Let’s Talk About Tech

In this episode of Let's Talk About Tech, host Berthold Baurek-Karlic sits down with Albert Quehenberger, founder of AQ Forensics and Austria's first certified cryptocurrency forensic investigator, to explore the world of crypto forensics, from tracing stolen Bitcoin and unmasking scams to freezing criminal funds across a global network. They discuss how Albert went from two decades in the Austria...

In this episode of Let's Talk About Tech, host Philipp Sakuler sits down with Florian Wimmer, CEO of Blockpit, for his second appearance on the show, to explore the impact of CARF, DAC8 and the GENIUS act, AI agents and the current "SaaSpocalypse". They discuss whether SaaS is really "dying" in the age of AI agents, how a software business has to adapt to stay ahead, and why crypto tax compliance...

In this episode of Let's Talk About Tech, host Philipp Sakuler sits down with Max Sherwood, CEO and co-founder of H2O Nodes, to explore the world of blockchain infrastructure, from Bitcoin mining in 2013 to running validators on Solana, Sui, Monad and Ethereum, and building real-yield products on top. Recorded live at Vienna Blockchain Week 2026, organized by neob.ai and Austrian Blockchain Center...

In this episode of Let's Talk About Tech, host Berthold Baurek-Karlic sits down with John Kojiro Moriwaka — better known as "Crazy John," global ambassador of the World Venture Forum, the global event for investors in the first week of July in Kitzbühel, Austria. John, as the winner of its Crystal Unicorn Award of Excellence, explores how genuine relationships, not transactions, build a truly glob...

In this episode of Let’s Talk About Tech, host Philipp Sakuler sits down with Christoph Boschan, CEO of the Vienna Stock Exchange, to explore how European capital markets are evolving, from IPO dynamics to tokenization and the increasing role of financial infrastructure as a tech business. They discuss why Europe struggles with equity participation, how listing decisions are really made, and Bosch...

In this episode of Let's Talk About Tech, CEO of Venionaire Capital Berthold Baurek-Karlic sits down with Dr. Günther Dobrauz-Saldapenna, Founder & Partner of exelixis capital, to explore his journey from decoding disruption and the science behind it with his publications on interlinked S-Curves, pioneering Venture Capital, spending more than 15 years combined at Deloitte and PwC to navigating...

What is the actual key to a long, healthy life? In this episode of Let’s Talk About Tech, host Berthold Baurek-Karlic speaks with Johannes Weiss, founder and CEO of Longevity Center Vienna, who reveals why there isn't just one "magic pill," but rather a biological "key" involving your brain, your cells, and your community. We move past the hype of social media supplements to discuss the Root Cause...

In this episode of Let's Talk About Tech, CEO of Venionaire Capital, Berthold Baurek-Karlic, sits down with Andreas Perotti, Defense Tech expert and entrepreneur. They explore why the "startup community" in defense exploded after 2022 , the reality of the "drone war" in Ukraine , and whether true technological resilience is even possible in a globalized world. Guest Speaker: Andreas Perotti ➡️ Lin...

In this episode of Let’s Talk About Tech, host Berthold Baurek-Karlic sits down with Florian Wagner, CEO and Founder of Emerald Horizon, to explore one of the most ambitious energy innovations currently emerging in Europe. From hedge fund management to building a deep tech company in the energy space, Florian shares how his journey led to the development of Emerald Horizon's core technology ADES w...

In this episode of the Let’s Talk About Tech podcast, host Philipp Sakuler sits down with Simon Laubscher, Head of Innovation at Swarovski, to explore how Swarovski continues to innovate and reinvent itself.   Guest Speaker: Simon Laubscher ➡️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-laubscher/ Swarovski: https://www.swarovski.com/de-AT/   Moderator: Philipp Sakuler ➡️ LinkedIn: https://www.lin...

In this episode of Let’s Talk About Tech, host Berthold Baurek-Karlic speaks with Dr. Bernhard Müller, Industry Lead Aerospace & Defense at PwC and former officer of the Austrian Armed Forces. We discuss how defense innovation increasingly emerges from the private sector, why dual-use technologies such as AI, drones, and satellites are reshaping modern defense capabilities, and how governments...

In this episode, host & CEO Berthold Baurek-Karlic speaks with Anja Hintermeier, Head of New Business and Venture Development at Wien Energie, about how cities can innovate their way toward climate neutrality, build new energy revenue streams, and collaborate with startups to stabilize future grids. From venture building inside utilities to decentralized energy systems and grid stability chall...

