Ragnar Kruse

Ragnar Kruse is a Founding Partner and General Partner at AI.FUND, an entrepreneurial venture capital firm focused on investing in seed and Series A-stage applied AI companies across Europe. Since its launch in 2024, AI.FUND has invested in 9 AI startups and operates as an AI data-driven VC fund.

With over 40 years of experience as a technology entrepreneur, Ragnar spent more than two decades in Silicon Valley, where he co-founded Intershop (IPO in 1999) and Smaato (acquired, 2019). Upon returning to Hamburg in 2019, he launched AI.HAMBURG, a non-profit initiative aimed at accelerating the adoption of AI technologies. He also co-founded AI.STARTUP.HUB in Hamburg, which has accelerated the growth of over 99 AI startups in the Hamburg metropolitan region within the last three years and recently initiated the AI.ACADEMY with 30+ AI workshops to help corporates integrate AI into their operations.

Ragnar has been deeply passionate about artificial intelligence since 2002 and sees AI as a key economic growth engine for Germany and Europe.