Christian Hollenbach

#fundingalert 💼Company: Black Semiconductor  💰Funding: €254.4 Million  ⚡Round: Seed 👥Investors: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Industrie, Klimaschutz und Energie des Landes NRW, Porsche Ventures, Project A, East Hill Equity - Managing Scania Growth Capital, Capnamic, TVF | TechVision Fonds, NRW.BANK, Vsquared Ventures, Cambium Capital Management, Onsight Ventures. Black Semiconductor is a deep tech company introducing a new generation of chip technology by leveraging graphene technology to create powerful chip networks with unparalleled performance, connecting thousands of chips to allow them to interact as if they were one. The company plans to inaugurate a pilot manufacturing facility in Aachen by 2026, demonstrating the seamless integration of graphene into electronic chips. Additionally, Black Semiconductor aims to increase its headcount, planning to create 90 new high-tech positions, boosting its total workforce from 30 to 120 by 2026. Daniel Schall, Uwe Horstmann, Patrick Huke, Cedric Huyghebaert Read more - https://lnkd.in/gwWpqq5q To share your startup story write us on - [email protected] #BlackSemiconductor #deeptech #leveraginggraphene #BLK #news #funding #fundingnews #startup #startupnews #startuprise

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I attended a compelling keynote speech by Peter Drucker Society Europe on the topic "𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐧 - 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤?" 💬 The starting point of our discussion was that the #EnergyTransition poses new challenges for location policy. What needs to be done? What needs to be considered? Here is a brief overview of the topics I addressed: 👉🏼Development of CO2 Emissions in Energy Production and Consumption: We examined how CO2 emissions have evolved and what this means for future energy strategies. 👉🏼#LandingPorts - Energy-Intensive Industries: We discussed the role of landing ports in supporting energy-intensive industries and how they can adapt to new energy standards. 👉🏼#Grid Access for Electrical Energy: Ensuring reliable and equitable access to the electrical grid is crucial for the energy transition. 👉🏼Grid Access for #Hydrogen: As hydrogen becomes a key player in sustainable energy, we explored the infrastructure and policies needed to support its integration. 👉🏼Future Perspectives: We looked at the long-term outlook of the energy transition and the strategic adjustments businesses must make to thrive in this new era. These topics are not just theoretical; they are actionable insights that can guide companies through the complexities of the energy transition. Big thanks to Winfried W. Weber, Klaus Weßing and Hermann Doppler! ▶️You can watch the entire talk on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/dHDpkiHY

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With a consistent choice of materials and a switch to cement and fossil-free building materials, as well as the ‘build as little as possible’ approach, around 70% of emissions can be avoided. Architects have a duty to choose building materials with the lowest possible CO2 footprint and plan for the long term and to be as recyclable as possible. Choose materials like HONEXT® made from waste and 100% recyclable. A real circular alternative for interior architecture. At OPENLY.lab they share their knowledge of bionic construction to achieve the highest possible climate impact. more info: https://lnkd.in/dVREYwra https://lnkd.in/dNemPGKS #circularmaterials #sustainablematerials #circularconstruction

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🌍 Yesterday, I attended the BDI Climate Congress, a key event for discussing Germany's industrial transformation. Key findings from the "Transformation Paths" study include: 🇩🇪 Germany is lagging in key industrial indicators. ⚡ 20% of industrial value creation is at risk due to high energy costs. 🌐 Global climate transformation offers €15 trillion in new market opportunities by 2030. 🔄 Germany must reinvent itself as an industrial nation. 📝 A comprehensive industrial policy agenda is needed. 💸 Over €1 trillion in investment required by 2030.   BDI's immediate measures: federal co-financing of grid fees, a new electricity market design, and accelerated planning and approval processes. One personal key learning: the need for a strong and reliable future narrative for Germany and Europe. Let´s write it! #Klimakongress FGS Global BDI - Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie e.V.

