On November 20, 2025, the Hasso Plattner Institute hosted the very first HPI Alumni Day - a new event format that brought together alumni, students, researchers, and staff on the Potsdam campus. Around 130 participants, including many current students, took part in a day dedicated to networking, learning and exchanging perspectives from research, industry and the start-up ecosystem.
A kickoff marked by growth and progress
The event opened with remarks from HPI Managing Director Prof. Tobias Friedrich, who highlighted the institute’s dynamic development: the progressing mission of Digital Sovereignty, the addition of six new professorships in 2025, and the continued expansion of the campus. Friedrich emphasized the essential role of the growing alumni community in shaping the future of the HPI.
Sandra Willoh, Head of Alumni Partners, welcomed alumni from across the generations - from the very first cohort of students to the most recent graduates. Just a few weeks earlier, the HPI Alumni Chapter Silicon Valley had been launched in San Francisco, reflecting the institute’s commitment to building a strong international network.
Keynotes, panels, and deep dives: Knowledge exchange at the core
The program offered a wide range of formats featuring distinguished alumni speakers:
- Dr. Frank Keller, EVP General Manager at PayPal New York, shared insights from his journey - from early HPI employee to global tech leader - in a compelling "Lessons Learned" talk.
- In the panel "Bridging the Gap: Translating AI Research into Entrepreneurial Success," Prof. Ralf Herbrich joined alumni Stefan Bunk (Vara) and Georg Koester (brighterAI) to discuss how academic research can lead to successful products and ventures.
- In the Founders Panel moderated by David Hahn, Alumni founders didn’t just share insights into their ventures - they also discussed essential leadership topics such as burnout prevention, building healthy team cultures and empowering people in fast-growing environments.
- Additional contributions came from Katya Sumina (Google), Dr. Nico Herzberg and Prof. Dr. Ziawasch Abedjan (TU Berlin).
Throughout the day, Deep Dives by HPI professors, campus tours with science chats and an engaging World Café offered further opportunities for both professional exchange and personal connection.
A strong community that drives ideas forward
The day concluded with an informal get-together, where participants continued their conversations in a relaxed atmosphere. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many highlighting the inspiring mix of technical insights, personal stories and the feeling of returning "home" to the HPI campus.
Sandra Willoh summarized the spirit of the day perfectly: "As HPI grows, our international alumni network grows with it—carried by new personal connections that we continue to strengthen worldwide. Only together do the ideas emerge that move us forward. Together, we make HPI visible internationally."
Outlook for the HPI Alumni Network
New alumni chapters - including a dedicated Female Chapter - are already planned for the HPI alumni network, and the next HPI Alumni Day is set to take place in 2026. This inaugural event demonstrated the value of interdisciplinary and intergenerational exchange for a research-driven, globally connected institute like HPI.
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