KIT Innovators Homecoming Enters Its Third Round

People with Roots at KIT Come Together – Hesthaven: “We Will Continue to Develop the Network”
Approximately 600 guests from the business and academic communities attended the Innovators Homecoming in Karlsruhe. Sandra Göttisheim, KIT
About 600 guests attended the third KIT Innovators Homecoming, many of them with ties to KIT.
Jan S. Hesthaven Sandra Göttisheim, KIT
Bringing together people who want to make a difference – KIT President Jan S. Hesthaven at the KIT Innovators Homecoming 2026.

Whether newly founded or on their way to the top of the world: The third KIT Innovators Homecoming, held on Thursday, 29 January 2026, brought together numerous alumni of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). Around 600 guests attended the event, including founders of companies such as Parloa, Chrono24 and Black Forest Labs, as well as investors, researchers and other representatives from industry and the innovation ecosystem. They exchanged views on current developments, challenges and new opportunities – and, not least, shared memories of their time at KIT.

One of the Largest University Start-up Centres in Germany

“At the KIT Innovators Homecoming, I experience a truly unique atmosphere,” says KIT President Jan S. Hesthaven, describing the mood at the event. “People come together here who have their roots at KIT but who now pursue very different career paths. The event brings together people who care deeply about innovation and want to make a difference. The resulting momentum, the exchange of ideas and the personal encounters show just how valuable this network is – and why we want to and will continue to develop it.”

With the event, KIT aims to strengthen exchange between former students, start-ups, entrepreneurial leaders, and investors, while underscoring its role as a driving force for knowledge transfer and business creation. The event is organised by the KIT Gründerschmiede, which serves as a central point of contact for founders. As one of the largest university start-up centres in Germany, it supports founders with expertise, infrastructure, financing options and networks, thereby fostering sustainable innovation in key future fields such as digitalisation, artificial intelligence, mobility and energy.

mhe, January 30, 2026