Exited Founder · Top 100 Global Mentor · Keynote Speaker

No Data Thinking –
No Agentic AI

AI agents without data context are blind. I help leadership teams build the data context that autonomous systems need to think – and translate tech into business outcomes.

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2008
PhD Machine Learning
8 Years
Managing Director CrossEngage
2024
Exit to Spotler Group
About

Lead your data, before it leads you.

Most companies are rushing to implement AI agents. They're excited about automation, productivity gains, and the future of work. But they're building on quicksand.

Here's what they miss: Agents don't think in algorithms. They think in context. And context lives in your data. If your data is fragmented, unstructured, or disconnected, your agents make decisions in the dark. No amount of prompt engineering can fix that.

I've spent 17 years building the infrastructure that makes AI agents intelligent. In 2008, I earned my PhD in Machine Learning – when AI wasn't sexy yet. I built data warehouses at scale for massive loyalty programs (DeutschlandCard with millions of customers). From 2011 to 2014, I worked for the best startup incubators in the world – Rocket Internet, EPIC Companies, and Project A – building CRM systems at startup velocity across multiple ventures simultaneously.

Then I co-founded and led CrossEngage as Managing Director, one of Germany's first Customer Data Platforms, and sold it in 2024. That's when I learned the hard truth: great AI needs great data context. Everything else is noise.

My thesis is simple: If you can't lead your data, you can't lead your AI.

Today, I help companies build the data thinking and context architecture that autonomous systems actually need to perform. I work with leadership teams who understand that AI isn't just another tool – it's an organizational design challenge. And it starts with data context.

My strength? I can do nerdy – but I speak business. I translate between three worlds: technical depth, business strategy, and organizational leadership. That makes me a bridge between data architecture and the C-level. In 2025, I was named one of the Top 100 Global Founder Mentors by EWOR.

Dr. Markus Wübben
2025

Top 100 Global Founder Mentor

EWOR – Recognition for mentorship work

2024

Exit to Spotler Group

Successful acquisition after 8 years

2016–2024

Managing Director & Co-Founder, CrossEngage

AI-powered Customer Data Platform

2014

Director Customer Management, EPIC Companies

ProSiebenSat.1 Startup Incubator · Multi-venture CRM

2011–2013

Product Owner, Rocket Internet

High-velocity startup environment · CRM framework

2009–2011

Head of BI Consulting, DeutschlandCard

Massive loyalty program · Data warehouse at scale

2008

PhD Machine Learning

TU Munich · Predictive CRM Systems

2005

M.Sc. Computer Science

Diplom-Informatiker · TU Munich

1997

KDE 1.0 Contributor

Open-Source Linux Desktop Environment

What I Do

Three ways I can help.

Building

I work with select partners on AI agent systems. Services-to-product is my DNA – the CrossEngage playbook. Currently exploring what's next.

Focus Data Context for AI Agents

Advisory

I work with 2-3 AI/SaaS founders and leadership teams who are scaling or navigating complex challenges. No generic advice – pattern recognition from 8 years as Founder and Managing Director, translated into actionable business strategy.

Focus AI/SaaS Scale-ups

Speaking

Keynotes for corporate events, tech conferences, and founder gatherings. Storytelling with substance. Real operator experience, not consultant frameworks.

Languages German · English
Dr. Markus Wübben Speaking
Speaking Topics

Keynotes that move audiences.

01

Data Thinking for Agentic AI

Why most companies approach AI agents wrong. They focus on tools, not data context. I show how to build data context that makes agents truly intelligent.

C-Level AI Strategy Data Context
02

Leading AI: Context Before Code

AI agents need leadership. But leadership doesn't start with algorithms – it starts with the ability to structure, connect, and translate data into meaningful context.

Leadership Organizational Design Data Leadership
03

From 0 to Exit: 8 Years of Building

The real story of building and selling a company. Not a "how I got rich" talk – but the patterns, mistakes, and hard-won insights from founding to acquisition.

Founder Journey Scale-ups Exit Strategy
04

AI & The Outcome Economy

AI agents don't just automate – they enable entirely new business models. But like any powerful tool, they need guidance. What actually works?

Business Models Digital Transformation Future of Work
Testimonials

What audiences say.

"Rarely have I experienced a keynote speaker who manages to bring such a complex topic as artificial intelligence to the stage with such clarity, relevance and energy. Markus didn't just talk about AI – he made it tangible. A real catalyst who doesn't lecture the audience, but moves them."

Dariush Franczak
CEO & Founder, TechNow

"Bringing Markus in to speak to our group of real estate investors was a fantastic decision. He didn't just talk about the 'hype' of AI; he gave practical, actionable insights that our attendees could immediately apply. He connected perfectly with the room, bridging the gap between high-level tech and the day-to-day reality of real estate."

Paul Müller
Founder & CEO, Paul & Cie. Immobilien

"When Markus is on stage, you immediately feel: This is someone who not only has deep technical understanding – but really reaches people. He explains complex relationships in a way that makes them understandable – and at the same time motivates action. A speaker who moves, clarifies, inspires."

Juliane Broß
Personal Brand PR Expert & CEO SGC Agency

"Markus is one of a few senior managers I have met that speak the language of upper management and business as well as he speaks the language of developers and technology owners. That makes him a unique person within a company who can manage projects from A-Z."

Finn Age Hänsel
CEO & Founder, Sanity Group

"Markus has a gift for perfect storytelling, blending sharp analysis with a narrative that makes complex technological shifts feel personal and relevant. He truly knows how to navigate the noise of modern technology to capture an audience. Listening to Markus was a pleasure."

Johannes van de Loo
Hyperpersonalization Expert, SmartCom

"Markus is not just a trainer; he is a problem solver. Over our 3-day workshop, he provided an incredible level of individual coaching and support in a funny and motivational way. His focus was always on practical application rather than theory. If you want someone who truly cares about your team's success, hire Markus."

Paul Seelhorst
Serial Entrepreneur and Investor
Contact

Let's talk about your data context.

Want to discuss AI agents, but your data context is still under construction? Let's talk. I speak tech – but also C-level. Direct, practical, and focused on business outcomes.

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