Baris Efe

Baris Efe is an entrepreneur, investor, and educator with a background spanning corporate strategy, innovation, and early-stage venture building. He works at the intersection of entrepreneurship, corporate innovation, and the venture ecosystem. He began his career in strategy and innovation roles at firms including Porsche, A.T. Kearney, and MHP, before moving into entrepreneurship and ecosystem building. In 2018, he co-founded Vali, ESMT Berlin's entrepreneurship hub, which he continues to lead and where he teaches courses in innovation and entrepreneurship in the Master in Innovation & Entrepreneurship program. Under his leadership, Vali has accelerated more than 100 startups, supported over 500 founders, educated more than 1,000 students, and grown into a community of founders, investors, and corporate leaders across Europe. He also co-founded INNOVA Europe, a coalition of European universities advancing responsible entrepreneurship. His work focuses on building and investing in frontier tech startups, connecting founders with corporates and investors, and helping organizations and ecosystems turn innovation into real business impact. Baris is a frequent moderator, facilitator, and lecturer on topics including entrepreneurship, corporate innovation, and venture building, and has hosted fireside conversations with senior executives and CEOs from companies such as L'Oréal, SAP, and Deutsche Bank.