Inside CVC: Leif Lindner on Rebuilding IFA Berlin and Europe's Innovation Deadline

Leif Lindner is CEO of IFA Management GmbH, the organization behind IFA Berlin, the world's oldest consumer electronics show. After 25 years at Sony and Samsung, Leif took over IFA in 2023 and rebuilt it from the ground up, renaming it from Internationale Funkausstellung to Innovation For All. 

Leif joins Philipp and Steve to break down IFA Berlin 2026, where 240,000 visitors from 155 countries turned out, 20,000 more than the year before. He explains why this was the first year IFA brought the CVC & Open Innovation Summit onto the show floor, and what that partnership means for the corporates and investors now walking the halls alongside consumers. He makes the case that Chinese manufacturers have compressed the path from idea to market to 18 months, roughly half the time it takes most European companies, and argues Europe's engineering strength still gives it a real path back. 

He also lays out where IFA sits next to Europe's other major shows: not a competitor to Gamescom or Hannover Messe, but, in his words, the movie next to everyone else's trailer. A look inside the show that wants to be the meeting point for where technology, capital, and policy actually collide.

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Welcome to Inside CVC, the podcast that brings together leaders in innovation and capital investment to explore the trends shaping the business of corporate venture capital. I'm your host, Steve Schmith, and together with co-host Philipp Willigmann, we're speaking with corporate investors, entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders. Driving the Future of Innovation. 

Inside CVC is brought to you by u-path Advisors, helping corporations and startups unlock sustainable growth through strategic partnerships. To learn more, visit u-path.com. That's the letter u dash path.com. And to catch up on all of our episodes, search Inside CVC on your favorite podcast platform or visit u-path.com/podcast. 

In this episode, we sit down with Leif Lindner, CEO of IFA management, the organization behind IFA Berlin, the world's oldest consumer electronics show. Leif spent twenty-five years at Sony and Samsung before taking the helm at IFA in 2023, leading its rebrand from Internationale Funkausstellung - or International Broadcast Show - to Innovation For All. 

One week after the 2026 show, we catch up with Leif and talk about the record numbers behind IFA Berlin 2026. Why IFA invited and served as an important backdrop for the European CVC and Open Innovation Summit. How Leif thinks about the balance of innovation coming from Europe versus Asia, and where IFA sits alongside Europe's other major trade shows. 

We close on what Leif and his team are already building toward for 202. Here's our conversation with IFA CEO Leif Lindner. 

Leif, welcome to Inside CVC. Thanks for joining us. We are a week after IFA Berlin 2026. How are you feeling? So thank you Steve. So absolutely great. I was so happy. Um, let's say doing that show, I mean, when you work the whole year for, let's say five plus two days, then as you can imagine, it's a big, um, relief when you finish the show and see so many loving faces in your own team. But also when I'm talking to the stakeholders joining our show. So you looking back at the show, your seat as the CEO, how'd it go? Yeah. Um, as always, um, there is time. Um, there are things that could be improved. Um, but the general, um, let's say, um success was overwhelming and um, yeah, what should I say? We have two hundred and forty thousand visitors means twenty zero zero zero more than last year. That's really enormous success from one hundred and fifty five countries, um, and two thousand exhibitors. What impresses me most was that we also in addition, um, increased the number of participant media, bloggers, influencers and mainly also press to five thousand two hundred well curated participants. That's also really unique, and having three hundred and fifty speakers on one hundred and fifty stage sessions with the wind from behind. Also doing a good marketing. Before we increased our number of social media followers from two hundred and twenty. Beginning of the year to now eight hundred and forty. So it's a huge step forward. And yeah, in the end, the result of this year's show was that amazing because of the good work of the team before, you know, congratulations to you and the entire team. First time I had ever been there. It is the oldest consumer technology show in the world and it felt brand new. If the energy, the vibrance it is it was clear that that there was some energy, some excitement. Um, and I saw things that I'd never even seen. So, um. Congratulations. It is not easy, uh, work. And so congratulations to you and your team. You certainly spoke with a lot of people over those days. So what stood out in terms of those conversations, either with industry participants or regulators? Um, I'm sure delegations from all over the world were there. What sort of stood out in those conversations? Yeah, let me start with this. Um, it is significant that when we did the transformation, uh, now three years ago. So this is show number three after the transition. And we renamed ourself from Internationale Funkausstellung means in English, more or less international broadcast show to innovation for all. This was significant because we are not only did it visually and in a name after one hundred years, to change the legacy is not an easy decision. This disruptive approach was the um, in my opinion, our opinion. The only solution, because otherwise people will not recognize that there is a clear new approach and let's say focus. And as you can imagine, it goes no step by step by step. Because, um, in the last, I would say fifteen years, um, there were customers and industry partners who, um, left our show because they were thinking maybe we are not ready for the future. And now to gain them back needs some time and consistency. And, um, what was for me remarkable is that we got the feedback that IFA um, is more, uh, very, it's now very clear is um, or has becoming a meeting point where technology, business, investment, politics and culture meet. That was really significant. Um, and, um, the dominant topic, uh, was clearly to, um, let's say, show how quickly, um, AI was transforming industries. Um, but also how, um, the big, uh, let's say player in our industry were able to translate useful products into scalable business models because, um, there is a danger of AI washing at these days. That means you have to clearly point out what AI can change in the life of companies and, um, consumers. And, um, I would say coming to the European point of view, the challenge for us in the moment is that, um, we have really strong research, engineering and industrial capabilities. Germany is number two in patents for AI. Nevertheless, um, we have challenges in moving faster from invention to market and to, to handle the whole, um, rules and regulations. And um, in the end, um, there are chances and let's say opportunities And to balance innovation with trust, security and proportionate regulation. I think that is the main topic that we also heard from journalists and customer. 

