OMR Podcast - S04:E69 - Nils Aldag, Sunfire-Gründer
Green Hydrogen for Industry: How a Machinery Startup from Dresden is Driving the Decarbonization of the German Economy. The Dresden-based startup Sunfire manufactures electrolyzers. The hydrogen produced with these systems is the fuel for building a post-fossil industry. In the OMR Podcast, Sunfire founder Nils Aldag discusses the challenging early days, the investors (including Amazon), and the economic potential of his company. He also reveals why the gas and oil state of Saudi Arabia is particularly interested in his products.
Within just four years, Philipp Schröder has turned the Hamburg-based energy startup 1Komma5Grad into a unicorn. However, the founder and former Tesla Germany chief has much bigger plans. He envisions creating a trillion-dollar company out of Europe in the energy sector. The installation of solar panels and heat pumps is just the first step; in the long term, Philipp Schröder dreams of building an energy equivalent to Apple.
Everyone knows the airport shops selling cigarettes, perfume, and giant Toblerones. Max Heinemann is the heir of the family that has been running many of these stores, as well as luxury boutiques at airports, for decades. But that’s not all. Gebr. Heinemann is also a global player in supplying airlines and cruise operators, with nearly 4 billion euros in annual revenue. In the OMR Podcast, the fifth-generation CEO talks about the unique challenges of the travel retail business, dealing with luxury brands, and innovative delivery approaches.
AI pioneer Jürgen Schmidhuber discusses the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence and the importance of Germany as a location in the OMR Podcast. The German computer scientist developed the key foundations for the algorithms that are currently revolutionizing the world as we know it. He continues to conduct research and blogs about AI
Episode 32 - Joerg Ehmer, Deutschlandchef Burger King
83 Min 51 Sec.
In 2023, the undercover reporters from "Team Wallraff" uncovered numerous issues at the fast-food chain Burger King, leading to negative headlines. The company responded swiftly. With lawyer Jörg Ehmer as the new CEO, the franchise chain is undergoing reforms, including inspection visits. In the OMR Podcast, the former CEO of Apollo-Optik discusses his transition from the eyewear business to the burger industry, the success of vegetarian products, and reveals why Burger King needs to become more digital.
Why throw away tons of fruit pits when they can be used to make food? This is the approach of the Austrian startup Kern Tec, which has partnered with the private dairy company Bauer to launch a product line based on apricot pits. Bauer, best known for its signature yogurt "Der große Bauer," is a family-owned company with a long tradition but is fully aware that the dairy business cannot afford to stand still.
"Gelernt habe ich gar nichts", bekennt Thomas Hagedorn direkt zum Beginn dieser OMR Podcast-Episode. Dafür ist die Zwischenbilanz des 53-Jährigen beachtlich. Sein 1997 mit einem Bagger gegründetes Unternehmen setzt mittlerweile über eine halbe Milliarde Euro um, beschäftigt mehr als 2000 Menschen und ist von einem Abbruchunternehmen zu einem Rundum-Dienstleister der Baubranche herangewachsen. Mit Schüttflix und Brownfield24 betreibt die Hagedorn Gruppe zwei innovative Plattformen, um die Digitalisierung der Baubranche voranzutreiben. Noch wichtiger ist aber die Vision des Unternehmers: Rückbauprozesse und Recyclingquoten so zu optimieren, dass für Neubauten keine neuen Flächen und weniger neue Baustoffe benötigt werden.
Ralph Denk started his first cycling team to promote his bike shop, never imagining it would one day become one of the world's most successful cycling franchises. Today, as the team manager of Bora - hansgrohe, he's competing for major titles and dreaming of a Tour de France victory. To achieve this, he has even partnered with the world's most famous sports sponsor. In the OMR Podcast, Ralph Denk reveals how he convinced Red Bull to join the team.
