Back to the Future of AI – Ep. 29: Stefan Winners (Winners & Co. GmbH)

Back to the Future of AI | Ep. 29 | Stefan Winners

Drawing from decades of experience as an executive, board member, and investor, Winners argues that Europe’s best chance to stay competitive lies not in trying to replicate general-purpose AI models like those developed in the U.S., but in focusing on specialized, domain-specific applications. He highlights the potential in verticals such as healthcare, finance, and education, where deep expertise and targeted innovation can make a real difference — without the need for massive compute infrastructure.

Throughout the conversation, Winners emphasizes the importance of building companies that are not only scalable but also sustainable. For him, long-term success is rooted in clear differentiation, exceptional leadership, and the ability to make the right decisions consistently — particularly in fast-moving environments. He shares candid insights into what he looks for when backing startups, why he avoids investing in ego-driven founders, and how empathy, adaptability, and execution matter more than perfection.

Winners also voices concern about Europe’s regulatory environment and the barriers it creates for scaling innovation. Rather than overregulation, he calls for smarter incentives — such as tax benefits for startup investments — to encourage real growth. His vision is clear: if Europe wants to remain relevant in the next wave of technological transformation, it needs to double down on its strengths, empower its entrepreneurs, and create the conditions for AI innovation to thrive on its own terms.

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Spoken language: German