Building the German Marketplace, with responsibilities in business development and financial services.
USA · Europe · China · South Africa
Connecting
perspectives.
Moving forward.
Karl Wehner. Entrepreneur, founder and shaped by international experience. What happens when people, markets and technology come together is what sparks my curiosity.
More about mePerspectives without borders
People. Markets. Possibilities.
Experience across bordersBusiness · Technology · People
01 / About me
Shaped by the world.
Open to what comes next.
My career brings together global technology companies, ventures of my own and building businesses internationally: from Amazon through my startup years and three years in South Africa to ten years at Alibaba International.
At Amazon, my work helped build the German Marketplace. As a founder, turning ideas into businesses brought a different perspective. In Cape Town, my focus at Takealot was building its marketplace platform. At Alibaba, collaboration between Europe and China took centre stage.
Today, those experiences inform my conversations, ideas and entrepreneurial projects. Another question matters just as much: what does technological change mean for people, especially those just starting their working lives?
Amazon & AlibabaGlobal technology companies
Ventures of my ownFirst-hand entrepreneurial experience
Experiences that shaped my perspective
Founding octobo, Vivinum and CrazyMails. Experience spanning product ideas, building companies and developing business models.
Three years in Cape Town: designing and building the marketplace platform, along with its organisation and operational structures.
Ten years in Alibaba’s international business, with a focus on collaboration between Europe and China.
02 / Topics on my mind
Understanding change.
Recognising possibilities.
AI & business development
How is artificial intelligence changing the way companies work, make decisions and create value?
Europe & China
Understanding different markets and perspectives, sharing experience and finding opportunities to work together.
Entrepreneurship & investments
Meeting people, exploring ideas, challenging business models and thinking through the next steps together.
03 / My perspective
“What interests me is how a new technology changes things for businesses and people in practice — and how we can shape that change together.”
Karl Wehner
04 / Society & the future
Young people need
opportunities. And a voice.
Young people starting their careers today face profound change. AI can open up new opportunities. It can also raise fears about finding a first job or whether newly acquired skills will retain their value.
Finding ways to offer young people guidance and take their concerns seriously matters to me. That means talking with them about the future of work and including their experiences in decisions.
Feeling heard in society and politics matters just as much. Young people should have a say in shaping their future. Their questions and perspectives deserve space — in companies, public debate and politics.
Technological progress must also create opportunities for the next generation.
05 / Stay in touch
Good conversations.
Fresh perspectives.
Whether the topic is AI, international collaboration, a business idea or opportunities for young people, good conversations start where different perspectives meet. Every generation is welcome to join in and think things through together.
wehner@karlwehner.de