About us

/ It's about the people./

STARTUP AUTOBAHN is built around people: startups, corporate teams, researchers and experts working together to move technology from prototype toward production.

[N.01/03]> Our story

/ Founded in Stuttgart to make
open innovation practical./

STARTUP AUTOBAHN was founded by Daimler, Plug and Play, the University of Stuttgart and ARENA2036 — partners who believe in a culture of open doors, disruptive thinking and the open exchange of ideas, technologies and contacts to get startups moving faster.

From Stuttgart, the platform combines Plug and Play's international startup network with automotive and industrial expertise, bringing corporates, startups and researchers together around one question: which technology is ready to move from prototype toward production?

Open doors. Direct exchange. Technology ready for the road.

0+

Active Partners

0+

Startups Accelerated

0+

Pilot Projects Realized

0+

Virtual Events Hosted

[N.02/03]> The team

/ The people behind
STARTUP AUTOBAHN./

Innovation managers, venture analysts and program leads from our partner companies and from Plug and Play Germany.

// 01

Sascha Karimpour

Partner at Plug and Play Germany GmbH

// 02

Theodora Preda

Ventures Director at Plug and Play Germany GmbH

// 03

Peter Froeschle

Managing Director at ARENA2036

// 04

Jacklin Leiser

Head of Startups & Business Innovation at Mercedes-Benz

// 05

Sebastian Tietz

Director Startup Collaboration at Bosch

// 06

Alexander Brem

Endowed Chaired Professor & Institute Director at University of Stuttgart

// 07

Marc Lübke

Head of Global Venture & Technology Scouting at ZF Friedrichshafen

// 08

Philipp Rupprecht

Project Lead Innovation Management at Porsche

// 09

Carla Ghidini

Innovation Manager & Director at NXP Semiconductors

// 10

Philipp Minkwitz

Innovation Manager at Webasto Group

// 11

Gioele Varvarito

Startup Relations at DXC Technology

// 12

Urszula Kosidlo

Open Innovation Manager at Motherson Innovations

[N.03/03]> Get involved

/ Your possible partners
are already here./

STARTUP AUTOBAHN includes 29 active partners across mobility, production and enterprise.