1. What was your first computer and what do you particularly remember?
A C64. There are many things I remember. For example for LOAD “*”,8,1. How exciting it was to discover all the nuances of this world. First steps in programming and the feeling of instant gratification when the code worked.
Countless hours of typing page after page of machine code from Happy Computer Magazine using a ruler.
Or one of my early favorite games: Vermeer. And how my version could only be saved to datasette but I already had a floppy disk drive which meant I had to run the computer for a week to finish the game.
2. Is there a computer science job that you no longer want to have and why?
In information technology in the strict sense, everything is still possible. What I avoid are positions where too much politics is involved.
3. How will your role change in the coming years?
Daycare Ventures is still a startup itself. So far we 4 founders have done everything ourselves and tackled where it was necessary. We are currently completing our latest funding round, which will also allow us to expand the team. This is likely to result in my role being even more focused on investment decisions and supporting existing portfolio companies in the future.
4. What is your advice for young computer scientists who want to pursue a career?
- Consider what “career” means to you.
- So don’t get bogged down in your career thoughts and stay open to opportunities.
- Avoid the competition as much as possible.
- When in doubt, build something yourself.
- Be as focused as possible.
- Have the courage to stay.
5. What have you learned about technology in your current role and not before?
It’s becoming increasingly clear to me how difficult it is to build a great product.
And after my professional life has so far consisted mainly of bits, I am now learning a lot about business models with atoms, molecules, electrons or ions at Übermorgen Ventures.
6. What IT products or services from the past are you missing today?
No. But many good memories remain.
7. Does becoming enthusiastic about the promise of technology get easier or harder as your career progresses?
Pretty difficult for me. Because many things aren’t new, but rather an iteration of existing ideas, these days it takes longer for me to really get excited about a technology.
8. What technology do you think will have the greatest impact on society in the next 5 years and why?
In this manageable time frame of 5 years, it will rather be the now reasonably uninspiring further digitization steps that are new or continue to spread: digital banking, digital insurance processes, digital processes in companies, digital childcare, supply chains digital, all digital.
The big changes caused by AI/ML or Crypto/Web3 or AR/VR/MR and other technologies will likely take more than 5 years to have a broad impact on society.
In my work today, the focus is not on digitalisation, but on decarbonisation. However, there are many touchpoints, because many processes can also be made more economical and climate-friendly thanks to digitization.
9. Is there a development in IT that you feel is totally overrated?
I can’t think of anyone.
10. How is your company preparing for the potential energy shortage and what is it doing about it?
At Übermorgen Ventures, a power outage is not serious because there are no things that are so urgent that it can’t wait a few hours.
The situation is different with the start-ups we invest in: we have made them aware that the risk of longer power outages is greater than normal and that they should take appropriate precautions where it makes sense. In addition to data center power, this also includes other processes such as customer service or, in the worst case, being able to contact customers and other team members.
