CIO Summit

The CIO AI Summit serves as an exclusive, vendor-neutral gathering for 500 leading CIOs, integrated within the Bits & Pretzels Festival. Tailored for senior technology executives, the summit emphasizes actionable insights, collaboration among peers, and direct engagement with AI specialists and enterprise technology providers. Participants can explore AI adoption, implementation strategies, and their measurable impact on business while building connections with a trusted network of peers and founders.

Reasons to Attend

Practical AI Insights

Discover how prominent CIOs effectively incorporate AI into their organizations, transitioning from pilot projects to achieving measurable returns on investment.

Roundtable Discussions with Experts

Participate in detailed conversations with AI experts focusing on strategy, governance, and deployment practices.

Meaningful Peer Networking

Engage in significant discussions and foster ongoing collaboration with fellow CIOs in an exclusive setting.

Interaction with AI Founders

Connect with leading AI founders through intimate roundtable dialogues.

Festival Integration

Join a dedicated CIO program while also enjoying the wider Bits & Pretzels festival and networking opportunities during Oktoberfest.

Key Themes & Benefits

• Strategic insights from leaders in AI and enterprise technology
• Collaboration and sharing of best practices among peers
• Expert guidance on effective AI implementation frameworks
• Case studies showcasing the business impact and ROI of AI
• Expand your network with influential CIOs and AI founders

Speakers & Roundtable Hosts (2025 Examples)

• Hanna Hennig – CIO, Siemens
• Bastian Nominacher – Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Celonis
• Thomas Wolf – Co-Founder & Chief Science Officer, Hugging Face
• Dan Barnicle – CIO, adidas
• Marjorie Janiewicz – CRO, Mistral AI
• Andrey Khusid – Co-Founder & CEO, Miro
• Maren Springmann – CIO, Porsche
• Peter Sarlin – Co-Founder & CEO, AMD Silo AI

Selected Attending Experts 2025

• René Deist – CIO/CDO, EnBW
• Isabell Franck – SVP Data & AI, Infineon Technologies
• Florian Bankoley – CDO, Bosch Mobility / Robert Bosch
• Mallik Rao – CTO, Telefónica Germany
• Dr. Ing. Susan Wegner – Group Data & AI, Allianz
• Deepak Kumar – CTO, ProSiebenSat1 / Joyn
• Julia Dudenko – Group CISO, Haniel
• Johannes Ehrler – Chief Strategy & Data Officer, RTL2 Fernsehen

Hosts

Dr. Bernd Storm Vans Gravesande – Co-Founder & Host, Bits & Pretzels

Bringing extensive experience as an entrepreneur with a focus on AI leadership and innovation.

Michael Beilfuss – Head of Customer Success, Bechtle

With over 20 years of experience, he connects enterprise technology leaders with founders and AI solutions.

Curator: Niels Dörje – Chairman & Non-Executive Board Director (NXD)

Provides advisory services to tech company boards on strategy, organizational design, product strategy, and mergers & acquisitions.

Eligibility & Participation Guidelines

• Designed for CIOs or equivalent C-level executives in industrial production and manufacturing
• Companies must have a revenue of at least €50M and a minimum of 100 employees
• One representative per organization; software/service providers may join through an official partnership program

Event Highlights

• Exclusive summit for 500 CIOs by invitation only
• Roundtables led by experts focusing on AI strategy
• Networking opportunities with leading CIOs and AI founders
• Part of the larger Bits & Pretzels Festival
• Access to curated insights on AI implementation and its impact on enterprises
• Unique networking experience during Oktoberfest in Munich

Historical Overview

• 2013–14: Initiated as a founders breakfast with 80 attendees
• 2015–17: Expanded festival attendance while prioritizing quality over quantity
• 2018: Focused on diversity with notable keynotes including Tarana Burke
• 2019: Featured President Barack Obama at the festival
• 2022: Festival brought together the European startup ecosystem after the pandemic
• 2024: Introduction of the inaugural Investor and CIO AI Summit

Partners & Solution Providers

• Solution Partners: AI solution providers participating through an official partnership program
• Service Partners, CIO Dinner Partners, Knowledge & Academic Partners: Facilitate curated discussions, networking, and strategic insights