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🔌💡 How is the European market for EMSP solutions developing and is there a future? ❓ 🚀 🚀 Exciting news from the German EMSP market: EnBW, as the largest German EMSP, has announced yesterday that it will adjust its existing EMSP offering "Mobility+" and remove fixed price charging tariffs for non-EnBW charge points (officially announced as flexible pricing). 🚀 🚀 Mobility+ appears to be yet another EMSP solution provider struggling to predict the frequency and charging behaviour of its users, especially at non-EnBW charge points. As a result, the economic risks of the business model and the (likelihood of) financial losses must have been too high to continue with the old pricing model. A general problem that other EMSPs face as well. From the user's point of view, EMSPs offer three advantages: a) the ability to charge anywhere with a single account/RFID card, b) the predictable and fixed charge per kWh, and finally c) the simple payment and billing process. To be attractive, the prices offered must also be at least comparable to the ad-hoc prices of the CPOs. (One of the reasons why I have used Mobility+ myself so far.) The move towards EMSP offers with no real price advantage over ad-hoc prices and the abolition of fixed tariffs raises the question of whether the business model is still advantageous for the end customer and therefore viable? Especially when you consider the growing number of alternative payment options (driven by LSV and now AFIR). ❓ Exciting times are definitely ahead. What do you think about the prospects for EMSPs? ⁉️🧐 #emobility #ev #evcharging #charging #buildingtomorrow #EMSP

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Germany: Economy “Lack of foreign orders” - Exporters' mood increasingly gloomy Exports are a German specialty. But the country's exporters are complaining about declines - so far with no prospect of improvement. A few sectors are exempt from this. 25.09.2024 Sentiment in the German export industry deteriorated for the fourth month in a row in September. The barometer for export expectations fell to minus 6.3 points, from minus 5.2 points in August. This was announced by the Munich-based Ifo Institute, based on a company survey. This is the worst value since February. “Industry is complaining about a lack of orders from abroad,” says Ifo survey director Klaus Wohlrabe. “The export economy is in a weak phase.” The majority of companies are expecting a decline in orders from abroad. “The metal sector and the automotive industry in particular are expecting significant losses,” says the Ifo Institute. Only a few sectors are still expecting growth. These include food and beverage producers. Manufacturers of glassware and ceramics are also hoping for rising foreign sales. In the chemical industry, the positive and negative responses balance each other out: Export business is likely to remain unchanged here. Declines in business with China and the USA German exports to the world's two largest economies have recently fallen significantly: deliveries to the USA fell by 3.2 percent year-on-year to 12.6 billion euros in August, while those to China plummeted by as much as 15.2 percent to 7.0 billion euros. The weakening export business is one reason why the leading research institutes are taking a more pessimistic view of the German economy. In their fall report for the German government, they expect gross domestic product to fall by 0.1 percent this year, according to people familiar with the figures. In March, a mini increase of 0.1 percent was predicted. For the coming year 2025, the forecast was cut from 1.4 to 0.8 percent. For 2026, the institutes are forecasting growth of 1.3 percent. The Joint Economic Forecast will be published on Thursday, meaning that the figures could still change slightly before then. It serves as the basis for the German government's projections in October, which in turn form the basis for the tax estimate. https://lnkd.in/ghSXt_GX

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#Germany | Planification milestone 🚨 🔗 The proposal for the core #hydrogen pipeline has been approved by the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur). The proposal had been done by the TSOs' association FNB Gas e.V. (Fernleitungsnetzbetreiber) on June 2023. 🏭 So it is decided, the hydrogen network will span 9,040 kilometers, with 60% of existing gas pipelines being converted for hydrogen use and 40% newly built. The network will be developed gradually until 2032, with an investment of €18.9 billion. It will support the country’s hydrogen infrastructure, linking regional hydrogen clusters and connecting with neighboring countries. This approval marks a key step toward establishing a nationwide hydrogen network in Germany. 🌎 This arouses the attention not only of the local German industry, eager for a low-cost, steady green hydrogen supply, but also of almost the whole world of renewable-resource-rich countries keen to supply them with their competitive hydrogen. More information in the post below ⬇ https://lnkd.in/drU68Xpb #spain #industry #sustainableinvestment #renewableenergy #LatAmInvestment #sustainability

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Wondering how to manage the rising complexity in grid management caused by #DERs present behind-the-meter? And how to increase grid capacity fast to meet the growing #electricity demand? With Gridscale X DER Insights you get the visibility you need to de-risk and accelerate your journey to #netzero. 🌐 gain next-level DER visibility with an accurate grid model ⏳ prioritize infrastructure upgrades and prevent unexpected issues ✅ unlock the full potential of DER flexibility to get the most out of every part of your grid Don't wait and experience #Gridscale X DER Insights right now. https://sie.ag/7VCBBb

