Claus J. Karthe
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Claus J. Karthe | |
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| Born | Munich, Germany |
| Nationality | German, Singapore PR |
| Education |
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| Occupation | Entrepreneur, Business Executive, Engineer |
| Known for | Founder of Start2 Group, German Accelerator Asia |
Claus J. Karthe is a German entrepreneur, engineer, and business executive. He is the founder of Start2 Group (formerly German Entrepreneurship Asia) and has held senior roles in multinational corporations and start-up ventures in Europe and Asia.[1][2]
Early life and education
Karthe was born in Munich, Germany. He obtained a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Saarbrücken and completed an MBA at IMD Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1997.[1]
Career
Nokia
Karthe joined Nokia in 1991 as the first employee of its German subsidiary. In 1994, he relocated to Asia, where he established Nokia Philippines and served as its President until 2001.[1] He later held executive positions in Taiwan, Korea, and Japan, eventually becoming Vice President and General Manager of Nokia Networks Asia Pacific.[2]
Entrepreneurship
After leaving Nokia in 2004, Karthe invested in and managed start-ups in the Philippines. His engagement in maritime communications led to founding Blue Ocean Wireless, which provided satellite communication services for seafarers.[3]
In 2023, he co-founded 1MX.AI, a platform supporting seed-stage B2B artificial intelligence startups in the Asia-Pacific region.[4]
Start2 Group and German Accelerator
Karthe later founded Start2 Group, which manages the German Accelerator program on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. The initiative supports German startups in expanding into international markets.[2][5]
Philanthropy
Karthe supported education and child welfare initiatives in Asia. He contributed to BridgeIT, a mobile learning project developed with Nokia, Pearson, UNDP, and the International Youth Foundation.[6] He also co-founded the Philippine non-profit "Munting Kawan ng Sagrado Corazon Inc.", which assists children affected by trauma.[1]
Personal life
Karthe is active in sailing and participated as a watch leader in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race (2005–2006) on the yacht Uniquely Singapore.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Sailor, Architect, Entrepreneur: Meet Claus Karthe". Singapore Global Network. 2021-06-15. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Handelsblatt. "Von Nokia-Manager zum Start-up-Förderer" (in Deutsch). Retrieved 2025-07-20.
- ↑ "Joint venture launches GSM network for merchant ships". Innovations-Report. 2 April 2007. Retrieved 2025-08-20.
- ↑ "1MX launches AI venture platform in Singapore". Techsauce. 2023-11-10. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
- ↑ "German Entrepreneurship becomes Start2 Group". Munich Startup. 12 March 2024. Retrieved 2025-08-20.
- ↑ "BridgeIT: Mobile technology for education". International Youth Foundation. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
External links
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