Urban Innovation Forum 2025
The Urban Innovation Forum (UIF) is an annual gathering of top founders, investors, tech leaders, ecosystem players and operators in Berlin, fostering meaningful connections and groundbreaking insights in climate innovation.
This is why you should be at UIF
🔗 Matchmaking with talque
We are using the matchmaking tool talque to facilitate targeted and efficient networking based on your interests and professional field. Whether you're looking for industry experts, investors, or collaborators, talque helps you connect with relevant people effortlessly. You can chat with your matches and meet them on-site during dedicated matchmaking hours. We encourage all participants to create a profile for the best outcome. You can also find the speakers and our agenda in the app.
❤️ Good Vibes
UIF does a great job creating a welcoming‚ positive and inspirational atmosphere that encourages a sparkling dialogue between founders‚ entrepreneurs‚ community members and investors.
✅ Curated Activities
UIF hosts a selection of hyper-curated activities for founders, startups, investors, industry professionals, and ecosystem players. These activities foster learning, matchmaking, visibility, and meaningful peer-to-peer connections.
🌈 A Hyper-Relevant Crowd
Join a carefully selected gathering of VCs, founders, industry leaders, and operators — UIF hosts a highly relevant crowd for the Impact Startup Ecosystem in Berlin.
🏆 World-Class Stage
UIF features successful founders, investors, industry leaders, and ecosystem players, sharing actionable advice on building generational companies.
🌍 Global Community
UIF offers a unique opportunity to connect with visionary leaders from around the world, explore cutting-edge ideas, discover new interests, and network with professionals who share a passion for forward-focused experiences.
Agenda
11:15 Walk-In & Pre-event networking
12:00 Opening Ceremony
Welcome remarks
Thomas Krause, Head of the Department of Energy, Digitalization, Innovation, Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Operations
Dr. Frank Pawlitschek, Director HPI Engine & Board Member Climate Tech Hub
Inspirational Keynotes: Growth success stories & challenges
Jonas Schorr, CEO & Founder, Urban Impact
Nico Köllner, Managing Director, Data2Heat
Florian Hildebrand, Greenlyte, CEO and Co-Founder
12:45 “No Impact? No Party”
(Panel) How to Deploy Innovation for a Carbon-Neutral City
Allison Dring, Co Founder & CEO, Made of Air
Elena Harumi Stark, Head of Impact & ESG, AENU
Christoph Benedict Krömer, Authorized representative, Infrest e.V.
Dr. Felix Groba, Head of Unit 'Energy', Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Operations
Moderator: Aneri Pradhan, One of a Kind Ltd
13:30 “Resilient Growth – Break Things, Fix the Planet”
(Panel) Disruptive (Climate) Tech: Scaling Solutions That Matter
Christian Guba, Principal, Extantia Capital
Jennifer Kuerner, Senior Associate Venture Portfolio Management, Chemovator
Ludwig Speidel, CFO, Swobbee GmbH
Ed Javier, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program Director, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
Moderation: Sebastian Ulm, Director Innovation, Climate Tech Hub
14:30 Nano Session # 1
City Lessons
Miriam Ducke, Director Europe, London & Partners
Tadaaki Kimura, CEO, addlight Inc.
Sophie Persigehl, Head of Projects and Operations, Urban Impact
"A Journey Through the US Midwest & Beyond"
Britta Schneider, Deputy Director Government Projects and Trade Missions, GACC Midwest & Jan-Felix Kederer, Manager, Government Projects & Trade Missions, GACC Midwest
15:00 - 16:00 Matchmaking
Scheduled networking for all participants.
15:30 Nano Session #2
Innovation Unplugged
„Celebrating the future!“ Katharina Wolf, Clubliebe e.V. Zukunft Feiern
Theresa Hümmer, Board Member, Global Goals für Berlin e.V.
"Urban Innovation Without Borders – ClimateX Go Global" Lou Kest, Senior Programs & Ecosystem Manager, Berlin Innovation Agency (BIA)
"Schwedt's Industrial Renaissance: Pioneering Climate-Neutral Innovation"
Michèle Rieger, Sustainability and Operations Management & Christine Braun, Community Engagement Manager, Startup Labor Schwedt
16:00 - 17:00 Matchmaking
Scheduled networking for all participants.
16:30 Nano Session #3
"Scaling Innovation in a Corporate Environment"
Thomas Schubert, Partner, Dentons"Masterplan Solarcity" Lennart Kehlenbeck & Clarissa Kersting, Experts for Renewable Energies, Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises
17:30 Startup Slam
Jury
Natalie Milde, ESG & Impact Lead, Future Energy Ventures
Marvin Göldner, Co-Head of Startup Incubator Berlin
Elzan Godlewski, Investment Associate, kopa ventures
Jessica Fernsler, Investment Associate, 2bX
18:30 Smart City Networking
Beate Albert, Coordinator of the Smart City Unit, Berlin Partner for Business and Technology
Moderation: Nicole Hiltl, Managing Director, Climate Tech Hub