Gunter Festel

Prof. Gunter Festel holds a professorship in High-tech & Lifescience Entrepreneurship at Technische Universität Berlin and serves as a Research Fellow at the University of Basel's Chair of Financial Management. He lectures on entrepreneurship and process management at institutions including the University of St. Gallen, University of Hong Kong, and National University of Singapore. His academic career includes leadership roles at ETH Zurich and Arthur D. Little.

Education: He earned MA/PhD Chemistry from University of Bayreuth, PhD Management/Economics from ETH Zurich, Executive Master in Corporate Finance from Lucerne University, and additional degrees in Business Administration and Economics.

Research focuses on commercializing technologies in energy, environment, health, and materials sectors, with expertise in bio-based economy strategies. He consults for the OECD and European Commission on bioeconomy policies.

Professional ventures include founding Festel Capital (specializing in tech commercialization), the Founding Angels initiative, and multiple successful start-ups (TES Triton, Butalco, Dispendix). He advises governments across Europe and Asia, sits on over 20 advisory boards, and previously chaired Germany's Biotechnology Companies Association.

Personal initiatives include the Umbrella Kids Foundation supporting global education access. Lives in Central Switzerland with his wife, having visited over 100 countries.