Episode 36 - Tim Schäcker, Luis Freitag, Elevatorboys
59 Min 37 Sec.
It all started in 2021 with an elevator and a spontaneous idea for a video. Today, the Elevator Boys have 2.4 million followers on TikTok, collaborate with globally recognized brands, and attend major events like Milan Fashion Week. In the OMR Podcast, Tim Schaecker and Luis Freitag discuss how their group came together, their meeting with Brad Pitt, the founding of a new social network, and their goal to break through as a boy band with their own music.
Firewalls and secure passwords—when it comes to cybersecurity, many first think of technical solutions for protection. However, the Cologne-based startup Sosafe focuses on those who can often pose the greatest danger to companies: their own employees. In the OMR Podcast, founder Niklas Hellemann explains why cybercrime is as much about psychology as it is about technology, how companies can protect themselves, and how AI is changing the threat landscape.
Kai Wawrzinek started buying websites with his brother at a young age before the two went on to found Goodgame Studios. Within just a few years, they transformed the game provider into a company with hundreds of millions of euros in revenue and around 1,400 employees. However, the rapid rise didn't last forever. Today, Kai Wawrzinek has a new project—and he's taking on global giants like Amazon and Google.
With products like Alpecin and Plantur 39, the Dr. Wolff Group has seen significant revenue growth in recent years, now generating nearly €400 million. In the OMR Podcast, company CEO Eduard Dörrenberg explains the connection between the caffeine shampoo Alpecin and the beverage Red Bull, why even an Amazon private label caffeine shampoo doesn't keep him up at night, and why Germany urgently needs an update.
Steffen Henssler is one of Germany's most famous TV chefs, filling large venues as a live entertainer and successfully selling his own cooking utensils online. In the OMR Podcast, he spoke with Philipp Westermeyer about the role a lottery win played in his life, how he prefers to cook at home, and the current situation with his sushi delivery chain, Go by Steffen Henssler.
With humorous slogans on billboards all over Germany, Scalable Capital has recently attracted a lot of attention. In the OMR Podcast, founder Erik Podzuweit discusses the company's transformation from a robo-advisor to a neobroker and the strategy behind the ad campaign. He also reveals why Scalable Capital would have a hard time becoming a jersey sponsor for a football club, why he now personally engages in lobbying in political Berlin, and which product the company has nearly ready to go in case of potential legal changes.
Ben Bernschneider is nearly 47 years old when his career as an influencer begins. This was not planned; it is the result of a life crisis. Ben Bernschneider is financially broke and emotionally in a rut—but he has retained his passion for aesthetics. He films his first reel for Instagram. And what happens next is something he probably never thought possible.
A few days before the Champions League final, it was revealed that the defense company Rheinmetall and Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund had agreed on a partnership. The deal secures millions for BVB but also sparks discussions among fans and observers of the club. In the OMR Podcast, BVB managers Carsten Cramer and Jan-Henrik Gruszecki discuss how the deal came about, the financial differences between the leagues in Germany and England, BVB's business model, and much more.
Kununu, with 380,000 profiles on the platform, is Germany's largest review portal for workplaces, yet many people are still unfamiliar with the name. CEO Nina Zimmermann wants to change that. In the OMR Podcast, she shared with Philipp Westermeyer how she plans to achieve this, which types of reviews pose a problem for Kununu, and what users should be mindful of when comparing potential employers.
ZDF has been the most popular TV channel in Germany for many years, primarily funded by broadcasting fees, amounting to 2.5 billion euros in 2023 alone. Despite this, ZDF still needs to cut costs. In the OMR Podcast, Director-General Norbert Himmler explains how the network plans to balance cost-saving measures with innovation. He also reveals strategies to better engage younger audiences and discusses why satire shows like Jan Böhmermann's cause him a lot of trouble, yet are ultimately worth it.
Lili Radu founded her first bag label right after finishing her studies—and even managed to impress the global giant Apple. Now, with Vee Collective, she has even bigger ambitions. Her "Everyday Bag" is aimed at becoming the new Longchamp Pliage, the best-selling bag in the world. To achieve this, Lili Radu is focusing on collaborations with Gwyneth Paltrow, tapping into the growing U.S. market.
