Founders Force

Arthur is the technical co-founder of STABL, a Munich-based scale-up reinventing battery energy storage systems (BESS) with advanced modular inverters. STABL’s technology makes storage more efficient, affordable, and sustainable — an essential enabler of the renewable energy transition.

A deep expert in power electronics, Arthur holds a PhD from the Technical University of Munich and has published widely on modular converters and fault-tolerant architectures. At STABL, he leads product and technical strategy, helping to shape the future of grid storage in both industrial and decentralized contexts.

Arthur selectively advises founders working on energy, hardware, and climate-focused deeptech, especially where investment strategy meets R&D roadmap. His rare mix of academic depth and startup execution makes him an invaluable sounding board for technically ambitious early-stage teams.

Václav Novotný is currently the CEO of Aspironix BioMed. Former Regional Executive Director for Switzerland, Austria and Central and Eastern Europe (revenue of $500 million) and member of the European leadership team of leading American biotechnology company Biogen (4 years). For twelve years, he served as the Executive Director of MSD (Merck & Co) in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. He also holds the position of Vice President of the American Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic. Vaclav also serves as the advisory board member of the Charles University Innovation Prague center.

Terrence Valeski is a seasoned business executive and entrepreneur with extensive experience in the telecommunications industry. He served as the CEO of T-Mobile Czech Republic (formerly RadioMobil) from 2000 to 2011, where he played a crucial role in establishing the company as a major player in the Czech mobile market. Prior to T-Mobile, he held senior positions at various telecommunications companies in the United States. Valeski has also been active in the technology sector as a board member and advisor, notably serving on the board of Brand Embassy, a customer service software company, before its acquisition by NICE Ltd. in 2019.

During his time in the United States, Valeski held key positions at Pacific Bell Mobile Services (now part of AT&T), where he was instrumental in developing early cellular services in California. He also served as Vice President of Marketing and Sales at US West NewVector Group (later acquired by AirTouch Communications), where he led strategic initiatives in the emerging mobile telecommunications market.

In the United Kingdom, Valeski contributed to the development of the mobile telecommunications sector through his role as a senior consultant for various telecom operators during the crucial period of market liberalization and digital transformation in the 1990s. His expertise in market development and customer acquisition strategies helped shape the competitive landscape of the UK mobile market during its formative years.

Eduardo Gallo is a seasoned business leader and board member with extensive experience in corporate governance and innovation. Currently serving as Director of Corporate and Institutional Relations at WCES and Co-Founder of Govermar Governança Construtiva Transformadora, he brings deep expertise in customer experience and digital transformation, having previously led innovation initiatives at Mutant Garage and served as Chief Experience Officer (CXO) at MUTANT BR.
His career spans over two decades in technology and innovation, including significant experience in voice recognition technology and customer service solutions through his leadership roles at LM Sistemas and Genesys Prime. As an active business angel investor, board member and advisor, he currently serves on multiple boards, including as Chairman at Aleve Legaltech ventures and Advisory Board Member at Postmetria.

Jens is an ecosystem builder and early-stage investor with 15+ years of experience driving innovation in climate, AI, and deeptech. As Founder & Partner at Futurology Ventures, he has built a portfolio of 30+ SDG-focused startups, led international investor relations for major tech events like Techarena and GoWest, and advised funds and accelerators on ecosystem growth and founder support.

He has served as Global Head of AI Accelerators at lablab.ai, designing and scaling programs for a 250,000+ developer community, and as Venture Partner at Superangel, backing founders in climatetech, deeptech, and frontier hardware. Previously, Jens co-founded Time to Raise, accelerating 60+ female-led startups, and held leadership roles at Techstars and SoftBank Investment Advisers, where he managed multimillion-euro accelerator programs supporting underrepresented founders across Europe.

An active angel investor, Jens has backed ventures in agtech, energy, mobility, and the circular economy. He holds an MBA from the University of Auckland and a Master’s in Entrepreneurship from Jönköping University, and is recognized for his work in responsible tech, community-led innovation, and early-stage founder development.