Leif, it's a pleasure to have you on the show. Thank you so much. Um, and it was the first time that, uh, we decided to do a collaboration between, um, IFA and the CVC Open Innovation Summit. Can you maybe share, um, you know, what is the importance of having corporates, corporate innovation, corporate venture leaders in the show? And, uh, why did you decide to start the partnership and, uh, yeah, what, what you are looking forward to in the future? I mean, having, uh, with the CVC summit, around eighty senior executives from Europe, US and Asia, and they came together at, at our show at, uh, as you can imagine, a really, um, big opportunity for us. Um, because this could create a powerful bridge. Um, on the one hand, our next area that is the area where I would call it matured startups, um, meet with. Um, yeah, emerging technologies plus also robotics, um, more or less, uh, it established industry provides scale and market access. Um, and corporate venture and investor provide, um, capital and strategic acceleration. These mix. Um, I was a little, um, I would say in our process of transformation, this tendency and the view on that goes more clearer and better and better. But with that focus on CVC this year, it gives us more, let's say, visibility that we take this one seriously. And I think we could also open the eyes a little bit more for you guys to see if as a relevant melting pot, uh, where technology, uh, happens and where new concepts and, uh, let's say potential new players and industry were developed now live. I like this a lot. And I think, you know, from, from our side, when we did our debrief, um, it opened the eyes for a lot of people. You know, we always talk about, you know, there is new technology coming from outside of Europe, like from Asia and China. But I think I spoke to a lot of people who said, oh my God, there was so much technology and innovation coming, which was not from Europe. Uh, I think it kind of really helped also to emphasise a focus of our discussions around what can we do as corporates and corporate leaders to actually strengthen Europe and drive collaboration and invest in new technologies. So, um, I mean, it's always the first time, you know, we all learn a lot, but I think it kind of really help people to see it is happening, right? There were more humanoid robotics companies from Asia than from Europe. Uh, and, uh, seeing it firsthand is always, you know, helping a lot of people to say, okay, it is, we have to change this and we need to do that. So therefore, I, um, yeah, I say thank you for, for, you know, taking the risk, um, to, to partner, but I really think it has a huge impact on our participants. And I can see that we hopefully can bring more and do more together in the future on that. Um, with, with that said, you know, you talk, we talk a lot about AI and robotics, um, in this conversation, but there were other themes you were pushing on the 2026, uh, Eva floor. Can you maybe share what are the other highlights? Um, for, for our audience? And also why did you select those themes, um, specifically. Yeah. Um more or less we have, as you can imagine, being the biggest, uh, electronic future tech and home appliance show in the world, one hundred and ninety thousand square meters. So how you do relevant, uh, wrap up that you show massive, massive, you need to take at least two days to, to walk around. So, but we concentrated on, um, the world of AI and, um, the future of tech. That was one topic we showed to the people. Um, second retail and future of commerce, uh, including genetic AI and, uh, what, uh, the main market leaders in Europe, um, but also in other countries are focusing on, um, then market, uh, marketing and creativity, looking at the creative hub culture and live lifestyle and smart, sustainable living that were the topic that we prepared in these areas that we showed to the participants. Um, yeah. And um more or less next year in 2027, um the, let's say the agenda commerce will even get bigger. That is clear and um, let's say visible at the horizon plus physical AI and um, robotics plus intelligent homes. So intelligent, intelligent homes. Um, and of course the trust and regulation regarding AI that, that I would say would be in a, in a, in a focus of 2027.