Through savings account offers and advertising featuring basketball star Dirk Nowitzki, ING Germany has become the largest direct bank in the country, with the goal of reaching ten million customers firmly in sight. In the OMR and Finance Forward podcast, CEO Nick Jue shares his thoughts on the advertising impact of interest rates on savings, whether he's worried about competitors like Trade Republic and Scalable Capital, and what changes he wants to make to the brand.
Verena Zander was a manager at Amazon before taking over as the CEO of Just Spices. The founders of the Düsseldorf-based spice startup stepped back after its acquisition by the U.S. giant Kraft Heinz. Now, Verena Zander is tasked with driving the company's growth, aiming to turn double-digit million revenues into triple-digit figures. However, the challenges are significant. In the OMR Podcast, Verena Zander explains why she initially decided to reduce the product range, how she plans to conquer the U.S. market with Just Spices, and why a spice advent calendar costing nearly 100 euros has become one of the most important revenue drivers.
Stephan Schäfer rose from journalist to co-CEO of RTL Germany. But then, surprisingly, his departure followed. He made a fresh start, wrote a novel—and immediately scored a bestseller. In the OMR podcast, Stephan Schäfer discusses why, after a successful media career, he decided to take an entirely new path at nearly 50 years old.
Self-optimization, veganism, longevity—several mega-trends are fueling the rapidly growing market for dietary supplements. Sunday Natural, based in Berlin, is a leading player in this space. The startup became a unicorn in just ten years without external capital. Following its acquisition by investor CVC—reportedly for 800 million euros—the company is now focused on expanding across Europe.
In 2010, Malte Huffmann and Philipp Povel moved from Berlin to Brazil to build a Zalando clone on behalf of Rocket Internet. They discuss the rocky journey from being nobodies in a foreign land to becoming market leaders, their experiences with Oliver Samwer, what they are grateful to him for, and how they are now bringing the buy-now-pay-later model to the B2B sector with their new Berlin-based startup Mondu, all in this anecdote-filled episode of the OMR Podcast.
Episode 56 - Holger Hübner, Wacken Open Air Festival
66 Min 22 Sec.
What started over 40 years ago as a pub joke has now become a business generating tens of millions in revenue, with spin-off events and its own themed cruise. In the OMR Podcast, Wacken co-founder Holger Hübner shares incredible anecdotes from the early years, discusses the rapid growth since the 90s, talks about existential crises, and reveals his plans for the future of W.O.A. (Wacken Open Air).
Founded 90 years ago as a grain trading company, the Wünsche Group is now involved in international trade across numerous product segments. The Hamburg-based trading company sells everything from tomato paste to clothing and sports equipment, generating an annual revenue of 700 million euros. Aldi has been one of its major customers for over 60 years. In the OMR podcast, Thomas Wünsche and his daughter Jo discuss family business disputes, the private-label market, social media as a career path, and growing competition from Chinese discount retailers like Temu and Shein.
The video in which Philipp "Pip" Klöckner discusses the current state of artificial intelligence has been viewed nearly 300,000 times. That’s reason enough to invite him back as an expert on the OMR Podcast—especially since the field continues to evolve rapidly. In the podcast, Pip Klöckner explains why he doesn’t believe in drastic impacts on the job market, why he still expects surprises from German AI startups, and why, despite all the risks, he remains optimistic about AI.
Over 30,000 points, a championship with the Dallas Mavericks, NBA MVP: Dirk Nowitzki has achieved more in his basketball career than any other German player before him – and yet he has remained remarkably down-to-earth. In the OMR Podcast, Dirk Nowitzki reflects on key moments in his career, discusses opponents and teammates such as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Dennis Rodman, and reveals what role he could see himself in the future.
