Mark Kugel

"Innovation needs stimuli"

Mark Kugel, a multiple start-up founder and innovation strategist, is one of the most exciting minds in the German start-up scene. With deep expertise from research, practice, and international high-tech projects, he captivates as a speaker and thought leader for companies, investors, and decision-makers. Mark is a bridge builder between start-up speed and corporate reality, providing inspiring impulses for future-oriented thinking, new markets, and sustainable transformation. His successes range from collaborating with NASA to being recognized in mechanical engineering. Book Mark Kugel for your event and bring genuine innovation power to your stage.

Rates

Vita

Innovation Between Space Exploration & Reality – Entrepreneur with Vision

Mark Kugel is a serial start-up founder, innovation strategist, and one of the most exciting minds in the German start-up scene. With deep expertise from research, practice, and international high-tech projects, he represents true innovation power. As a speaker and thought leader, he inspires companies, investors, and decision-makers to not only think about the future but to actively shape it.

Start-up Maker & Innovation Designer – Between NASA & Mechanical Engineering

Mark Kugel has experienced both sides of the innovation world: After earning his Master’s in Innovation & Entrepreneurship from TU Munich and CDTM, he founded several start-ups – most recently Yuri, a New-Space company that convinced global clients like NASA, MIT, and Charité. Four successful rocket launches, clients in 25 countries, and the German Founders Award 2021 mark just some of his milestones. At the same time, he demonstrated his innovation power in the medium-sized sector: In a 100-year-old mechanical engineering company, he was awarded the Sir Henry Royce Award for his digital projects.

Bridging the Gap Between Start-ups & Corporates

Mark Kugel brings innovation methods, digital business models, and an entrepreneurial mindset to companies of all sizes. As a bridge-builder between the speed of start-ups and the reality of corporations, he offers inspiring and practical insights into future-oriented thinking, new markets, and sustainable transformation. Since 2024, he has been dedicating himself to solutions for the next decade with a new Climate-Tech start-up.

Why Mark Kugel is Your Innovation Partner

• Successful in Start-ups & Corporations: Practice, pace & reality in harmony
• Experience with World Leaders: From NASA to mechanical engineering
• Future-Oriented Mindset Shift: Innovation you can touch, implement & launch
• Top Speaker for Transformation: Space exploration, climate tech, digitalization & entrepreneurship

Book Mark Kugel for Your Event Now!

Bring real innovation power to your stage – with an entrepreneur who knows how to elevate, scale, and catapult ideas into the future.

Topics

Start-ups are taking on entire industries at an unprecedented speed and turning them upside down. Technologies such as artificial intelligence, mRNA and reusable rockets are enabling them to become global players within a very short space of time and push established companies out of the market.

But what drives these start-ups? What can we learn from them to avoid becoming the next Nokia or Kodak ourselves? What role do technology and disruption play in this rapid development?

Mark Kugel takes you on a journey behind the scenes of the start-up world, inspiring, entertaining and critical at the same time. He opens your eyes and encourages you to take action so that you can recognize and exploit the opportunities and dangers of the transformation.

Bold, fast, disruptive: what we can learn from start-ups

Discover in this keynote how start-ups are challenging the corporate world with courage, speed and disruption. Immerse yourself in the world of innovation and learn how established companies can also benefit from their agile approach. Inspiring case studies will show you how you can boldly break new ground and achieve success quickly. Be ready to challenge the status quo and revolutionize the way you think.

Keynotes to choose from (can be tailored from 20-90 Min.):

Bold, fast, disruptive: what we can learn from start-ups

Aiming high: The new billion-dollar market "New Space"

Space has never been as accessible as it is today. From SpaceX to small start-ups, the 'New Space' market is booming. But what does this mean for companies and investors? In this captivating keynote, we'll take you on a journey through the expanding 'New Space' sector. Discover the latest trends, learn how space can impact your industry and explore the endless opportunities this billion-dollar market offers.

2030: How disruption is massively accelerating the energy transition

Learn how disruptive forces like Wright's Law are driving the transition to renewable energy much faster than most predictions claim. By 2030 at the latest, it will be uneconomical worldwide not to rely on the combination of PV, wind and batteries in all areas of life.

References & Press

Company references:

NASA
Württembergische
Rotary
Airbus
EY
MTU Friedrichshafen
TEDx
Rolls-Royce
Zeppelin Universität
BarthHaas
ESA
DHBW
Carl Stahl
Gleistein Ropes
Lilium
Luxembourg Space Agency
Bundesverband Seiler- und Netzmacher

„Mark Kugels inspirierende Keynote war das Highlight auf unserem Top 200 Management Meeting. Er versteht es mit seinen authentischen Geschichten aus der Startup-Welt das Publikum zu begeistern und hat einen starken Impuls gesetzt für unsere unternehmensweite Transformation.“
Andreas Schell, CEO MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH

„Einer der führenden Speaker für Innovation
und Digitalisierung in Deutschland.“
– Schwaebische Zeitung

„Mark's keynote during our executive leadership meeting in London was a great inspiration. With striking examples from the startup world delivered through brilliant storytelling, he taught us how startups think and made us feel confident to apply these principles at Rolls-Royce.”
– Warren East, CEO Rolls-Royce

„Mark speaks with authority on the subject of start-ups and disruptive business models. He has deep insights that can serve as a true wake-up call for established companies. His presentation is entertaining and eye-opening.“
– Stephan Barth, Geschäftsführer, BarthHaas GmbH & Co. KG

„Mark Kugels Keynote bei unserer Beirats-Sitzung war herausragend! Seine leidenschaftliche Darstellung von Innovation, Disruption und der Welt der Startups hat unser Publikum nachhaltig begeistert. Seine Präsentation war nicht nur informativ, sondern hat auch Impulse für neue Denkweisen und Handlungsansätze gesetzt.“

– Eric Sauerborn, Geschäftsführer, Württembergische Vertriebspartner GmbH

Awards:

2002 Lesewettbewerb - Gewinner

2019 Sir Henry Royce Innovation Award - Gewinner

2020 Cyber One Hightech Award - Gewinner
2021 Deutscher Gründerpreis - Gewinner
2022 EY Entrepreneur of the Year - Finalist