Leif, I'm curious, walking the show and all of the, the Asia based innovations that are on that were on display. I'm curious for your point of view, how do you feel about the mix of money made here in Europe, in Germany on display? Uh, Verses and verses is the wrong word compared to the innovations on display that came from Asia and other parts of the world. I'm curious, when you look at 2026 six, what do you feel about that mix? And as you look ahead to 2027, are there any things you're sort of thinking about altering that mix or changing that mix? Yeah. So when I was talking also to some, um, really big Chinese exhibitors that are also visited, um, in China, um, their factories or their, let's say headquarters, I had, I would say a good view also behind the curtain and what for me is visible that technology, the products that we are currently seeing at a show like IFA, it's the result of a maybe eight or ten year plan, um, bringing, let's say, working on, um, let's say smarter supply chain management. Um, also, um, let's say the main and the main learning how they can be able to bring products from the first idea to execution and being in a market, um, they squeeze this period to, I would say eighteen months. And that leads to the fact that, um, since I would say two or three years, it seemed that especially Chinese companies are faster in bringing relevant, I would say, ninety five percent market ready product. So it's not tested by customer situation. No, that was maybe eight years ago. Now it is already ready for the market. And when the products are tested from serious test magazines in Europe or Germany, the products are not failing, are not failing, are they setting? Sometimes the tone, that logic since two and a half years brings pressure and to the execution Levels of European companies and it needs some time or it needed already some time to catch up. And I also saw that Japan and Korea are already set in place. Also eighteen months plans, together with a huge support of the government to be able to squeeze that period as well. Because in the moment, my feeling is that maybe not double, but almost double. Um, this is the time frame. Um, European companies need from the first idea to the execution also because of regulations, but also because maybe, um, let's talk about home appliance, home appliances, um, that people are thinking, um, we don't, we don't need innovation cycles that maybe only one year or half a year. Um, it's okay if you change your products maybe every second year. And the corona boost boost was giving them more self self-confidence in, um, let's say, building new factories and, um, increasing the number of production areas. And now reality comes back. And in the same moment, China was coming with fast innovation execution. So, um, that is the current um, um, status. Nevertheless, don't underestimate, um, the European also some of the German companies like BSH, Bosch, Siemens or um, Miele or Liebherr, they are very good in innovations. Um, and I think they will come back by all means with the legacy, with the knowledge, with the engineering power, if they are can handle the scaling, then they are on eye level with the Chinese back in the next not many years. You touch on something that I think many in the auto industry were, were Philip and I and have have spent a lot of our time, and I think many Western manufacturers are, are sort of coming to the realization of what you hit on. And that is, Chinese manufacturers have been very quick because they don't need to be perfect. They go with very, you know, very, very strongly tested product. But they do go to market faster because they put aside maybe some of the regulations, some of the risks, some of the, the, the, the things that a lot of Western companies, I think are, are, are used to. To me, that is a culture in the manufacturing piece of it as, as well. Um, let me ask you, when you think about, um, opportunities and those companies that you mentioned in Europe, etc., and, and tackling some of these, these challenges, these opportunities that you described, what's FIFA's role in that? So first, I would say, because innovation for all means that we are mirroring the market for innovations. That means when, in a moment, a country like China is able to provide the majority of innovations, then we are happy to pull away the curtain and show the products. It sometimes look why we give so much space, information, room whatever to a specific country. But we are not. We are giving the room for innovations. It doesn't matter where they're coming from. Um, of course, I hope that to look from the diverse point of view, it's better when you have a lot of different countries bringing up innovations. But I mean, look back looking backwards and I was working for Sony and also for Samsung in the last twenty five years. So there was a Japan Japanese cycle beginning beginning of the two thousand. Then we had the um, Korean cycle the beginning of twenty ten. So there when we look backwards, the discussion would be different. Not focused on China, focused on Japan or Korea. In a moment we have the Chinese, let's say majority of innovations. Um, nevertheless, uh, I think, um, this could also normalize itself, but for the moment, also with the wind from behind for robotics, um, it's visible that the Chinese companies are setting the tone in innovations. And when somebody said it's a Chinese, uh, exhibition, no, it's an innovation innovation exhibition. And at the moment Chinese deliver the most information, uh, innovations. Like, uh, you obviously you said you are a marketplace, right? And, uh, there's always supply and demand. And, um, we all, uh, you know, we grew up in the Western world, uh, where we believe that's a, that's a good, uh, a good way how it should work. But you also mentioned that people do have reactions like, oh my God, you know, it's China. Is it good or is it bad? Um, but from my perspective, you know, I'm a, I'm a big fan of, of, of a free market. And we did see that there was a lot of innovation coming from other places. Um, but given that, um, the efforts took place in Berlin, which is in my opinion, one of the most important cities and places in Europe, um, specifically given the geopolitical challenges we have, um, I do think it also has, you know, like a lighthouse, um, uh, lighthouse initiative, you know, to kind of like shine a light on how amazing Europe can be. Uh, and, and what, what we can accomplish together, which we don't have enough of, in my opinion, specifically in Germany. With that said, what do you want Berlin to be seen as in Germany, across Europe, globally by founders, by corporates, by policy makers, by investors. What is your aspiration as a CEO? Where would