Biography

Hannah Boomgaarden is an expert in open innovation and collaboration. Her expertise lies in helping companies enhance their innovation capabilities and support the execution of innovative projects. She has achieved great success as a partner supporting organizations across the EMEA region, consulting for Fortune 500 firms, and creating platforms for open innovation. She has collaborated with leading OEMs such as Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Hyundai, Volvo Cars, and Jaguar Land Rover, as well as suppliers like Bosch, ZF, and Webasto. Hannah is known for her pivotal role in establishing EMEA's most active innovation platform, Startup Autobahn powered by Plug and Play. She has also opened additional mobility hubs in the UK, Istanbul, and Sweden, overseeing the successful implementation of over 400 pilot projects with top startups in recent years. Currently, she serves as an Open Innovation expert, working closely with all EMEA partners (cross-industry) and locations of Plug and Play. She provides dedicated support for their open innovation activities and offers strategic guidance. Additionally, she represents the activities related to FoundHer in EMEA and actively contributes to the growth of the startup ecosystem in Stuttgart. Hannah's extensive experience spans corporate, startup, conference, and media areas. Her exceptional ability to connect people and ideas makes her an invaluable asset to the organizations and individuals she collaborates with.