Generation Tech Partners

We build AI-native market leaders in the Mittelstand through Buy & Build Playbooks and scalable Entrepreneurial Systems.

Focus:
-Acquisition & transformation of B2B companies
-AI-first business architecture
-Growth systems for Private Equity & Family Offices

Founder | AI Native Private Equity

Szabo AI Board Advisors

Board Member & Advisor for technology-driven companies in growth, transformation and succession. Focused on AI strategy, business architecture and investment management.

Current Mandates:
-HÖRMANN Group (Security & Critical Infrastructure)

Former Mandates:
-FactoryPal (AI SaaS for Manufacturing – Exit to Valmet Oy.)
-InspectifAI (Edge AI for Pharma)
-DAIN Studios (GenAI Consulting)
-Vaibe (Gamification SaaS for Workforce)

Supporting family businesses, PE firms and founders in AI-driven scaling, buy & build strategies and leadership systems.

Non Executive Director & Advisor | AI & Growth Strategies

Einhorn Venture Labs

Building a private venture studio and investment platform for technology-driven B2B business models. Focus on company building, buy & build playbooks, and growth capital.

Portfolio & Investments:
-YOU MAWO (3D-printed eyewear – FT1000)
-Additive Scale (Mass Customization Platform)
-Beyond Chiefs (Fractional Leadership Platform)

Investing in leading PE and VC funds globally, alongside direct angel investments in B2B startups.

Operating at the intersection of venture building, technology, and capital — creating scalable infrastructure and high-growth companies.

Founder & Investor  | Venture Studio & Investments

Frankfurt School of Finance & Management

MBA lecturer for Artificial Intelligence for Business Leaders at the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management.

Focus: Application of AI in corporate strategy, leadership frameworks and building AI-native organizations.

Topics:
-AI Strategy & Leadership
-Company Building Frameworks
-Future of Work & Talent Systems

Lecturer | AI in Business

London Speaker Bureau

As a keynote speaker, I empower leaders and organizations to actively shape the age of AI and digital transformation. My talks combine strategic insight with operational relevance—clear, actionable, and business-driven. I speak on AI-native companies, the future of work, scalable entrepreneurship, and leadership in times of exponential change. Each keynote delivers concrete takeaways to unlock innovation, enable growth, and drive meaningful impact.

Keynote Speaker | AI & Tech Transformation

Additive Scale

Co-founding and development of a leading international company for industrial additive series production - specializing in 3D-printed luxury eyewear and custom-made products. Scaling of a highly automated production site in Munich and development of global partnerships with Siemens, ZEISS and other technology partners. Support for international customers, including LVMH and leading eyewear brands worldwide.

Successful exit to a leading tech-growth private equity investor for further global scaling.

Co-founder (exit to PE) | Series production of 3D-printed glasses

YOU MAWO

Bootstrapped, globally scaled, sold. YOU MAWO combines luxury eyewear, 3D scanning, additive manufacturing and AI-supported software to control operational processes and individual product customization. From first prototype to international market leader with partners like ZEISS and presence in 20+ countries. 

After 10 years: Exit to leading Tech Growth PE for scaling as a global platform.

Founder (Exit to PE) | Eyewear Tech - Luxury meets Software

Körber

As CEO of the Digital Division, I led the establishment and expansion of Europe's largest Corporate AI Venture Studio. I rapidly scaled the team from 90 to 450 professionals, strategically distributed across 5 locations in 3 countries. This expansion supported the successful incubation and scaling of three SaaS companies that generated double-digit millions in revenue, and the significant growth of an AI enterprise consulting firm, ultimately propelling us to become one of Germany's top two fastest-growing companies.

My strategic leadership was centered on:
-Pioneering the development and commercialization of advanced AI-powered SaaS solutions for key industries including manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and logistics.
-Constructing a dynamic AI-native venture portfolio, encompassing successful entities such as FactoryPal, InspectifAI, Vaibe, and Dain Studios, showcasing our deep expertise in analytics and machine learning.
-Orchestrating the transformation of traditional operational units into scalable, data-driven platform business models.
-Instilling a unique blend of innovation, a high-performance culture, and unwavering accountability for outcomes, which garnered over 20 prestigious industry awards.

My tangible value contributions included:
-Achieving significant revenue growth and operational efficiencies through systemic scaling initiatives.
-Cultivating a high-performance, analytics-driven culture with a clear focus on scalable growth architectures.
-Providing strategic oversight at the board level, leading M&A integration efforts, and shaping the strategic direction for all new business units.

CEO | B2B AI Venture Studio

Chief Digital Officer | Pharma

Merck Group

Led venture building and digital innovation initiatives for a global life science and technology company.