Tomas is one of Central Europe’s most forward-thinking corporate leaders — a seasoned banker who has spent the past three decades not just navigating the world of finance, but reimagining its role in society. As the CEO of Česká spořitelna, the largest bank in the Czech Republic, Tomáš has led a transformation that turned a legacy institution into a modern, tech-enabled platform with a human touch. His leadership has helped bring innovation into one of the most conservative sectors, through digital tools, fintech integrations, talent acceleration, and acquisitions.

His path to this role reflects his appetite for change and his deep operational know-how. From his early executive years at GE Capital Multiservis and GE Capital Bank, to serving as CEO of Poštová banka in Slovakia, and later co-founding Mobito — one of the region’s first mobile payment platforms — Tomáš has never been afraid to take risks or push boundaries. Even when Mobito didn’t succeed commercially, it offered him a founder’s perspective on innovation, speed, and market timing — lessons he often shares with the next generation.

Since taking over Česká spořitelna in 2016, he’s overseen strategic moves like the acquisition of Sberbank CZ and Hello bank!, and the rollout of startup-inspired features in the bank’s flagship app, George. He has also introduced internal experiments like a “shadow board” — a group of young talent with access to board-level decision-making — creating a culture where junior voices are not just heard, but valued.

Tomáš is a systems thinker who sees finance as a vehicle for societal progress. He is vocal about the need for responsible leadership in both public and private spheres, warning against political populism and encouraging economic literacy. He actively supports cultural initiatives and creativity, partnering with platforms like Moonshot Platform by Yemi A.D. and events like Colours of Ostrava, further blurring the lines between business, culture, and innovation.

For young entrepreneurs, Tomáš represents a rare kind of ally: a corporate CEO who listens, learns, and acts with a founder’s mindset. His support for innovation is not theoretical — it’s institutional, operational, and personal. He understands the pressures of building something new and navigating slow-moving systems. His career offers a bridge between two worlds — startups and banks, agility and scale — and his advice carries the weight of real-world transformation.

If you’re building a venture that touches finance, fintech, regulation, or simply aims to reshape how legacy industries work, Tomáš Salomon’s journey is worth studying — and his voice, worth listening to.

Tomek is the co-founder and COO of kiutra, a Munich-based quantum startup building next-generation cryogenic platforms for quantum computing and material science. Unlike conventional systems, kiutra’s magnet-based cooling tech allows for uninterrupted, continuous low-temperature operation — a breakthrough for labs and startups alike.

With a PhD in physics and prior experience in quantum research commercialization, Tomek bridges deeptech engineering and business operations. He’s played a key role in building kiutra’s go-to-market strategy and forging collaborations with top-tier quantum ecosystems.

Tomek advises founders in quantum, hardtech, and scientific spinouts, helping them refine business models, navigate early funding, and scale globally. For researchers-turned-founders, he is a trusted ally who understands both the physics and the fundraising.

Tomasz Wiatrak is a distinguished Polish business executive and leader, most notably serving as the President of the Management Board and CEO at Orlen Unipetrol, Poland's largest oil refiner and petrol retailer. Under his leadership, PKN ORLEN has undergone significant transformation and expansion, strengthening its position as a major player in the Central European energy sector.

His current role involves spearheading the strategic growth of URC Systems, an innovative tech company in the electronic warfare sector.

Born in Czechoslovakia, Europe, and educated in Germany and Spain, David Semerad eventually found the ideal entrepreneurial environment in California.
At 17, he founded STRV, a software design and engineering company that expanded internationally and grew to 200 employees. David also dedicated three years to the non-profit sector, focusing on meaningful social change.

Personal experiences with burnout while serving as CEO taught him that sometimes slowing down is necessary to speed up. This insight led to the establishment of MINDZERO in late 2021, with a vision to make mindfulness more accessible and enjoyable.

David's mission is empowering the largest well-being impact of this century, supported by science and community.

Igor Fratric is a seasoned financial executive who currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer at Slido, bringing extensive experience in scaling technology companies. With a strong background in financial management and strategic planning, Igor has played a pivotal role in navigating Slido through significant growth phases and its successful acquisition by Cisco. Prior to Slido, he accumulated valuable experience in startup and scale-up environments, where he developed expertise in financial operations, fundraising, and strategic financial planning specifically tailored to the tech sector. His deep understanding of SaaS business models and technology industry dynamics has been instrumental in optimizing financial performance and driving sustainable growth strategies.