Understand
What makes an AI application work.
All themed days / Business Applications
Mon 23.11.2026 · Business Applications
AI that makes a difference at work.
From good data to better decisions. Discover applications already in use at companies – and develop ideas for your own working day.
Themed afternoon · STARTPLATZ Düsseldorf · arrivals from 13:15 · sessions from 14:00
14:00–21:00 overall: themed afternoon and evening event
Put it in context
The role of data, processes and responsibility.
Apply
Explore your own business use case with practitioners.
Programme highlightsUnderstand. Try it out.
Understand. Try it out.
Move forward.
Perspectives & experience
Expert talks
Expert Talk
Using AI in Critical Environments
Operational AI needs good data, clear processes and clearly assigned responsibility.
View session
Expert talk
AI transformation does not start with AI.
How clear responsibilities and collaboration turn AI into real changes at SCHUNK.
View session
Expert talk
Economic miracle 2.0 ahead!
Unlocking proprietary company knowledge: industrial AI and the transformation of a family business.
View sessionTake part & take it further
Hands-on sessions & workshops
Hands-on Session
Develop Your Own Use Case
Your own processes, recurring tasks and usable company knowledge.
View sessionYour own use cases, automated business processes and usable company knowledge provide the framework for hands-on work.
More sessions to follow.
More perspectives on Monday.
ECODYNAMICS
Hamidreza Hosseini
Title and summary to follow
Messe Düsseldorf
Ana-Carolin Schulze
In discussion
Title and summary to follow
CasaModa
Igor Kerbs
In discussion; name to be confirmed
Title and summary to follow
Microsoft
Edip
Participation confirmed; full name and contribution to follow
Title and summary to follow
From arrival to conversation.
- 13:15Arrival
- 13:45Welcome
- 14:00Talks & Hands-on Sessions
- 17:15Networking
- 18:00Rheinland Pitch
Welcome at 13:45. Closing session 17:00–17:15, followed by networking.
Go to the evening event ↓
Monday, 23 November · 6–9 p.m.
Rheinland Pitch
Rheinland Pitch
Special KI
See what AI startups in NRW are making possible.
Nine companies show what they are building, the problems they solve and how far they have come. Discover real AI applications and meet the people behind the ideas.
STARTPLATZ Düsseldorf · Speditionstraße 15a
Arrival and networking from 6 p.m. · followed by about 90 minutes of pitches · Programme ends at 9 p.m.
9AI startups from NRW
3Stages of development: pre-seed, seed and scale-up
5 + 5Minutes for the pitch and audience questions
From the first idea to a growing business.
Three startups pitch at each stage – from pre-seed through seed to scale-up. In one evening, see how an idea becomes a product and a product becomes a growing business.
Early ideas
Teams at the idea or pre-seed stage explain the problem they want to solve with AI and what they are building.
First steps in practice
Startups present their applications and share how they are developing their ideas through practical experience.
Companies ready to grow
More established teams share what they have built and where they want to go next.
Your questions are part of the evening.
Each five-minute pitch is followed by five minutes of audience questions. What works already? Who could benefit from the solution? Where could a collaboration begin?
The evening brings together founders, investors, business leaders and the startup community across North Rhine-Westphalia. Discover applications, make connections and talk directly to the teams.
A stage for founders – since 2013.
Founded by STARTPLATZ and Vidar Andersen, Rheinland Pitch connects business ideas with personal encounters. This AI edition puts the spotlight on the diversity of AI startups across NRW.
Just the evening or the whole day?
An evening ticket costs €10 including VAT. The evening is included in the Monday day pass and the personal week pass.
The day in detail.
What can companies do with AI that they could not do before?
The expert perspective
How do AI systems become part of an operational workflow? Explore the interaction between people, agents and existing systems through experience from implementation and day-to-day operations.
Application areas under development include document processes, organisational knowledge and automation.
From insight to application
Expert talks, three repeated application sessions and supported project work connect the underlying approach to concrete business challenges.
For your projectAssess an approach, work through its application and discuss implementation questions with experts.
Programme highlights
Ibrahim Halil Kalkan, Head of AI at Gelsenwasser AG: “AI use in critical areas”.
Monday’s schedule
13:15 arrival and coffee; 13:45 welcome; expert talks from 14:00. Networking breaks: 14:40–15:10 and 15:50–16:20. Closing remarks: 17:00–17:15, followed by networking.
More contributions to follow.
Your day at AI WeekArrive with an idea.
Arrive with an idea.
Leave with more.
Day passes from €150 excl. VAT. The personal week pass brings all five days together.
Want to share your experience or run a hands-on session?
Help shape AI Week ↗Mon 23.11. · from €150 excl. VATView ticket