Episode 67 - Josef Ackermann, Ex-Deutsche-Bank-Chef
81 Min 14 Sec.
Josef Ackermann was the first foreign CEO at the helm of Deutsche Bank—and one of the most influential. Under his leadership, the bank reached the pinnacle of global finance, weathered the financial crisis without state aid, but later had to pay billions to settle legal disputes. In the OMR Podcast, he discusses the differences between German and American bank bailouts, conversations with former Chancellor Angela Merkel, and an unusual meeting with Russia's President Vladimir Putin.
The infrastructure is dilapidated, the trains are late, and the staff is frustrated—the Deutsche Bahn is currently facing many issues. In the OMR Podcast, CEO Richard Lutz discusses the causes of these problems, the construction projects aimed at improvements, and his own career within the company.
Green Hydrogen for Industry: How a Machinery Startup from Dresden is Driving the Decarbonization of the German Economy. The Dresden-based startup Sunfire manufactures electrolyzers. The hydrogen produced with these systems is the fuel for building a post-fossil industry. In the OMR Podcast, Sunfire founder Nils Aldag discusses the challenging early days, the investors (including Amazon), and the economic potential of his company. He also reveals why the gas and oil state of Saudi Arabia is particularly interested in his products.
The former top manager offers rare insights into the discount empire. Almost everyone in Germany knows Aldi, but little is known about the history of the discount empire. The Albrecht brothers, Theo (Aldi Nord) and Karl (Aldi Süd), were long considered the richest Germans, yet they were virtually invisible in public. One person who was closely connected to Karl Albrecht for many years is Ulrich Wolters. He worked alongside the founder to run the Aldi Süd business for many years, transforming the small supermarket chain into an internationally operating retail heavyweight. In the OMR Podcast, he discusses his career alongside Karl Albrecht, the key decisions that led to success, his doubts about the business models of Shein and Temu, and the potential of his latest retail project, Action.
Episode 71 - Sebastian Steinau, Luxus-Immobilien Makler
76 Min 24 Sec.
The native of Sauerland is one of the most successful brokers for luxury apartments in New York.
The city that never sleeps. The Big Apple. The world capital. There are many nicknames for the US metropolis New York. For Sauerland native Sebastian Steinau, it is above all the most efficient and complex real estate market in the world, seemingly immune to any crisis. And as one of the most successful "real estate dealers," he has certainly played a part in that. In the first episode of a small New York series on the OMR podcast, he shares how he went from Sauerland to the Caribbean and eventually to New York—and how the business of selling multi-million-dollar apartments works.
As a teenager, Fabian Heilemann had one goal: he wanted to become rich. Together with his brother, he founded the startup DailyDeal, which led to a rapid rise and a $100 million exit to Google. However, this didn’t bring him happiness. From a Porsche-driving workaholic, he transformed into a committed cargo bike rider who regularly takes time off for meditation. Today, he invests millions in sustainable startups. But the question remains: can you really make money while protecting the climate?
Volker Gruhn started his career in a corporation but quickly realized: This isn't for me. Instead, he became a professor of computer science and, on the side, founded the IT service provider Adesso. Today, the company generates more than a billion euros in revenue with 10,000 employees. In the OMR podcast, Volker Gruhn talks about building the company, the importance of European AI solutions, and why a former football manager from Borussia Dortmund sits on the board of a software company.
The German economy is in crisis, yet the wealth of the richest German tech entrepreneurs has surged significantly over the past year. Manager Magazin has updated its list of the 500 richest Germans. For the OMR podcast, deputy editor-in-chief Simone Salden compiled an overview of the 20 wealthiest tech entrepreneurs. Topping the list is a founder and investor who left Germany many years ago.
When Naketano announced its closure in 2018, many in the fashion industry thought it was a marketing stunt. At the time, the signature hoodies with drawstrings and faux leather emblems were bestsellers, both online and in physical stores. After years of growth, the fashion brand was at its peak. Why would anyone give up a business that generates millions in profit? But the two founders from Essen were serious: they called it quits, leaving not only many unanswered questions but also a painful gap for retailers and online stores like About You. Six years later, Sascha Peljhan revealed on the OMR podcast why they decided to end it back then, and—most importantly—why selling the brand was never an option for them.
