurity professionals of all levels, from beginners to experts. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting your journey in the field, this event is the perfect opportunity to connect with others who share your passion for cybersecurity.

Choosing Your Exit: The Founder Decision That Shapes Everything

We are thrilled to invite you to a **session on mergers and acquisitions with leaders from Superhuman, Zendesk, and PXR**, who will chat about the real decisions, risks, and realities when millions are on the line. We'll also have a **special guest joining the conversation** — stay tuned! **✅** **Registration** **is managed exclusively via Luma** — please reserve your spot using the Luma event page: https://luma.com/yabtlxq0 **✅** ​Should you sell your startup? How do you sell? What happens after? Get the inside scoop on mergers and acquisitions from industry veterans who've been through it. This session breaks down the entire M&A journey—from building your decision framework to navigating due diligence to thriving post-integration. You'll learn what to expect, what to watch out for, and how to handle curveballs when millions are on the line. **Please RSVP to join the waitlist**. We'll email you to confirm your spot as space allows. Entry is reserved for confirmed guests. **Agenda** * ​17:30–18:00: Doors open, check-in, and refreshments * ​**We'll be welcoming guests with confirmed registrations** * ​18:00–19:00: Panel discussion and Q&A * ​19:00–19:45: Networking and wrap up **For whom it will be interesting** ​Berlin startup founders, VC/early-stage investors, general tech leaders, and anyone who dreams of startup success. **Meet the Speakers** * [Ben Barclay](https://www.linkedin.com/in/barclaybenjamin/): Ben is the VP of Corporate Development and Investor Relations at Superhuman. Ben brings 15 years of experience in strategy and corporate development with a track record of driving growth and longterm value within technology businesses. Ben was previously SVP Strategy & Corporate Development at Zendesk, where he was responsible for aligning the company around its strategy and guiding execution through M&A, strategic partnerships, and investor relations. * ​[Reetu Kainulainen](https://www.linkedin.com/in/reetukainulainen/): Reetu is the VP of Product for AI Agents at Zendesk. He previously founded and led Ultimate.ai, a leading AI customer service automation platform, which Zendesk acquired in 2024. With over 14 years of experience building companies and developing cutting-edge AI-powered solutions, Reetu has established a strong track record of driving innovation in enterprise technology and successful company exits. * ​[Dr. Cornelius Karcher: ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-cornelius-karcher-3a852326a/)Cornelius is a lawyer and specialist in corporate law and M&A at PXR. Cornelius brings over 13 years of experience advising on M&A transactions, shareholder disputes, venture capital financing (equity and debt), and employee stock ownership plans (VESOP/ESOP). * ​Surprise Guest: Founder & COO of a leading AI automations company.

EXUSG Meetup Q1 2026

Founders Pitch Feedback – Pitch & Networking Night

Get ready to pitch your startup and snag some real, straight-up feedback from experienced founders! Ready to sharpen your pitch and get real feedback from fellow founders? Join GrowFirma’s **Founders Pitch Feedback** night, where early‑stage founders pitch their ideas and receive constructive input from the Berlin founder community. **How it works:** * Each founder gets **2 minutes** to pitch their startup idea. * After the pitch, the room gives **3–4 minutes of feedback -** what’s strong, what’s unclear, and what could be improved. * The focus is on clarity, problem–solution fit, and founder story, not on investor jargon. * Founders and companies present their own projects; participants are encouraged to suggest and invite other founders to join the lineup. **What you’ll get:** * Practice delivering a tight, compelling pitch. * Honest, founder‑to‑founder feedback in a supportive environment. * Networking time before and after the pitches to connect with other builders, potential co‑founders, and collaborators. **Want to stay updated?** Join the **GrowFirma Founder Community** (WhatsApp / LinkedIn group) for weekly event reminders, founder tips, and exclusive news: 👉 [https://linktr.ee/Growfirma?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAb21jcAPxdIdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA81NjcwNjczNDMzNTI0MjcAAaeoh1-aUMUVat-9H__91zKy_DVR4Bi9vDGr6BbManzROY3_cHkVlLkDuSciVQ_aem_8b59eQqDGkpHqx2jXbT-oQ](https://linktr.ee/Growfirma?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAb21jcAPxdIdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA81NjcwNjczNDMzNTI0MjcAAaeoh1-aUMUVat-9H__91zKy_DVR4Bi9vDGr6BbManzROY3_cHkVlLkDuSciVQ_aem_8b59eQqDGkpHqx2jXbT-oQ) Whether you’re pre‑idea, pre‑MVP, or already scaling, this is your weekly Berlin founder pitch lab. Sign up in advance to secure a pitch slot and come ready to give and receive feedback. See you there! 🚀

