exist Advisory Board

Carolin Ackermann is an entrepreneur who works as a fractional CMO and mentor for technology-driven companies. Previously, she founded and led the deep tech startup SEAWATER Cubes—a spin-off from htw saar’s research transfer program—for eight years. Her focus is on deep tech and translating complex innovations into marketable business models. She is also active as the Saarland regional spokesperson for the Startup Association.

Lisa Bennewitz is a member of the board of Business Angels Deutschland e.V. (BAND), the national umbrella organization for German business angels, and an active member of the European network EBAN. After holding positions at global industrial companies and spending a decade working on international M&A and ECM transactions at Deutsche Bank and Evercore, she now invests in technology-focused startups, among other things, and advocates for better conditions for early-stage capital and entrepreneurship in Germany.

Tim Böltken is the co-founder and CEO of INERATEC. He guides the company’s strategic direction and innovation efforts and is leading it into a new era of energy. INERATEC is at the forefront of implementing several industrial projects for the production of sustainable fuels, including Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), clean diesel and gasoline, as well as other clean fuel solutions. Under Tim Böltken’s leadership, INERATEC has received numerous prestigious awards recognizing its groundbreaking technology and contributions to sustainability. Tim Böltken holds a Ph.D. in chemical engineering and has extensive industry experience in hydrogen production, catalysis, and petrochemicals.

Marte Sybil Kessler is a member of the Stifterverband’s extended executive board and head of the “Programs and Funding” division.

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Friederike Welter, Member of Academia Europaea (MAE), is the full-time president of the Institute for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Research (IfM) in Bonn. She also holds the Chair of Business Administration, specializing in the management of small and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurship, at the University of Siegen. Among other roles, she is a member of the SME Advisory Board of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, Chair of the exist Expert Advisory Board, and a recipient of the EU DG GROW Fellowship. Professor Welter is a highly regarded scholar both internationally and nationally. In 2026, she became only the second German to receive the Dedication to Entrepreneurship Award from the Academy of Management for her research on small and medium-sized enterprises. In 2023, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Glasgow.

Dr. Marie Asano is currently an Investment Principal at the European Circular Bioeconomy Fund, a venture capital fund that invests in growth companies in the European bioeconomy. Previously, she was a Senior Investment Manager at High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF). Before beginning her professional career, she earned a Ph.D. in chemistry from the Universities of Liège and Bordeaux.

Daniel Breitinger leads Bitkom’s startup team. To strengthen the German startup ecosystem, he advocates for improved policy conditions and the networking of individual stakeholders. Previously, he handled public affairs and education policy issues at Bitkom. He studied European and political science and has worked in the German Bundestag as well as in the automotive industry.

Dr. Florian Täube is the Head of the Startup Division at the RKW Competence Center. He supports key influencers, such as regional startup ecosystems and supraregional stakeholders. Previously, he spent over 15 years conducting research and teaching at Imperial College London, EBS University of Business and Law, Solvay Brussels School, and CBS International Business School on topics such as innovation clusters, intrapreneurship, and migrant, sustainable, and social entrepreneurship.