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Event

ZEISS Ventures Day

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A smartphone is held up at an event in landscape orientation to capture a photograph of the events seen on stage
A smartphone is held up at an event in landscape orientation to capture a photograph of the events seen on stage

Scaling for growth

The ZEISS Ventures Day gives you the opportunity to exchange with the ZEISS Ventures portfolio companies, follow exciting keynote speeches, meet internal and external stakeholders, and share experiences around innovation and business building.

Driven by the ambition to build market-shaping innovations, we are determined to expand our horizon and follow various approaches to create innovation. We are convinced, that success requires numerous capabilities and therefore is a team effort. Together, we generate customer value and solutions that make a difference tomorrow. Let us share our knowledge and aspirations!

Event location

Ostertag Events GmbH

Ostertag Events GmbH Ulmerstraße 45 D-73431 Aalen Germany

Patrons

Photo of Andreas Pecher, CEO Carl Zeiss AG

Andreas Pecher

President & CEO – ZEISS Group
Portrait of Prof. Dr. Boris Hofmann

Prof. Dr. Boris Hofmann

Head of ZEISS Ventures – ZEISS Group

ZEISS Ventures Day 2026

Agenda | Tue, 13 October 2026

16:00 – 16:30

Check in & Registration​

16:30 – 17:00

Welcome Speech
Andreas Pecher, CEO of the ZEISS Group & Prof. Dr. Boris Hofmann, Head of ZEISS Ventures​

17:00 – 17:30

Keynote Earlybird Venture Capital
(Speaker to be announced)

17:30 – 18:30

Pitches
ZEISS Ventures internal and external Portfolio​

18:30 – 18:40

Closing Speech
Prof. Dr. Boris Hofmann, Head of ZEISS Ventures​

18:40 – 19:15

Drinks & Snacks​

19:15 – open end

Start-up Fair & Networking Dinner ​

Speakers

Photo of Andreas Pecher, CEO Carl Zeiss AG

Andreas Pecher

President & CEO of the ZEISS Group and interim CEO of Carl Zeiss Meditec AG

Andreas Pecher is President & CEO of the ZEISS Group and oversees the Executive Board Office, Brand, Communications & Public Affairs, Human Resources, Patents, Research & Technology, Strategic Development and Ventures. He also is responsible for the Australasia, China, India, and Southeast Asia sales regions and he is Director of Labour Relations at Carl Zeiss AG. Andreas Pecher has also assumed the position of CEO of Carl Zeiss Meditec AG on an interim basis. Andreas Pecher was born in 1971 in Würzburg, Germany. He studied physics at the University of Texas at Austin, USA, and graduated in 1994 (Master of Arts). In 1997 he graduated from the University of Würzburg (Diploma). In 2005 he also completed an MBA at the Kellogg School of Management in Illinois, USA, and an MEM at Northwestern University in Illinois, USA.

Portrait of Prof. Dr. Boris Hofmann

Prof. Dr. Boris Hofmann

Head of ZEISS Ventures – ZEISS Group

As Head of ZEISS Ventures, Boris manages strategic investments in technology-driven start-ups and internal business ideas, driving innovations beyond ZEISS’s core business. He also oversees the Beyond Innovation Vehicle. Boris took on his role in 2024, following his position as Senior Vice President of B. Braun's Innovation Hub & Digital Innovation where he built and managed a corporate venture portfolio. He holds a diploma in biology and a PhD in biophysics. In 2005 he graduated at Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg with a Diploma in Biology. After, he did his Ph.D. in Biophysics at RWTH Aachen and Research Centre Jülich with following Postdoctoral Research at Research Centre Jülich.

Exhibitors / ZEISS portfolio ventures

ZEISS Ventures Day 2025

Embarking to new horizons
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ZEISS Ventures Day 2023

On September 23, 2025, we hosted ZEISS Ventures Day 2025, bringing together more than 250 innovators, entrepreneurs, and external investors. The event featured inspiring keynotes and portfolio company pitches, creating a dynamic platform for exchanging ideas on future technologies and new business opportunities.

It was inspiring to see the strong commitment across the community to shaping what’s next.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to making the event such a success.

ZEISS Ventures team

A group of men and women standing indoors in a row against a brick wall with arched windows and ceiling lights.

We are looking forward to the ZEISS Ventures Day 2026!

Best regards,
Prof. Dr. Boris Hofmann and the ZEISS Ventures team