you where would you have ever be? Let's say in twenty thirty, whatever number we pick? Yeah. First of all, let's start with the little, little, let's say general small thing. IFA is not a tech show. It's a cultural event because only being a tech show is not reasonable at these days. So you always integrate culture and the city that you are in. If you want to have a really big bang show that's very, in general. Um, but I wanted to see more and more, um, IFA as the flagship technology platform and, uh, and an important part of the country's innovation and industrial infrastructure. That's the point of view, how I see IFA in, um, in Germany, in Europe and globally. I would say that is and should be the place where global technology meets the European market. And being an open platform connecting innovation with customers, distribution capital and policy makers. We are on our way to execute that, um, step by step. Um, because we had to rebuild it. It, we lost that momentum a couple of years ago. And, uh, for founders, um, I would say IFA should be the place, um, to find customers, partners and investors. And the difference between, for example, other shows that are focusing only on startups. There's only the place at IFA where you touch base more or less all sides, all sides of the stakeholders means um, retail partners, industry partners, also consumers where you see interaction with the products, media, um, and investors. And then some startup shows the normal industry players are missing. Normally they are collaborating with many startups, and so that means to bring everybody together at one point. That is unique, I would say for us and for executives and investors, um, it should be where you see what is moving from technology into real markets. Um, because therefore I sometimes say, um, you know, um, some other shows, um, are the trailer and Eva is the movie and you need to see the movie to understand everything. And for policy makers, that is a topic that we are more or less focusing or try to focus more than ever getting, for example, also the European Union into, um, our show because it is obvious that we should discuss regulations and industry, industry policy and, um, bring them together with the technology companies. Um, they, uh, that they affect. Thank you very much. And I do do have to applaud you because you are one of the very, very, very, very few. Um, exhibitions where you really invite everybody, right? And most importantly, actually the consumer, the end consumer, and many other events, like for example, CES, you cannot just enter if you are not an exhibitor or if you're not a professional, um, joining the show or other events like Hannover Messe and so on and so forth. So I really applaud you to really bring all of these different groups together, because I believe the only way, you know how we can show progress is like, if you have to, you know, get everybody aligned around it and give them the opportunity to see it. And, um, I had the opportunity to speak at the show as well. And Steve pulled me aside afterwards because I was standing there and I was like, oh my goodness, there's so many consumers here. You know, they, they don't care about, you know, my, my talk about we need corporates come together and we need to make more collaborations. You know, they want to they want to understand at the end of the day, what is in for them. And it really helped me change my perspective. And I, you know, what you just said is so important because they were like, I don't know, ten zero zero zero people at some of the concerts you had happening around you for young people who walked over the show floor, then they went see like some some great deejays. I really loved the concept and I really want to applaud you for doing that. Cool. Thank you. Yeah. Cool. So moving, moving us, moving us a bit. Uh, you know, Steve is in the US. We originally met in the US. I think it's actually we met at CES, um, for the first time. Um, but what, what specific opportunities do you see through collaboration with the US? Um, what does IFA Berlin offer stakeholders in the US. And is there, is there something you know, we have a lot of people listening in the US you may want to share or where we can also collaborate in the future. Yeah. Um, I would say, you know, for um, US companies and we change, by the way, the agency, um, that we took to work with, um, the clients in the US, um, to max one and a half year ago. So we want to definitely to try restart interacting more on eye level with the media partners, but also with the potential exhibitors. We have a strong base of us exhibitors, but not on a level it should be. Therefore, um, we had to clarify it more that especially also IFA and Berlin um offers access to the to one of the world's largest consumer markets to retailers and buyers from across Europe in one single place. In addition, when a product is, let's say, able to be successful in Germany, That is normally the litmus test. If the product is able to be successful wherever in the world, and especially for premium products, that makes it, in addition, quite interested. I know it from my discussion with our group CEO of Samsung before, um, because they only looked at two figures, Germany and us, every single and every single week. Not good for me because I always had to report a lot because of that. But on the other hand, it helps me to change things. Looking on, on Germany, that is one thing. And um, in general, I say also when I'm in China, um, my logic is that IFA is connecting the dots like a triangle. We have Europe, we have us, we have Asia means mainly China in that triangle. And IFA is in between connecting the dots. If the US is not or is thinking that they can do their own show not coming here, then this is a big mistake because then they are not part of the dots and then they are not, let's say, uh, um, at the same moment when things are executed and happening in Europe. And I think that is really huge, taking into consideration that we currently also see, um, let's say, uh, emerge of JD dot com and Mediamarkt Saturn becoming bigger than, uh, best Buy or let's say Walmart, for example. Again, the retail landscape is then focused on Europe, of course, in China. So that is what my recommendation would be that this fact is, uh, is seen and um, yeah, and visible to the companies. And in the end, as I said, we have visitors from one hundred and fifty five countries. I think then that that is more diversity than many other shows are offering. Uh, so that is another, I would say remarkable advantage. Um, and also maybe some European companies want to do the opposite joining the US. So that means as well talking to them engage with them and um yeah work it out. 

