THE AI STARTUP CENTER TEAM
Dr. Dr. Christian Hugo Hoffmann
DIRECTOR OF THE AI STARTUP CENTER
Dr. Dr. Christian Hugo Hoffmann is the founder and director of the AI Startup Center, where already over 30 AI startups have been established in less than a year, including renowned spin-offs from ETH Zurich and Cambridge University. He sees himself as a cluster-preneur who successfully builds and manages entire clusters or business and innovation ecosystems rather than individual ventures. He is particularly driven by translating innovations of startups into sustainable impact in the economy and established companies – so-called success stories. He has been himself an entrepreneur and AI entrepreneur for many years, with a successful exit and start-up experience in various countries, including Germany, Switzerland, and Malawi. With not only extensive practical experience, but also a PhD in finance and a PhD in philosophy (ethics of AI), Christian is a proven expert and thought leader on questions of ethical capitalism.
Dr. Pascal Vetter
AI ECOSYSTEM ENABLER
Dr. Pascal Vetter is the AI Ecosystem Enabler of the AI Startup Center, where he supports the growth and development of AI startups and facilitates collaboration across industries. He specializes in building and nurturing innovation ecosystems, connecting startups, established companies, research institutions, and investors to create sustainable impact and foster collaborative growth. His focus is on the human-centered design of digital systems and corporations, supporting organizations in navigating complex challenges at the intersection of people and technology. He has over 8 years of experience in working with startups and established companies across Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, and is recognized as a trusted expert in translating user and market demands into real-world applications. Drawing on his PhD in human-centered AI design, Pascal is also a specialist in combining business objectives, organizational processes, and technological capabilities.
Vibha Mohan
INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS
Vibha Mohan stewards International Relations and Strategic Partnerships for the AI Startup Center, where she facilitates the strategic capital inflows and institutional resourcing necessary to power the next generation of Swiss AI. She specializes in building “exit integrity,” transforming technical innovation through ethical intervention into trustworthy, defensible assets. Her mission is to ensure that AI scaling is supported by robust financial foundations and rigorous accountability. As a bridge builder within investment corridors, Vibha facilitates collaboration between founders, venture capital, and sovereign partners. She currently serves as Group Legal Counsel for Smallpdf and PDF Tools, where she leads the operationalization of the EU AI Act and GDPR across global product architectures.