Brain City Ambassador: Laura Möller

Brain City Berlin

Laura Möller is very familiar with the challenges that start-ups face throughout their life cycle. As Head of the Artificial Intelligence Entrepreneurship Center (K.I.E.Z.), the Brain City Ambassador uses her in-depth expertise in the field of venture capital to launch science-related start-ups successfully.

Anyone who asks Laura Möller what her goals are immediately receives a clear answer: “I want to turn the immense potential of AI research at Berlin’s universities into successful AI start-ups!” Since the beginning of 2024, the business economist has headed the Artificial Intelligence Entrepreneurship Center (K.I.E.Z.) in Brain City Berlin. The initiative, one of four EXIST model projects nationwide in this field, has set itself the task of promoting start-ups of science-related companies in the field of AI. “We are part of Science & Startups, the network of start-up services at Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Technische Universität Berlin in cooperation with Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin – and are therefore very close to the top scientists in our city. However, our programmes are open to all interested parties – even if they have no connection to the universities mentioned,” says the Brain City Ambassador. “There are more than 20,000 researchers at Berlin universities alone – a huge potential for a cross-sectional technology like AI.”

The special thing about K.I.E.Z.: All of the initiative’s services are tailored to the specific needs of AI startups. “They cover the entire innovation chain: from the validation of research results for commercial exploitation to targeted support in the incubation phase and an AI accelerator programme,” explains Laura Möller. “In addition, my team of ten and I are an active part of our startup ecosystem. We inform the public about our young founders, build networks for them and are committed to improving continuously the framework conditions for AI science transfer.”

Berlin is the ideal breeding ground for scientific start-ups. With top funding opportunities, a vibrant scene for founders and numerous investors.

Before Laura Möller took over the management of K.I.E.Z., she worked for several years as a venture capital investor. Today, she actively uses the know-how she gained during this time to support startups and further expand K.I.E.Z.’s position within the scene. “Since the launch of K.I.E.Z., we have supported more than 100 start-up teams in our various programmes. We are also working with K.I.E.Z. to establish an AI hub in the capital,” says Laura Möller. The activities of K.I.E.Z now extend beyond Brain City Berlin. K.I.E.Z. maintains close relationships with start-up ecosystems in France, Austria and Italy, for example. “We will definitely continue to expand our international relationships in the coming years,” she adds. “However, we also want to make our experience from the last three years of K.I.E.Z. available to other universities and scientific institutions in Germany in the future. That is why we launched AI NATION together with AI+MUNICH at the Founders Festival “Bits & Pretzels” in 2024. This is the first time that Germany’s two largest AI start-up hubs have joined forces. Our goal is to provide more targeted support to AI start-ups nationwide.” As Managing Director, Laura Möller is also leading the development of UNITE, a consortium of over 50 partners from science, business, politics and society. Möller: “By means of UNITE, we want to make Berlin-Brandenburg the largest centre for innovation and science-based start-ups in Europe.”

The step to Berlin was not far for Laura Möller, who was born in Brandenburg. “I came to Berlin to study and completed my Master’s degree in European Studies at Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Technische Universität Berlin – before becoming part of the start-up ecosystem on the VC side.” Today, the Brain City Ambassador lives with her family near Potsdam and commutes to Berlin almost every day. “We have our K.I.E.Z. offices at the AI Campus in Berlin-Mitte. These are used by the team as well as by our Accelerator start-ups. It’s a great place. The heart of the Berlin AI scene, if you like.” But Berlin as a center of science also offers talented people excellent research opportunities – for example at the Berlin Institute for the Foundations of Learning and Data (BIFOLD) – and an international and diverse atmosphere. Laura Möller: “Berlin is the ideal breeding ground for scientific start-ups – with top funding opportunities, a vibrant scene for founders and numerous investors.”

Laura Möller advises young scientists who want to come to Berlin to consider founding a company as an attractive career path. “Find out about funding opportunities at universities and colleges in good time – for example through Science & Startups or through us at K.I.E.Z.” It is also important for young researchers today to familiarise themselves with Artificial Intelligence as early as possible and to use it for their own field. As Möller says: “Whatever you do: AI will turn your discipline upside down!” (vdo)