Leif, as industry lines continue to blur right. Automotive companies are going into other sectors and other sectors are coming into mobility as as an example, we've seen competition between different trade shows. I think the most one that I'm familiar with is the long time history of CES being the first or second week of the year, and the week after was the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. And that caused a lot of sort of tension. Where do we invest as brands, etc.. As you look around Europe, as you think about it in Munich, Hannover Messe. Uh, what's Ifa's role? Is it is it competing? Is it complementary or is it something else? I'd love your vision on that. Yeah. Good question. I think, um, so first of all, um, each, so each show, um, has a different. Yeah, let's call it centre of gravity. Uh, that you described. Um, I would say the, the logic and the strength of IFA is bringing, um, let's say all tech areas together at one place. What is obvious is that if you do that, you could not be specialized in a big scale. For example, for automotive, it's not possible. It's also not reasonable. People come in that jungle of electronics and get orientation when they come to IFA, because we touch all topics and we touch all major topics of areas. Um, as you said, uh, like IAA for example. But we also focus, um, have a sorry, have a um, show area of gaming. No, we are not competing with Gamescom, um, being maybe a little bit like the Oktoberfest of the industry in gaming. That's not our, um, our target or our goal or the um, Hannover Messe that is focusing on more of, on industry technology, not on consumer technology, but there are overlappings. And my logic would be if you want to get yourself an overview about everything that normally every CEO must do in technology, then IFA is the place to understand the main dots. If you are interested in more details, uh, for example, in um mobility, then you had to go to IAA in addition. But um, our strength is that we are covering the most important topics and clarify the visions and the key technologies being relevant in the different areas. Um. And um, I would say that we are also reaching people, um, let's say out of this area that gives also companies a chance to have that halo effect from their own area to other areas that they did not get at the IAA. Best example is Volkswagen VW. They are specifically using our show to um, let's say, um, inform consumer from a different angle. They like innovation for all. They like being at a show that is not car focused, but technology focused. And um, that in my opinion describes quite well because I think VW will also do something at the IAA, but they use specifically our show for communicating in a different way. Directly to the consumer, I would say, because they are also walking the halls at your show. As Philip said, which is unique. You mentioned when we started 62% recommit 2026 participants are already committed to being part of 2027. So certainly the work has already begun. Um, what's next as you look ahead to 2027? Uh, you and your team, what what are you focused on over the next several months? Um, I can tell you. So, um, the challenge is sometimes people may be thinking, okay, after the show, every day is doing holiday, maybe they should. Or the challenge is that, um, especially in Asia, uh, now is the hot, uh, face to finalize budgets for next year. