AI Connect Summit 2025 – A Day of Vision, Innovation, and Collaboration

On May 22, 2025, Stuttgart transformed into the beating heart of the AI ecosystem as the KI-Garage AI Connect Summit brought together leading minds from across Baden-Württemberg and beyond. Hosted by KI-Garage with the generous support of the Baden-Württemberg Stiftung, the summit delivered a dynamic day of inspiration, insight, and tangible progress in the AI Ecosystem in Baden-Württemberg.

We started with a hands-on workshop by PolitAgents AI Marketing, Decoded – The Anti-Buzzword Workshop, where participants learned how to cut through AI jargon and craft clear, compelling messages. With practical tools from IT consulting and political speech training, the session turned generic marketing talk into sharp, audience-focused communication.

Next on the fully packed agenda was our popular Speeddating session – this time with a twist: not only investors and startups met, but all ecosystem players were matched in vibrant conversations of 5 minutes each, leaving the participants with tons of new contacts, information and inspiration.

At 17.00 the actual program of the AI Connect Summit 2025 kicked off with a warm welcome from the KI-Garage team as well as Anne Marie Kruse, Head of Education Department at Baden-Württemberg Stiftung, setting the tone for a day centered around action, connection, and bold thinking.

The keynote address by Thomas Kropf, a newly elected member of the KI-Bundesverband Regional Board BW offered a powerful perspective on innovation and leadership in the age of AI, providing valuable guidance for organizations navigating the complex tech landscape and advocating for a new Gründerzeit (Founding Era) in AI.

One of the summit’s highlights was the compelling panel discussion, “Stop Talking, Start Implementing – AI Transfer Now”. Moderated by  NXTGNs Dr. Raoul Haschke and with the Panelists Paul Becker (KI-Lab Heidelberg), and Andreas Nierlich (Xplain data), the conversation moved beyond theory, tackling the real-world challenges of AI adoption in SMEs, science and startups and transfer in businesses and institutions.

In the spirit of fast-paced knowledge exchange, lightning talk speakers Thomas Prexl and Alexander C. S. Hendorf , together with Cansu Çak energized the audience with thought-provoking inputs and visionary ideas.

A true testament to the region’s thriving AI ecosystem were our popular pitch session , featuring 15 outstanding players from startups, accelerator programs, and the investment community, who showcased a diverse spectrum of AI applications, from manufacturing and urban mobility to civic engagement and human-centric technologies:

Startups & Innovators

Ecosystem Builders & Accelerators

Investors

These bold thinkers and enablers represent the best of what AI looks like in Baden-Württemberg: impactful, collaborative, and future-focused.

Looking Ahead

The AI Connect Summit 2025 wasn’t just an event—it was a momentum-builder. It reflected a shared commitment to not only shaping a sustainable, inclusive AI future through meaningful partnerships and actionable ideas, but also to building a strong and useful AI network and partnership in Baden-Württemberg.

To everyone who joined us—on stage or in the audience—thank you for your passion, participation, and pioneering spirit. Let’s continue pushing the boundaries of what's possible in AI.

Here’s to shaping the future of AI—together.

Become a part of our community and help shape the AI Landscape of Baden-Württemberg!