More than 1,000 Digitale Leute came together in Cologne for two days filled with inspiration, insight, and genuine connection. With 50+ national and international speakers across four stages, an Expo Area with fantastic partners and exhibitors, four hands-on Expert Workshops during the Pre-Conference Day, and a Get-Together with DJ Julian Stetter, this year’s Digitale Leute Summit was our most vibrant edition yet.
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who joined us at the Palladium – especially our speakers, partners, moderators and volunteers who helped make the 8th edition of the Digitale Leute Summit such a meaningful experience.
This year, we once again opened our official program with a keynote speech. We invited Yariv Adan, General Partner at ellipsis venture and former Senior Director of Products at Google, where he spent 17 years building cutting-edge AI products for consumers and businesses.
In his keynote, “GenAI for Businesses – Past, Present, and Future,” Yariv outlined why generative AI is advancing so quickly and how this shift is creating opportunities for companies of all sizes. He discussed key technological developments of recent years, the business value they are enabling today, and the potential impact on future product life cycles. His thoughts – including the idea that apps may one day become as short-lived as disposable items – sparked thoughtful discussions among attendees. Looking ahead, Yariv offered his view on the next wave of developments and what they mean for businesses, entrepreneurs, and investors preparing for the future.
The Conference Day continued with talks across all stages, leading up to our closing keynote by Lisa Kleinman.
We then welcomed Lisa Kleinman, Head of Product Design at Make, to the main stage for the closing keynote. With a background spanning Silicon Valley and a Ph.D. in Human–Computer Interaction, she brings deep expertise in designing for how people work and collaborate.
In her keynote, “The new rules: How AI is rewriting product and design collaboration,” Lisa showed how AI and automation are reshaping the boundaries between product management and design – while reminding us that great products still rely on human design judgement. Drawing on real examples from Make, she shared practical insights into how teams can use AI to collaborate more fluidly, from ideation through execution. Attendees gained an honest look at what has worked well for Make, which pitfalls to avoid, and how AI can amplify human creativity rather than replace it. It was a fitting conclusion to the summit and resonated strongly with the audience.
“Automate what you can – but never lose your design sensibility.”
Pre-Conference-Day and Welcome Reception with our speakers and partners
As in previous years, we kicked off our Digitale Leute Summit with four full-day Expert Workshops led by Nikkel Blaase & Jan Milz, Nesrine Changuel, Zamina Ahmad, and David Pereira at the smartvillage in Cologne.
In the evening, we welcomed our speakers and partners for the official Welcome Reception at the Palladium – a great way to get in the mood for the Conference the next day.
Get-Together: A relaxed end to the Conference Day
After a full day of keynotes, talks and masterclasses, our Get-Together provided space for conversations and new connections. DJ Julian Stetter set a laid-back tone as attendees, speakers, and partners exchanged ideas, met familiar faces, and enjoyed a relaxed evening together. It was a great reminder of how much the Digitale Leute community values both learning and genuine interaction.
A massive thank you to our partners and supporters
The 8th edition of our Digitale Leute Summit could not have been so successful without the trust of our partners and supporters.
Thank you for always making it an unforgettable event.
Save the Date for 2026!
We are very much looking forward to welcoming you next year – the date has already been confirmed and our Blind Bird Conference Tickets are live: So see you on November 17 + 18, 2026 in Cologne.
Thank you for being part of this year’s Digitale Leute Summit in Cologne 💜
Your Digitale Leute Team
