Jonothan Birkett

Program Lead | STARTPLATZ KI Accelerator

Strategic business development leader with a strong track record in SaaS, AI, and digital products, skilled at identifying opportunities, building partnerships, and driving international market growth. After successfully leading projects as a freelancer over the past two years, I’m now eager to bring my expertise and energy to a full-time business development manager role focused on expanding global markets.

As Program Lead of the STARTPLATZ KI Accelerator, I lead the strategic and operational execution of one of Germany’s most ambitious AI startup acceleration programs, backed by the State of NRW. I specialize in designing and running structured, founder-centric programs that combine startup growth with real-world application of emerging technologies. With deep expertise in ecosystem building, startup mentoring, and AI enablement, I help early-stage teams turn bold ideas into sustainable ventures.
I look for startups ready to apply AI not just as a feature, but as a core enabler of scalable business models.
I support founders with structured program journeys, including startup readiness, business model refinement, and go-to-market strategy.
I value collaboration with investors, mentors, and corporates to help startups access funding, pilot opportunities, and strategic partnerships.
I’m interested in connecting with corporate innovators, public stakeholders, and ecosystem partners who want to engage with AI-driven startups and bring new value into their innovation pipelines.