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Team

The People Building Impossible Founders

Impossible Founders exists to help transform scientific breakthroughs into companies, technologies and real-world impact. Today, a team of almost 30 entrepreneurs, operators, scientists and ecosystem builders is working across programmes, partnerships and ecosystem development to connect research, entrepreneurship, industry and capital. Together, they are building the foundation for Europe's next generation of Deep Tech ventures.

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Arik Willner
Executive Team

Arik Willner

Managing Director and CEO
Lena Sofie Gericke
Executive Team

Lena Sofie Gericke

CFO | COO
Juliane Elsner
Executive Team

Juliane Elsner

Chief of Staff
Hugo Paquin
Executive Team

Hugo Paquin

Community Manager
Meike Bürger
Executive Team

Meike Bürger

Executive Assistant to the CEO
Andreas Kitzing
Program Management

Andreas Kitzing

Interim Director Acceleration
Christian Luethje
Program Management

Christian Luethje

Chief Academic Officer
Gina Melchner von Dydiowa
Program Management

Gina Melchner von Dydiowa

Director Venture Development
Jisu Hong
Program Management

Jisu Hong

Working Student Program Management
Lilli Hessler
Program Management

Lilli Hessler

Working Student Program Management
Priyanka Shah
Program Management

Priyanka Shah

Senior Program Manager
Sanna Leinius
Program Management

Sanna Leinius

Senior Program Manager
Sebastian Henley
Program Management

Sebastian Henley

Program Manager
Simon Stroiakovskii
Program Management

Simon Stroiakovskii

Working Student Program Management
Timo Christian
Program Management

Timo Christian

Program Manager
Birthe Kretschmer
AI and Digital Ecosystem

Birthe Kretschmer

Director AI & Digital Ecosystem
Marcin Cybulski
AI and Digital Ecosystem

Marcin Cybulski

AI Operations Manager
Rui Deng
AI and Digital Ecosystem

Rui Deng

CRM Manager
Sharon Nisha Thiruvarul Durai
AI and Digital Ecosystem

Sharon Nisha Thiruvarul Durai

AI Operations Manager
Flora Rosenow
Brand and Communications

Flora Rosenow

Director Brand & Communications
Miena Barekzai
Brand and Communications

Miena Barekzai

Event Manager
Mira Pfeuffer
Brand and Communications

Mira Pfeuffer

Working Student Program Management
Valerie Scholz
Brand and Communications

Valerie Scholz

Content Marketing Manager
Amy Jing Xu
People & Culture

Amy Jing Xu

Recruiter
Antonia Schlax
People & Culture

Antonia Schlax

Junior People Operations Manager
Leonie Charlotte Seige
People & Culture

Leonie Charlotte Seige

Senior People Business Partner
Sara Veit
Finance and Accounting

Sara Veit

Senior Finance Manager
Lena Sofie Gericke & Arik Willner
Management Impossible Founders
Lena Sofie Gericke & Arik Willner

“What if breakthrough research didn’t stop at the lab, but became the foundation of Europe’s next generation of companies?”

Lena Sofie Gericke & Arik Willner
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We're hiring right now

Join a team building Europe's Deep Tech future. We need people who care.