In this episode of Let’s Talk About Tech, moderator Berthold Baurek-Karlic sits down with Anna Wallner, Head of New Media at Die Presse, Austria’s oldest newspaper, founded in 1848. They explore how journalism is evolving in the age of AI, shrinking attention spans, and platform dependency. From podcasts and social media to AI-generated voices, chatbots, and declining search traffic, this conversa...

In this episode of Let’s Talk About Tech, Berthold Baurek-Karlic speaks with Gerhard Kürner, Founder & CEO of 506.ai, about the real blockers behind Europe’s AI gap — from missing sales culture to enterprise adoption challenges. They discuss compliant enterprise AI, productivity myths, the AI J-curve, voice as the next interface, and what it actually takes to deploy AI securely and at scale in...

In this episode of Let’s Talk About Tech, host Berthold Baurek-Karlic and guest Patrick-Noël Gregor, Founder & COO of Valoterna, explore a niche but increasingly relevant alternative asset class: natural colored gemstones. Patrick breaks down the fundamentals of a market characterized by extreme scarcity, low correlation, and long-term price appreciation. A strategic exploration for investors...

In this episode of Let’s Talk About Tech, we sit down with Andrej Majcen, Group CEO and Co-Founder of Bitcoin Suisse. From buying his first Bitcoin as a student to building a 200+ employee global organization, Andrej’s story is one of conviction, timing, and the relentless pursuit of trust in an industry that had none at the time.   Guest Speaker: Andrej Majcen ➡️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.co...

Host Berthold Baurek-Karlic sits down with Dr. Michael Förtsch, the CEO and founder of Q.ANT, a German deep-tech company pioneering photonic computing – data processing powered by light instead of electricity. 💡 Topics Covered: - From academia to entrepreneurship: Michael’s journey from quantum research to startup success - What is photonic computing — and why it matters - The limitations of bina...

From competing on the ice to skating through 75 countries (including Antarctica!) and founding Skate the World, Matthias has turned his passion for adventure into a global movement that combines sport, storytelling, and social impact. Recently honored as “Athlete of the Year with a Heart” (Sportler des Jahres mit Herz) in Austria, Matthias continues to inspire through projects like Skate the World...

In this episode of Let’s Talk About Tech we welcome Hannes Hunschofsky, Managing Director of the Vienna Office of EIT Manufacturing. From his international career in the U.S. and Europe to leading one of the most important European innovation networks for manufacturing, Hannes shares his insights on: - Building ecosystems that connect startups and corporates - The role of collaboration in driving...

From the halls of Congress to villages in Malawi, Afghanistan, and Japan—Marjorie Margolies has dedicated her life to empowering women and amplifying their voices. She won five Emmy Awards as a journalist, served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and founded Women’s Campaign International. As President of Women’s Campaign International, she shares powerful stories of resilience, le...

In this episode of Let’s Talk About Tech, we sit down with Takahisa Ohira, Head of Asia Region at Deloitte Tohmatsu Venture Support. From building the Japan–India startup corridor to connecting with European deep-tech innovators, Takahisa shares insider strategies for startups looking to scale into Japan and for Japanese corporates seeking global collaboration. We cover: - Why now is the right tim...

In this episode, host Berthold Baurek-Karlic sits down with Marcel Aberle, founder of Aberle Trendforschung, to explore the hidden forces shaping our future. Marcel shares the most important trends no one is talking about - and how the future might unfold if we’re paying attention. Guest Speaker: Marcel Aberle ➡️ Website: https://www.marcelaberle.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcelabe...

With over 20 years of experience in the tech industry, Alex von Frankenberg, former Managing Director of High-Tech Gründerfonds and author of his newest book "Bitcoin - Das ehrliche Geld" (The Honest Money) shares invaluable insights into his journey at High-Tech Gründerfonds, discussing how he helped shape the European startup landscape. The conversation explores Alex's latest book on Bitcoin, wh...

In this episode of "Let's Talk About Tech," host Berthold Baurek-Karlic and Max J. Heinzle, Founder & CEO of 21X, discusses the digital transformation of capital markets and the role of blockchain. With his extensive experience in venture capital and finance, Max explains how blockchain technology is revolutionizing the way financial instruments are traded and managed. Guest Speaker: Max J. He...

In this episode, our moderator Berthold Baurek-Karlic sits down with Karl Zettl, Co-Founder and CEO of Iknaio Cryptoasset Analytics. Together, they talk about Karl’s journey from growing up in a restaurant business-driven family to leading Iknaio in revolutionizing the world of crypto analytics. Iknaio is transforming crypto tracking with a powerful, Google Maps-like approach to crypto transaction...