What if the next great industrial revolution doesn’t happen in factories – but in 3D? Sabine Scheunert, CEO Central Europe at Dassault Systèmes, joins The Optimist to explain how virtual twins are reshaping how we build cars, cities, and even save lives.

Dassault has been leading industrial 3D software for more than half a century. Now, they are taking the next leap, from simulating surgeries on digital hearts to optimizing entire supply chains before a single product is made. “The next transformation won’t happen in physical space. It will happen in the virtual one first.”

Scheunert also takes a strong stand on Europe’s tech future: “Europe may be slower, but that could be our superpower.” With sovereign infrastructure and deep expertise, the continent might win in the long run. Tune in now and hear why Sabine says we must “dare to lead.”

The Optimist is presented by TECH by Handelsblatt Media Group and independent from the Handelsblatt editorial team.

What happens when a top European banker and a leading VC team up to fix the continent’s tech funding gap? Join Marco Iannaccone (HypoVereinsbank/UniCredit) and Alexander Kudlich (Capital 468) for an unfiltered, optimistic take on why Europe’s startups struggle to scale – and how that’s about to change.

Both guests agree: Europe doesn’t suffer from a lack of innovation or ambition – it suffers from an underpowered funding landscape for growing companies. As Kudlich bluntly puts it, “We’re not just selling a fund. We’re selling an entire industry.” And Iannaccone, representing one of Europe’s largest banks, doesn’t shy away from calling out the systemic lag: “Europe is 25 years behind in growth financing. But we're finally learning where the value is – and we’re catching up fast.”

Together, they offer a candid diagnosis of why tech startups struggle to scale in Germany and all over Europe – and how new alliances between institutions and venture capital could change that. Kudlich outlines the next frontier: “The best companies in Europe today aren’t about pizza delivery—they’re launching GPUs into space.”

Along the way, the conversation smashes a few myths, like the idea that tech investments aren’t a fit for banks. Iannaccone is clear: “That’s a massive misconception.” HypoVereinsbank/UniCredit is playing a vital role in bridging the trust, education, and capital gap between traditional investors and tech founders. As Kudlich says, “Our worlds used to be far apart. Now we’re learning each other’s language – and building something together.”

The Optimist is presented by TECH by Handelsblatt Media Group and independent from the Handelsblatt editorial team.

The European automotive industry is under massive pressure — falling demand, shifting relations with the U.S. and strong competition from China. But what if that pressure is the perfect driver for transformation? In this episode, Frank Göller outlines why Europe still has what it takes to lead — from reinventing its production mindset and betting big on electrification to mastering AI.

Highlights we covered with Frank:

The Optimist is presented by TECH by Handelsblatt Media Group and independent from the Handelsblatt editorial team.

The Optimist is presented by TECH by Handelsblatt Media Group and independent from the Handelsblatt editorial team.

The Optimist is presented by TECH by Handelsblatt Media Group and independent from the Handelsblatt editorial team.

The second episode of The Optimists welcomes an AI optimist: the Global Lead AI at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Dr. Andrej Levin.

The Optimist is presented by TECH by Handelsblatt Media Group and independent from the Handelsblatt editorial team.

The inaugural episode of The Optimists welcomes a digital optimist and coder at heart: the Co-CEO of Schwarz Digits & CDO at Schwarz Group, Rolf Schumann.

The Optimist is presented by TECH by Handelsblatt Media Group and independent from the Handelsblatt editorial team.