Former partner at VC Flagship Founders. Previously management at global logistics company Auerbach Schifffahrt.

Lawyer with over 20 year of experience.

Founder and Manging Partner of UrbanTech Fund 2bX, focussing on sustainable and disruptive city development ventures.

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Co-Founder of Flink: Scaled the company to a European market leader in quick commerce - growing to 12,000+ employees across 140 locations in 18 months.

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Transition to Circus: Sold stake in Flink at $2.85 billion valuation in 2021 before founding Circus to focus on AI and robotics.

Strategic technology expert and executive in robotics, AI, and deep tech – specialized in transforming visionary and disruptive concepts into customer-centric, scalable solutions.
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Currently Managing Director of TUM Venture Labs Robotics / AI, one of Europe’s leading startup incubators founded by TUM and UnternehmerTUM. He previously shaped IoT innovations such as the disruptive kitchen robot concept “Mykie” at BSH. As Head of Development at Truma, he managed multi-million euro annual budgets. He holds several patents and is the author of numerous peer-reviewed publications, with deep expertise in developing user-focused systems, particularly in professional service robotics.

As a regular guest lecturer at leading institutions and international events on innovation, digital transformation, and robotics startups, he acts as a bridge-builder and mentor. He also advises and invests in startups and venture funds.

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Former CEO of a warehouse robotics startup. Ilona held senior roles at Gorillas, Zalando, and Panalpina—leading multimillion-euro supply chain programs and commercial teams across Europe, Asia, and North America.

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Blends operational depth with a sharp commercial edge. Expert in complex sales cycles, C-level negotiations, and scaling tech from concept to market.

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Also a university lecturer in IT & Logistics, teaching tech implementation and business transformation to Master’s students.

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Fluent in Chinese with an MBA from Frankfurt School of Finance.

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Over a decade of experience in robotics, automation, and advanced manufacturing.

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At Arrival: Led global industrialization as Director of Manufacturing Engineering—delivering end-to-end production systems across the electric vehicle portfolio.

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At Nissan UK: Drove deployment of robotic assembly lines, innovative manufacturing processes, and autonomous delivery systems across multiple vehicle models.

Global business executive with 15+ years experience in the international foodservice industry - including senior management roles at industry leaders like RATIONAL AG, BRITA or Liebherr with up to 250 million Euro P&L responsibility.

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Max started his career as a chef in Michelin starred kitchens, worked in Europe, the US and Asia, holds an Executive M.B.A in general management as well as a doctoral degree from the University of Worcester about sales strategy development within the foodservice industry environment.

Sasha Borovik, is a Harvard Law graduate, brings 20+ years of legal leadership across AI, tech, and defense, including as Director of Legal Affairs at Microsoft and key legal architect behind defense AI leader Helsing’s $5Bn scale-up. He brings deep expertise in global negotiations and IP strategy across commercial and defense sectors - working with customers such as NATO, the UN, and Ukrainian forces. Joins as Circus’ first core defense executive to accelerate international growth and legal strategy following the CA-M launch as its first autonomous solution for the defense sector and the CA-1 serial production.

Jan Hesselbarth, with over 20 years of military leadership and strategic defense expertise, has served in NATO missions and as a senior advisor to federal and international institutions. A former airborne officer, he has led military and civil programs with teams of up to 1,000 personnel and trained more than 5,000 Bundeswehr members. He joins Circus as Vice President Defense Strategy & Operations to drive the rollout of the CA-M autonomous meal supply system and oversee defense deployment programs in security-critical environments.