Martin is excited about technological developments, a confessing early adopter and challenger of the status quo in order to accelerate positive change, building positive impact businesses and using business as a force for good. He is an internationally experienced CEO, Venture Builder, and Board Advisor. He has worked alike for corporates, family owned businesses as well as start ups.
He started his career in Cleantech (Waste Water Treatment Technology). Early on found his way to Asia, spending time in Japan, Singapore, India, Indonesia before ending up in China for 11 years, setting up successful two companies.
Since 2013, now back in Europe, he got involved with venture capital and took operational lead in early-stage ventures, among them: Development of a hydrogen fueled electric car, an analytics company for ESG data, development of sustainable data centers and microgrids for residential and industrial real estate. During this time he successfully managed business model re-engineering, fund raising with impact investors and received a B Corp (B Lab) listing.
Being exposed to rapid growth and the fast moving world of technology, Martin has witnessed the importance of well-functioning teams and organisational design as basis for innovation, execution and adaptability. In fact, the future of work in times of artificial intelligence, robotics, and technological disruption has grabbed his attention. With Rise Beyond, Martin consequently supported companies to deal with disruption and complex business environments, increase the pace of innovation, and build agile and adaptable teams.
Martin has a background as Wirtschaftsingenieur (Dual Master in Mechanical Engineering and International Business) and received a PhD in Industrial Ecology / Environmental Economics, with a project that took a holistic system and lifecycle approach to resource management in industrial estates in India and Indonesia (Eco-Industrial Parks).