Focus:
-Developing new business models in diagnostics, blockchain, health tech, and advanced manufacturing
-Building a corporate venture studio and startup collaborations
-Strategic partnerships (e.g., Palantir) and international joint ventures (Japan, China)
-Driving digital transformation of industrial processes and data-driven platforms

Head of Company Building | Deep Tech Venture Studio

Accelerated digital transformation by embedding startup agility into enterprise structures. Built a high-performing team to develop scalable digital solutions across healthcare, life sciences, and performance materials.

Led global digital initiatives, established dedicated transformation units, and drove strategic partnerships – including Palantir – to enhance innovation capacity, data capabilities, and enterprise-wide scalability.

Focus Areas:
-Business Model Innovation
-Digital Growth Strategy
-Venture Building & Platform Architecture
-Cross-enterprise Transformation Programs

Head of Digital Office | Merck Group

Responsible for corporate strategy process management and portfolio management in the pharma division. Strategic advisor to the CEO on company-wide growth and transformation initiatives.

Accelerated digital transformation by launching nine lighthouse projects within six months, involving over 100 stakeholders — driving innovation and organizational change across healthcare, life sciences, and performance materials.

Focus on scalable business models, data-driven decision architecture, and the transformation of operational units.

Group Strategy | Digital & Biopharma

Started as Manager Strategic Planning — responsible for international strategy, market analysis and post-merger integration for a €1B+ life science business.

Promoted to Head of Strategic Planning — leading global strategy processes, portfolio management and digital transformation. Strategic advisor to the CEO on growth and M&A initiatives.

Led post-merger integration of Sigma-Aldrich ($17B deal) and launched nine digital lighthouse projects driving innovation across healthcare, life sciences and performance materials.

Focus Areas:
-Corporate Strategy & M&A
-Business Model Innovation
-Digital Growth Initiatives
-Post-Merger Integration

Head of Strategic Planning & Business Transformation

I build Entrepreneurial Systems — scalable structures made of AI, Talent, and Capital — that transform companies, reorganize markets, and automate growth.

With 15+ years of experience in high-tech, industrial sectors, and B2B, I specialize in combining hardware, software, and AI with business model innovation to drive cross-industry scaling.

I’ve built and scaled companies across diverse verticals — from advanced manufacturing and industrial tech to SaaS and life sciences — leading organizations with up to 450 people and generating 8-figure revenues.

My work focuses on designing business architecture for companies and investors who want to scale smarter — especially in fragmented markets, succession environments, and AI transformation scenarios.

Focus Areas:
-AI Company Transformation
-Buy & Build Playbooks for B2B & Industry
-Founder Operating Systems
-Cross-Industry Growth Architecture

Recognized as a World Economic Forum Global Innovator and Top 40 Under 40. Graduate of Harvard Business School (GMP) and University of St. Gallen.

Daniel Szabo

DataProphet

Head of Growth and New Markets

MCI Consultants

Lead the business development and operational elements of the AI Solutions division. Providing a comprehensive solution to help supply chains achieve a competitive advantage through digital transformation.

◼ Partnering with supply chain stakeholders to understand and analyse strategy, identify opportunities, and create a transformation plan.
◼ Facilitate the creation of an AI strategy and roadmap, which serves as a foundation for the successful deployment of AI into an organisation.
◼ Working with data scientists and AI vendors to ensure quality development and supporting the implementation of AI and machine learning models to provide insights and predictions with associated dashboards, and reports.
◼ Translate results, refine and provide ongoing actionable recommendations that business users can implement to deliver tangible business value.
◼ Professional expert and contributor to the 4IR Commission for South Africa on the AI Dialogue; preparing the South African youth for AI to deliver sustainable economic growth, social development and safety.

Business Partner & Strategy Consultant

AI Consultant 

Consultant to supply-chain organisations on the benefits of strategic analysis combined with AI roadmaps for improved efficiencies and profitability.

◼ Combined commercial, AI and Machine Learning knowledge to define a strategy with aligned use cases, roadmap, change management plan, and impact assessments for ROI, ethics, operating models, and HR procedures. 
◼ Led a program to review the benefits of using data and AI to improve agricultural yields across Africa; conducted research and analysis, produced roadmap and implemented a data strategy to transition from a manual to a technology solution.

Strategy Advisor

Ascendis Health

Short-term contract to establish the root cause of manufacturing challenges affecting performance and profitability in an R7.7bn pharmaceutical organisation. 

◼ Identified conflict between the operating model and new ERP planning system; established cadence in the supply chain with a key focus on planning, produced a day in the life concept and developed new operating models.
◼ Restructured the supply chain planning team, including role creation, role profiles, and full recruitment through onboarding.

