Many people are standing in a hall whose walls are dark blue lit. Under the ceiling hang numerous string lights that give the impression of a starry sky.
Event

ZEISS Ventures Day

Starting soon
Ongoing Stay Tuned for next time
Ended Stay Tuned for next time
  • 00 years
  • 00 months
  • 00 days
  • 00 hours
  • 00 minutes
  • 00 seconds
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

What's in it for you

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 2025

Agenda | Tue, 23 September 2025

16:00 – 16:30

Check In & Registration​

16:30 – 17:10

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

17:10 – 17:40

Update Ventures Activities
Dr. Marc Schüler, Head of External Venturing​
Evgeni Rehfuss, Head of Internal Venturing​
Dr. Marcel Röder, Head of Controlled Environment Agriculture​

17:40 – 18:20

Driving Growth Together - Talks RMS & SMT​
Malte Hast, Head of Strategy, Research Microscopy Solution Business​
Martin Dietzel, Head of Product Strategy Beyond, Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology​

18:20 – 19:10

Pitches​
ZEISS Ventures Portfolio ​

19:10 – 19:15

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

19:15 – 19:45

Drinks & Snacks ​

19:45 – open end

Start-up Fair & Flying Dinner

Speakers

Photo of Andreas Pecher, CEO Carl Zeiss AG

Andreas Pecher

President & CEO – ZEISS Group

Andreas Pecher is President & CEO of the ZEISS Group and oversees the Executive Corporate Office, Patents, Strategic Development, Brand, Communications and Public Affairs, Research & Technology, and Ventures. He also is responsible for the Australasia, China, India, and Southeast Asia sales regions and serves as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, a company listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange 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). 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 the ZEISS investments in technology-driven start-ups. The mission of ZEISS Ventures is to enable and accelerate the development and commercialization of market shaping innovations between, beyond, and disruptive to current ZEISS strategic business units. It also aims to increase the attractiveness for bright talents by partnering with developers, entrepreneurs, and co-investors who build technology-driven businesses relevant to ZEISS. Boris took over the lead of ZEISS Ventures in 2024 and continued to manage the Beyond Innovation Vehicle. Previously, he worked as Senior Vice President of B. Braun's Innovation Hub & Digital Innovation where be built and managed a corporate venture portfolio.

Portrait of Martin Dietzel

Martin Dietzel

Head of Product Strategy Beyond, ZEISS SMT

As Head of Product Strategy Beyond, Martin manages ZEISS Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology’s (SMT) business development activities to enter new market fields beyond SMT’s current portfolio, targeting Advanced Packaging and Photonics. His team operates also as an incubator for new business opportunities. Martin took over this role in January 2024. Previously, he was Head of Product Line Inspection Optics, where he managed ZEISS SMT’s Wafer Inspection Optics business, scaling up the business to meet the market needs. Prior to joining ZEISS, Martin worked at a start-up building robotic telescopes and observatories with a footprint on all continents.

Portrait of Malte Hast

Malte Hast

Head of Strategy for Research Microscopy Solution Business, ZEISS RMS

ZEISS Research Microscopy Solutions (RMS) provides microscope systems and software and offers application solutions to leading scientists and industrial customers. As head of Strategy and Business Development, Malte is responsible for strategically driving growth and fostering organizational development across departments. The close collaboration with ZEISS Ventures is an important strategic pillar for RMS and helps the organization defend innovation leadership and differentiate in both established and new markets. Prior to joining ZEISS, Malte worked at Siemens and as an independent advisor for ventures in the tech industry.

Exhibitors / ZEISS portfolio ventures

ZEISS Ventures Day 2024

Embarking to new horizons
ZEISS Ventures Day 2024
ZEISS Ventures Day 2023

On October 8, 2024 we welcomed over 190 innovators, business representatives from the ZEISS Group as well as external investors and partners to the ZEISS Ventures Day 2024. It was an inspiring event with exciting keynotes about innovation at ZEISS, and pitches by the ZEISS Ventures portfolio companies.

ZEISS Ventures team

We are looking forward to the ZEISS Ventures Day 2025!


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