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PIONEER TOMORROW: Insights Unplugged #93
Event by: TU Wien Innovation Incubation Center (TUW i²c)
Location: EI 9 Hlawka Hörsaal, EG Gußhausstraße 27-29, Wien - Wieden
About event
Join us for a fireside chat with ao. Univ. Prof. Mag. Dr. Christian Huemer and DI Dr. Christoph Ebm, co-founders, as they share the story of the company’s growth from its early days in Vienna as a research proposal failure to its recent acquisition by the US software giant, Vertex. The founders will talk about the $180 million exit, covering both the challenges and successes along the way. They’ll dive into key decisions made during negotiations and the impact of working with investors. This event is aimed at entrepreneurs and business leaders looking to learn from ecosio's journey.
About the talk
In this session, Christian Huemer and Christoph Ebm will recount the key moments that led to the founding of ecosio in 2013 as a spin-off from TU Wien. They will highlight the company’s rise as a leader in EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) solutions, automating business processes across industries such as retail, automotive, and manufacturing. Christian Huemer will provide an insider’s perspective on the role of academic guidance in the early stages, the value of scientific advisory, and the pivotal moment when academic influence must step back to allow business innovation to thrive. Christoph Ebm will share the behind-the-scenes story of ecosio's strategic rise as a leader in EDI solutions. He’ll discuss key decisions made during the acquisition, the challenges of working with investors, and the crucial importance of adaptability for entrepreneurs facing rapid growth and change.
Attendees can expect insights into managing confidentiality and trust in high-stakes discussions, as well as how to handle moments of doubt. Christoph Ebm will also share stories from ecosio's early days, explaining how key pivots shaped the company's growth and emphasizing the importance of adaptability for entrepreneurs.
About the speakers
Christian Huemer is a professor at the Institute of Software Engineering and Interactive Systems at TU Wien. He completed his habilitation at the University of Vienna in 2002, specializing in business informatics. His research focuses on interorganizational systems, ERP system modeling, and Industry 4.0. He is Austrian Head of Delegation to UN/CEFACT and was for several years in charge of its Techniques and Methodologies Group. At Ecosio, he leads research efforts to develop new methods for automating electronic data exchange, drawing from his extensive experience in B2B and e-business standardization.
Christoph Ebm studied Electrical Engineering and Information Technology at TU Wien. Alongside his PhD, he worked full-time in research and development at IMS Nanofabrication. After completing his dissertation, he joined Boston Consulting Group as a corporate consultant and later worked as an independent consultant for investments and acquisitions. Through these roles, he gained practical expertise in corporate strategy, business management, and finance. As CEO of Ecosio, he is responsible for all commercial aspects, including sales, strategy, legal affairs, finance, and controlling.
About the PIONEER TOMORROW: Insights Unplugged series
The PIONEER TOMORROW: Insights Unplugged, organized by the Innovation Incubation Center (i²c) at TU Wien, enables the audience to learn firsthand from experienced founders, investors and innovators, and get inspired by their success (and failure) stories. Our guest speakers share their international experiences, dos & don’ts and lessons learned during an inspiring talk. Afterwards, the participants can ask all the burning questions during an interactive Q&A.
After the session, the attendees have the opportunity to network and mingle with like-minded people while enjoying beverages provided by TUW i²c.
We are looking forward to meeting you!
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Important:
*During the event, photographic and video material will be taken. Please inform the TUW i²c team at the venue in case you do not agree with appearing in this material. The photographic and video material taken at the event will be used by TUW i²c in printed and electronic media for promotional purposes.