Operations & Supply Chain Consultant

Anheuser-Busch InBev

Leading global sustainable brewer with revenue of +$45bn. Complex matrix role indirectly reporting to the supply chain in South Africa and directly reporting to the VP of Procurement for Subsidiaries in Switzerland.

◼ Led five maltings facilities in South Africa, Zambia, Uganda and Tanzania; with 5 General Managers alongside cross-functional leadership for HR, Finance, Quality, Capex, Safety, and accountability for additional subsidiaries. 
◼ Directed team through an acquisition process and associated change management; reviewing and integrating all processes and practices.
◼ Shaped internal commercial relationships acting as malt supplier required to comply with external quality and pricing rules; consistently sustained best-in-class for malt quality (compared to global 3rd party producers).
◼ Collaboration on barley sourcing with procurement ensuring sustainability in supply-chain costs and pricing.
◼ Achieved a 5% reduction in the total cost of malt with a peak at 20% and increased malt throughput by 125k T.
◼ Optimised process, quality, and safety to achieve an overall reduction in plant running costs through energy reduction and reduction of 50% in safety incidents.

Operations Director: Supply 

SABMiller

Bifunctional role reporting to the Head of Barley Farming and Malt Processing; company transitioned into AB-inBev through an acquisition. Led cross-functional teams of +200 with five direct reports over four regions across Africa.

◼ Presided over end-end operations of 5 maltings facilities with annual revenue of +$200m; quality, safety, production, logistics and environmental impact.
◼ Commissioned two new factories in South Africa (175k ton-plant) and Zambia (25k ton-plant) from organisational design, talent selection, training, SOPs, maintenance, safety, creating and implementing staged growth plans.

Operations Manager: Supply

New Way Power (Pty) Ltd

Leading African power solutions provider consisting of New Way Power, Neptune Plant Hire, and Power O2. Remit to transition from family business to a corporate able to scale; accountable for annual revenue of R600m and a team of +150.

◼ Strategically and operationally transformed three businesses, with full rebrands, restructures and identified opportunities in new markets and revenue streams.
◼ Led a cross-functional team of C-suite stakeholders: CFO, COO, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Maintenance & Service Officer, HR and Health & Safety.
◼ Optimised working capital with R60m reduced from the balance sheet in year 1 with a net cash injection of R24m.
◼ 800% order book increase, 17% YoY revenue growth, and 19% YoY NOI growth through improved margins, quality, product lines and capital investment.
◼ Established new revenue streams, including introducing credit for generators and new business in servicing model, which achieved double-digit growth.

Chief Executive Officer

Career from Capital Optimisation Consultant, Logistics Manager (Inbound) to Operations & Logistics Manager.

◼ Accountable for a distribution budget of R600m, container capital investment of R400m, and finished working goods capital of R1.2bn.
◼ Key liaison and negotiation point with contract fleet hauliers across South Africa, ensuring adherence to plans and service level agreements.
◼ Planned, optimised & executed supply planning, stock replenishment, production planning and distribution for entire production grid and depots, including export business into Africa out of supply chain.

Operations & Logistics Manager: Supply Chain

Absa Group

Executive Positions

Accenture

Management Consultant

I head up growth at DataProphet, an AI-for-manufacturing company that specialises in driving operational efficiencies through deep learning, smart manufacturing and continuous improvement. I serve clients globally across various verticals like grey iron foundries, automotive, fast moving consumer goods, food and beverages, tyres, automotive wheel manufacturing and chemicals. A unique blend of leadership, supply chain, manufacturing, and machine learning skills, facilitate clients' journeys to operational efficiencies through digital transformation and smart manufacturing. My entrepreneurial mindset, commercial acumen and domain expertise enable me to easily identify key business problems and use cases, ensuring that our AI offering aligns with business goals and delivers measurable value. My focus is on promoting adoption and continuous improvement by effectively communicating the benefits of prescriptive analytics across organizational structures and ensuring seamless augmentation in the context of World Class Manufacturing.

I have an MBA and MSc in Electronic Engineering with a passion for driving transformative growth and operational excellence through technology, smart manufacturing and digital supply chain. With a proven track record in roles such as Management Consultant, Operations Manager and Director and CEO, I've driven transformative change, achieving significant cost reductions, growth and operational enhancements.

Specialities: Digital Manufacturing and Operations, Smart Manufacturing, Industry 4.0, Manufacturing Excellence, Change Management & Transformation, AI and Machine Learning, Supply Chain Management, Strategy, Manufacturing, Leadership, Growth, Fast Moving Consumer Goods, Food & Beverage.

Dual South African & Portuguese national.

taplio

The Battle

Daniel Szabo

Hyram Serretta - MBA, MSc Eng.

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