Our Jury Members 2026

CEO and startup enthusiast. As one of the directors of the Rostock Digital Innovation Center, founder of ProMedTec, and co-founder of other startups, Jan views the local scene from a wide variety of perspectives. For over two decades, he has combined entrepreneurial thinking and action with his passion for technology and progress. For him, innovation and transformation are not merely a driving force and motivation, but rather an opportunity to pursue new approaches and solutions in order to rethink products, services, and their commercialization freshly and sustainably. He believes that today’s local startups form the nucleus of tomorrow’s Mecklenburg-Vorpommern!

Danny Jäckel grew up in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and has strong ties to the region, not least because of his passion for beach volleyball and kitesurfing — preferably along the Baltic Sea coast. Since 2015, he has been part of the Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Mecklenburg-Vorpommern mbH (MBG MV) team, joining directly after completing his dual study program in Business Administration and working for two years in corporate client advisory at a regional cooperative bank. Most recently, he successfully completed a distance-learning master’s degree in Business Consulting alongside his family and professional commitments.

For more than seven years, he has also served as a volunteer lecturer for the seminar series “Entrepreneurial Thinking and Action” at Wismar University of Applied Sciences. In his role as Investment Manager, he is particularly distinguished by his strong enthusiasm for supporting and advising startups.

Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (MBG MV) supports regional businesses through equity and silent partnership investments to help finance economic projects. Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) benefit in the long term from stronger market positions and enhanced economic performance. In particular, the organization offers various financing solutions for innovation-driven companies, startups, and commercial enterprises.

Katja Riebe has been familiar with the concept of self-employment from an early age thanks to her father’s business.

A true coastal native and graduate of the University of Rostock with a degree in service management, she has been working at the Rostock Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) as a consultant for the service sector since 2017 and is delighted to be able to support the regional economy in this way. She deals with questions from the service industry regarding business start-ups, business succession, and business development on a daily basis.

She is eager to take a look behind the scenes of the ideas competition and get to know the entrepreneurs of tomorrow. 

Stefan Goletzke is an entrepreneur, startup founder, and CEO based in Rostock. He is best known as the co-founder of DUSCHKRAFT GmbH, an innovative company specializing in sustainable building technology. Together with his team, he developed a system to dehumidify bathrooms directly while showering—to prevent mold growth, save energy, and improve living comfort. Within just a few years, an idea that originated in the university environment grew into a successful startup that has garnered national attention.

In addition to his work at DUSCHKRAFT, Stefan Goletzke is a co-founder of BOXIO — a company specializing in compact, sustainable outdoor and camping solutions. BOXIO became particularly well-known for its portable composting toilets and modular camping products, which combine functionality, sustainability, and minimalist design. The brand has quickly evolved into a successful direct-to-consumer company and now reaches a large community in the outdoor and van life sectors.

Stefan Goletzke thus exemplifies a new generation of entrepreneurs who combine technological innovation with sustainability, modern brand building, and practical solutions. His focus is on products that solve everyday problems in a simple, efficient, and user-oriented way.

Riko Zimmermann is an experienced investment manager at ROKA1825 GmbH. In this role, he is responsible for managing a diverse portfolio of 20 startups and companies, as well as proactively identifying new investment opportunities. With a business administration background specializing in entrepreneurship and startups, along with professional experience at companies such as Mercedes-Benz and DB Management Consulting, he brings extensive expertise and experience in business development.

His core expertise lies in identifying and supporting innovative business models. Thanks to his strategic mindset and ability to recognize opportunities, he has established himself as a trusted partner for emerging companies in the region.

Herr Knüppel completed a foundation program in Business Administration before graduating in Law from University of Rostock with a specialization in Corporate Law. He began his professional career as in-house counsel at an IP asset management and investment company.

Mr. Knüppel also worked as an authorized signatory for an investment fund, where he supported research-oriented spin-offs and research institutions. Since 2015, he has been a partner at KLOPSCH & PARTNER Rechtsanwälte, focusing particularly on business law, contract law, IT law, business succession, as well as advising startups and investors.

In 2018, the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Bar Association awarded him the title of “Specialist Lawyer for Commercial and Corporate Law.” In 2023, he also successfully completed the specialist lawyer training course in IT law.

Ivonne Jarschke-Kron has been working as an investment manager at GENIUS Venture Capital GmbH since 2003 and, as a lawyer and mediator, complements the firm’s service portfolio. She actively participates in all contract negotiations. She now has more than 20 years of professional experience in venture capital and corporate development. Ms. Jarschke-Kron studied law at the University of Bayreuth and passed her first and second state examinations in Bavaria.

Silvia Kohlmann completed her high school education in the United States and graduated with a degree in Business Administration from University of Rostock and Polytechnic University of Valencia.

She took on business consulting responsibilities for the Galileo satellite navigation project at the German Aerospace Center in Cologne and later moved into international project and financial management at BASF in Tarragona, Spain. She was subsequently appointed to the Rostock Research Harbor, where she managed maritime R&D projects in the field of international space applications. Since 2015, she has served as Managing Director of envitecpro GmbH. The company advises SMEs, associations, universities, and municipalities in South America on circular economy solutions. In this role, she has initiated and implemented numerous projects in Brazil, Mexico, Cuba, and Peru focused on waste recovery and the use of renewable energy sources.

In 2023, she accompanied Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck and Federal Minister Cem Özdemir on official government visits and represented German industry at meetings and panel discussions in Brazil and Colombia.

Due to her many years of expertise and commitment, Ms. Kohlmann was appointed to the Future Council of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania by the Minister-President. She has also been honored as a Business Ambassador of the state government and recognized as a “KlasseFrau” in business.

She regularly publishes articles in professional journals, speaks at international conferences, and actively promotes the visibility of Eastern Germany as well as female founders and entrepreneurs.

She has been with the Rostock Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) for over 10 years, where she heads the Department of Business Start-ups and Business Development. As a business administrator, entrepreneurial thinking and action come naturally to her. She advises aspiring entrepreneurs and startups even when an idea originated from nothing more than a casual conversation over a beer, because, as is well known, something great can come of it. Her responsibilities in the area of startup support range from advising on the very personal challenges of starting a business to submitting statements to funding agencies.

The Rostock Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) represents the interests of approximately 36,000 businesses in the commercial sector of its district, the Hanseatic and university city of Rostock, as well as the counties of Rostock and Vorpommern-Rügen. It offers consulting services to businesses, advocates for their interests in dealings with policymakers and government agencies, and is committed to the training and continuing education of employees.