blu BEYOND Future Talks 2025

Irene Bader
Irene Bader is a member of the Executive Board at DMG MORI, a leading manufacturer of machine tools with over 13,500 employees worldwide. She is responsible for Global Corporate Communication, Marketing, and Strategic Sales Management. Having joined the company in 2005, she has held various leadership positions and currently oversees global product communication as well as internal and external communications from Munich and Tokyo.

As Managing Director of DMG MORI Europe Holding, she helps shape corporate strategy and identifies market opportunities. Since 2016, she has also served on the Supervisory Board of DMG MORI AG. Originally from Austria, she holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) at Sheffield Hallam University in the United Kingdom.

Ulrich Bartholmös
Ulrich Bartholmoes is Managing Partner of the consulting boutique nubica and supports companies as an enabler, sparring partner, and companion in transformation and growth projects, with a focus on IT, transformation, and M&A. At the same time, he is one of the world’s most successful ultracycling athletes, competing in races ranging from 700 to 4,300 km – nonstop. In recent years, Ulrich has participated in 22 ultra races, winning 16 of them.

Barbara Bachus
Barbara Bachus is an experienced entrepreneur with deep technological expertise. Since 2022, she has been revolutionizing materials science with ExoMatter, her second startup. Her AI- and data mining-powered solutions make materials research more efficient and sustainable. Previously, she gained valuable experience in the technology sector and now supports companies such as Airbus, Audi, and BSH in developing resource-efficient materials.

Dr. Lars-Erik Gärtner

Dr. Lars-Erik Gärtner is Director of Business Development & Sales at Linde in the USA (Buffalo & Houston) and heads the Engineering product line for CO₂ Plants & Clean Technologies. Since 2016, he has been developing investment projects in the field of clean energy with a focus on CO₂ capture, utilization, and storage. Previously, he worked in strategic R&D, product management, and process design. He holds an MSc in Technology & Management and a PhD in Energy Process Engineering from the University of Freiberg.

Michael Büsch

Michael Büsch is the founder and Managing Director of blu BEYOND GmbH. He is responsible for the overall management of the company with a focus on marketing, sales, business development, finance, and strategy. With over 20 years of experience in national and international IT consulting, he has held strategic account management roles in various companies. In 1996, he founded one of Germany’s first internet agencies and is now regarded as a digital pioneer and sought-after speaker. After holding senior positions, including at Skytec, he founded today’s blu BEYOND GmbH in 2011. Since 2018, he has been a member of the board of blu Gruppe AG.

Dr. Albert Geiger

Dr. Albert Michael Geiger is the CEO of ALPHAZIRKEL and an expert in the strategic development of family businesses – particularly in transformation processes, succession planning, and realignment. After studying in Germany and the USA, he began his career at Deutsche Börse AG before becoming Managing Partner of Geiger Technik GmbH, an automotive supplier, where he led a strategic realignment. In 2005, he founded ALPHAZIRKEL, which connects over 4,000 family businesses in German-speaking countries and promotes dialogue between entrepreneurial generations. Through events, innovation journeys, and NextGen programs, the network helps companies develop sustainable solutions for their future.

Florian Diegruber
Florian Diegruber is the founder and Managing Director of Atira GmbH, established in 2024. The Munich-based AI startup automates the processing of complex customer inquiries in mechanical and plant engineering and optimizes the cost-efficient creation of customer-specific solutions. Previously, he spent five years at the software company Palantir, most recently as head of the DACH market. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of St. Gallen and a Master’s degree in Computer Science. His career has included positions at Rocket Internet, UBS, and in Silicon Valley before returning to Munich in 2019 to join Palantir. With Atira, he now aims to leverage his experience to develop AI systems for German industry.