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Exciting Developments in the Net Neutrality Debate Yesterday’s #netneutrality decision by the #FCC will surely prompt another wave of research on this topic, which I believe is the right reaction to ensure that the issue continues to be debated on scientific grounds. A recent empirical research article by Wolfgang Dr. Briglauer et al. suggests decreased fiber investments, for example. [Link to the paper: https://lnkd.in/d2VBCn7n] Christopher Yoo 's article discusses the nuances of deviations from net neutrality before EU and US laws and compares their interpretations. [Link to the paper: https://lnkd.in/dumJNs9i] I believe the policy debate on this issue is likely to continue by dissecting and addressing the welfare implications of nuanced applications of deviations from net neutrality, such as throttling and paid prioritization. For more insights, here are my previous posts on the issue. https://lnkd.in/dHiaGvCP https://lnkd.in/dWXHgk8W #netneutrality #regulation #fcc #publicpolicy #antitrust  #telecomm #internetserviceprovider #contentprovider #streaming #LinkedInDiscussion #telecom

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The future is electric! Yesterday, I was part of a panel discussion at the climate conference #KlimaKon24 from DER SPIEGEL and #BCG in Berlin. The topic: ‘Transformation paths for Germany – between crisis and climate protection’. Moderated by Gerald Traufetter I discussed together with Dr. Franziska Brantner Anne-Marie Großmann Siegfried Russwurm and Thilo Schumacher about how we can successfully continue the important path to carbon neutrality despite major economic and geopolitical challenges – in Germany and beyond. One thing is clear: Achieving CO2-neutrality is a task for all of us, and one in which all our business areas play a crucial role: from e-mobility in the #automotive industry to #greensteel and #sustainability in the financial market. At Opel, we are convinced that attractive offers for electric mobility combined with clear and stable political framework conditions will ensure the long-term success of electric cars and increase customer acceptance. A clear political line and thus planning security are important for all of us – especially in the automotive industry due to the long-term development cycles and investment horizons. We therefore support maintaining the ban on combustion engines in 2035 by the EU. Our job as a manufacturer is to work on the attractiveness and affordability of our products – and this year we have come a long way: Opel is the first German carmaker to offer a completely electric product range. From 2025, every newly introduced Opel will be purely electric. And we want to further democratize e-mobility: The Corsa Electric YES! starts at €30,000, our new Frontera Electric can already be ordered for under €29,000. And in the near future we will be launching an electric vehicle for €25,000. We are tackling the challenges of these times and driving change forward. This is particularly true at our sites in Germany, where we are investing heavily to make them fit for the age of e-mobility. This cannot be taken for granted, as the costs of development, production and energy abroad are often significantly lower than those in our country. We want to continue to make our contribution to prosperity, high social standards and jobs in #Germany. #Opel #ForeverForward #Electrification #Cars #EV #ClimateChange #Sustainability #Innovation #Management #AutomotiveIndustry More to read about the conference here: https://lnkd.in/efnPg_nE

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💡 Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to act as a catalyst for a wide variety of transaction types. Particularly, generative #AI possesses the power to disrupt entities ranging from corporate giants to startups, impacting sectors and even entire industries. Although generative AI is still in its infancy, its influence on business and society is already becoming significant. AI can drive substantial cost efficiencies, create new revenue streams, open new customer channels, and both enhance and commoditize value propositions. The forthcoming AI wave will compel companies to reassess their strategies, business models, markets, and competitors. This movement is likely to generate a spectrum of transactions, from traditional mergers and acquisitions (M&A) to partnerships, alliances, and innovative relationships previously unseen. Read the complete report below.

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When such numbers are shown one gets worried it won’t be on time. Imagine 35,000 chargers at 1 MW….. that’s potential 35 GW peak power demand…. That’s easily 40 power plants. It’s clear that just going electric is not the solution. Especially for trucking (and shipping and air transport) we need sustainable fuels. #sustainablefuels #energytransition

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🛩️ 𝐋𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 🛩️   The news about Lilium receiving a potential state guarantee for a KfW loan has sparked discussions within the #aviation and #finance sectors, especially on LinkedIn. Now, as #Lilium had to file for insolvency, it is unclear how the story goes on. As an innovator in electric aviation, Lilium has the potential to revolutionize air #mobility. The pros and cons have been discussed up and down on LinkedIn:   Pro ✅   The biggest advantage of a federal guarantee for the KfW loan would have been that it strengthened the confidence of private investors in Germany as a business location. By providing state support, it signals that innovative companies like Lilium are being actively promoted in Germany 🇩🇪. This demonstrates the government's commitment to fostering cutting-edge technologies and sustainable growth, creating a positive environment for private investment. In the long run, it helps position Germany as an attractive hub for technological innovation and enhances its competitiveness on the global stage 📈   Con ❌   The biggest criticism is that the government would use taxpayer money to support an individual company that has incurred significant losses and is far behind its development schedule 📉. Critics argue that Lilium is unlikely to ever reach mass production, making such state assistance a risky and questionable use of public funds and that the free market should determine the company’s success or failure without government intervention 🙅. With the insolvency filing, the market has most likely determined Lilium’s future in Germany.   We will see how the story will go on and if Lilium will relocate its production to another country like France 🇫🇷 in which they are expecting more state support than in Germany.   No matter whether one supported state aid or opposed it, one thing is beyond dispute:   The Lilium Jet has a cool and innovative design. We are proud that our portfolio company D.M.S. Design Modelle Studien GmbH has built several of these prototypes for Lilium. And wherever Lilium decides to go, we will happily continue our partnership 🤝   Just looks stunning, doesn’t it? 🤩

