Get to know Theodora Alexe in our interview series ‘5+1’. Theodora works as an associate in the ventures team at STARTUP AUTOBAHN powered by Plug and Play for just over a year now. In her position she among others gets to promote hundreds of tech startups in front of the industry partners that form Startup Autobahn’s open innovation platform. Prior to that, she worked in investment banking. Find out more about her job and motivation, if she has experienced any disadvantage due to being a women, the gender distribution and diversity at Startup Autobahn, the new definition of luxury in the mobility space, how she gets from A to B in Stuttgart and her mindset towards an active lifestyle.

1. You work as associate in the ventures team at STARTUP AUTOBAHN. What does your job involve and what is it that drives you? 

When I first joined the team at STARTUP AUTOBAHN powered by Plug and Play, I was overwhelmed and energised by such a positive “can do” attitude that everyone in the Stuttgart office has. Being set in a modern research campus focused on mobility, our office overlooks a buzzing smart factory shop floor filled with robotic arms, autonomous vehicles and cutting-edge localisation technologies. In the blink of an eye you are stepping into a high-tech future that encourages innovative thinking. No wonder there is never a dull moment in our team: we often act as entrepreneurs, think of and own new initiatives, streamline processes and even bring in new tech tools. Everything is so dynamic. 

Changing something for the better in the world has always driven me and at STARTUP AUTOBAHN I get to be a part of the positive ripple effect I was looking for. I believe the beauty of my job lies in the well-rounded view of innovation I get across a variety of areas such as mobility, production and sustainability. On the one hand, under our Silicon Valley based Venture Capital firm, I focus on early-stage investments in high-growth startups that are building the disruptive technologies of the future – you know, the PayPal’s and Dropbox’es of the world. I am proud to say we are one of the most active global investors in fledgling businesses that are looking to secure pre-seed or seed rounds. On the other hand, my job also involves scouting for promising startups that can have an impact inside the big industry players, such as Mercedes-Benz or Porsche, which form our open innovation platform. So, regardless if I’m on a treasure hunt for our own investment portfolio or for our corporate partners, in one way or the other I am supporting the growth of pioneering tech companies and empowering them to create a positive change in our world. 

2. Prior to your job at Startup Autobahn, you worked in investment banking. Did you ever experience any disadvantage due to being a woman? How does the gender distribution and diversity look like in your team and in general at Startup Autobahn?

Yes, indeed, having worked in London’s financial centre, I couldn’t help noticing that women are severely under-represented in investment banking as a whole but predominantly in leadership positions. High-flying superwomen are still almost never to be found at the top. And as a junior investment banker, not having female role models to look up to translated into a lack of motivation to strive ahead. It also meant I had little support in meetings where, most often than not, I was the only female. My voice would often not resonate as loudly as that of my male counterparts or would be drowned out. In these cases, an encouragement from female senior leaders would have made all the difference and become essential for success. 
Even though change is slow to come, I do believe this self-perpetuating cycle will be broken in the future and women will be able to increasingly assert themselves as powerful leaders. 

While the investment banking world is often seen as exclusive, the culture at STARTUP AUTOBAHN is one of openness, inclusion and diversity. Overall, we have a well-balanced gender split and a mix of different backgrounds and nationalities among which German, American, Canadian, Czech, and Romanian. Non-homogenous teams not only tend to outperform, but also add the cultural diversity dimension as a boon to originality. But what I like most is that we’ve created such strong friendship ties that STARTUP AUTOBAHN has become for us, our extended family. And that means nobody on the team gets left behind. We help one another on our way to achievements and share the podium when we find success. 

3. Recently you wrote about the new definition of luxury in the mobility space. Why and how does it change? 

The automotive luxury industry is on the verge of a profound transformation and I think a new age of luxury needs to be delivered to win over the fresh-faced consumers coming into wealth – the millennials and true digital natives (Gen Z). While luxury was once defined by traditional iconic items, excess and opulence, today’s consumers are no longer into accumulating wealth and possessions. They are instead more environmentally conscious, increasingly tech-savvy and on the lookout for meaningful and exclusive experiences. They add an ethical dimension to any business and it's about time the industries listened.

Thus, we see that prominent luxury brands are now embracing sustainability into their narrative: all-electric cars are disrupting the whole premium car industry, recycled and bio-based materials are chosen over carbon fibre and animal textiles in cabin interiors and, overall, there is a shift towards responsibly sourcing every part of the vehicle. In addition, blending best-in-class technologies in cars has become a must for all luxury manufacturers: keyless unlocking of the vehicle, intuitive and intelligent cabin controls, AR head-up displays, antibacterial smart materials or vital sign monitoring are just a few features that appeal to consumers. Finally, in the battle for customer affection, purpose-driven car brands which promote authentic values will increase in importance. Brands which step up to the challenge will increasingly focus on celebrating uniqueness, ambition and the aspiration to stand out. 

4. You live and work in Stuttgart. Are you satisfied with the mobility offer in the city and how do you get from A to B? 

As the place where the automobile’s history was written, Stuttgart is a car-centric city, deeply attached to the elegance of its Mercedes-Benz automobiles and the unmatched performance of its Porsche cars. There is a strong regional identity that revolves around cars, car manufacturers and their suppliers. People here have a visceral passion for cars – making them, improving them, but also enjoying driving them. Yes, the mobility offer in Stuttgart is predominantly tailor-made for car lovers – that comes as no surprise as Stuttgarters need an excuse to appreciate their inventions. Although I’m also a fan of the comfort of a car, public transport is generally reliable and efficient, and one can easily jump on a train or tram and get from A to B very fast. 

In recent years, however, the focus has shifted away from a culture of car dominance to green mobility. You could say that there was “something in the air” across Stuttgart that pushed sustainability to the top of the urban mobility agenda. This approach aims to clear-up the city and provide flexibility and a sense of freedom, with less traffic and fewer vehicles. The construction of bike lanes has been encouraged and while there is still room for a more just distribution of mobility opportunities and less automobility, enjoying Stuttgart and its beautiful surroundings by bike can be a pleasure during weekends. 

5. How important is it for you to stay on the move with your everyday life? What are your favourite activities? 

Having an active lifestyle is definitely important to me – it gives me a boost of energy; it helps me clear my mind and supports my general well-being. And it’s a good way to balance out the hours I spend working at my desk. Amid all the stay-at-home rules during the virus outbreak, my staying active was definitely put to the test. But, luckily, Stuttgart is surrounded by hills, forests, vineyards and beautiful trails along the Neckar river. During these past few months, I’ve reconnected with the natural world and rediscovered the joy of outdoor activities. I went hiking in the Black Forest, cycling along the river, and running by the lake. During one of my long-distance walking trips, I even fed a deer. 

And now the +1 question for you:

As we have all been suddenly thrown into uncertainty, Theodora would like to learn more about your strategies of thriving in ambiguity.

“What technologies or innovations are helping you cope with the demands of these unprecedented times?”

Not only Theodora is interested in knowing which technologies or innovations have helped you, so are we. Thank you Theodora for the great insight.

Pictures: Timo Linnemann
Interview: Britta Reineke