Discovery Dinner: Shaping Change From Within

If you’re craving more meaning, aliveness, and alignment with what truly matters to you in your work - this evening is for you. ​An intimate dinner evening for people working inside organizations, who don’t just want to function at work but care deeply about shaping things from within. ​This is not a workshop or a networking event. It’s an opportunity to pause, reflect together, and have the conversations that often get postponed in everyday work. ​It’s not about having all the answers. It’s about creating room for clarity, perspective, and one meaningful next step. ​Join us around the table. *Seats are limited to ensure meaningful conversations* 💛 *** **​​This evening is for you, if…** * ​​you desire a deeper sense of meaning and ownership in your everyday work * ​​you miss having inspiring conversations with like-minded people around work * ​​you’re curious how to navigate impact driven projects from within organizations ​We’re looking forward to welcoming you at the table, ​Marielen & Livia *** ​​📍 Berlin, Kreuzberg ​🍝 €11.50 (covers dinner & drinks) ​🦓 10-15 people ​Delicious food. Thoughtful questions. Honest exchange. No rush. *** ​**Why this evening exists** ​Over the last months, we kept meeting amazing people who work inside of organisation (often in a corporate context), who feel stretched by their work - yet still care deeply about contributing to positive change somehow. ​They bring so much care & potential and yet I’ve noticed how often meaningful initiatives never quite take shape, simply because there’s little space or energy to move them forward. ​That’s why we’re experimenting with a small, thoughtful format to create exactly that. ​For now, this takes a very simple form: we’re setting a table and bringing a small group together over dinner. It felt like the most human way to invite reflection, honest conversation, and a sense of hope and possibility. Especially at a time when change within systems can easily feel overwhelming. ​So if someone comes to mind while reading this - a friend, colleague, or collaborator who’s trying to create change from within their organization but might not quite know where to start or how to move forward - feel free to pass this on 💛

Risk. Security. Quality. Tackling Challenges in Supply Chains

Die zunehmende Vernetzung globaler Lieferketten bringt enorme Chancen, aber auch wachsende Risiken mit sich. Beim Event "Risk. Security. Quality. Tackling Challenges in Supply Chains" beleuchten wir aktuelle Herausforderungen, Best Practices und Strategien, um Lieferketten sicherer und resilienter zu machen. Freuen Sie sich auf einen entspannten Abend mit Expert:innen und ausreichend Gelegenheit, Ihr eigenes Netzwerk zu erweitern. ⏰ Wann? 26\. Februar 2026 📍 Wo? adesso, Prinzenstraße 34, 10969 Berlin 📅 Agenda 17:00 Uhr – Einlass 17:30 Uhr – Grußwort von Gregor Böhme, Digitalexperte, adesso 17:40 Uhr – Fireside Chat mit Raoul Mancke, Nachhaltigkeitsexperte, Kiwa 18:00 Uhr – Fireside Chat mit Joachim Mohs, Cybersecurity-Experte, PwC Deutschland 18:20 Uhr – Keynote „Ecosystem of Trust: Neue Ansätze für mehr Sicherheit in Lieferketten“, Sebastian Britz, CEO Kevla 18:45 Uhr – Networking, Food & Drinks Bitte nutzen Sie die Anmeldung auf unserer Website unter: 🔗 https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0qHZ9J0

Lean Coffee for Managers & Leaders

Join us for an upcoming in-person Lean Coffee meetup. Lean Coffee is a lightly-structured meeting format where the attendees create the agenda. Bring your management challenges; whether you're managing people, products, processes or beyond, and solve them together with peers from a diverse set of backgrounds. This event is great for anybody trying to create better ways of working and wants to share with + learn from others trying to do the same.