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„Doing the right thing even if no-one is looking“ - that is a good definition of #integrity. How to improve your skills to be able to do so is one of many questions to be answered for a good corporate culture. It was a pleasure to share my experience and thoughts about it with some distance in this podcast. Thanks #BCG and Dr. Katharina Hefter for the opportunity. Spotify Link to the podcast below in the comments. #compliance #corporateculture #leadership #crisismanagement

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My colleagues around Dr. David Born have published their latest perspective on the Germany economy. For companies in #industrialautomation it paints a consistent picture we observed across projects in the last 12 months. Order intake is challenging, especially for project driven businesses and paint a somewhat muted picture on what revenue and profitability levels can be achieved in 2025. There are positive outliers depending on what application and industry you focus on.

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Yesterday, NetzeBW announced the first-ever dynamic grid fees in Germany—a game changer for both consumers and the energy sector. Until now, electricity prices could fluctuate throughout the day, but now grid fees will too. This means that consumers can save significantly by adjusting their energy use to times when renewables are abundant. For example, you could pay a third of the usual grid charges for charging your EV or running your heat pump if you do it during the day when solar energy is plentiful. 🌞⚡ Given that grid fees often make up more than 50% of household electricity costs in competitive tariffs, this is a huge opportunity to save money and optimize energy use. It also paves the way for more widespread dynamic tariffs, encouraging smarter consumption and advancing the transition to a greener grid. #EnergyTransition #SmartGrid #RenewableEnergy #Electricity

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Wow - thanks Simon Walter, Magdalena Maier and Charlotte Niklahs for the program you've put together for the #management hive of #pakcon24! 🔥 How to set up a 10x innovation culture by Nina Michahelles, Sarina Hergarten, Alexander Böhm, Nils Wagner How to build and scale high-performing companies by Friederike Reuter, Stefan Roebel, Martin Sondenheimer, Magdalena Maier Strategy is broken by Sebastian Herzog, Isabelle Schnellbuegel, Paul Becker, Simon Walter AI: The Biggest Opportunity for the German Mittelstand? by Dr. Alexander Mrozek, Dr. Sebastian Walter, Anna Franziska Michel, Dr. Alexandra Deichsel Why Digital Transformations often fail - particularly in Germany by Miriam van Straelen, Marc Schiekofer, Cecilie Hohlbein Hegelund, Moritz Trutschel Venture Clienting - Success Factors of Startup - Corporate Collaborations by Arno Baltruschat, Dr. Sophie Chung, Stefan Schmautz, Anne Decker Last ticket drop: https://lnkd.in/duPQg3Wc

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The economy needs politics. The transformation towards sustainable mobility can only be achieved through efficient interaction between business, politics and society. If you want to know what works and what doesn't, take a look here.

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If our Bundesministerium für Digitales und Verkehr were run by an AI… Here’s how it would accelerate the shift to #sustainable #mobility: Key Actions: 1. Boost #EV Adoption & Infrastructure - €6B for EV incentives - €3B for charging stations 2. Strengthen #Emissions Regulations - €0.5B to implement stricter standards 3. Upgrade #PublicTransit - €15B for system modernization - €3B to subsidize public transport fares 4. Promote Sustainable #Urban Planning - €2B for bike lanes & pedestrian zones 5. Drive #Innovation & Reskilling - €3.5B for R&D and workforce transition Total Budget 2024-26: €38.1B Quantified Benefits in this period: €2.54B in CO₂ reduction, fuel savings, and healthcare. Non-Quantified Upside: Job creation, global leadership in clean tech, and improved quality of life. >>> This is the result of a intense conversation I just had with OpenAI’s new model o1-preview #Strawberry. Foundation of these statements are comprehensive analyses of benefits & cost of each measure - also taking into consideration implementation hurdles and voter reactions. The model even drafted a letter including Mr. Wissings full address. I am blown away… although some of the measures still require some tweaking :-) What are your first experiences with Strawberry?

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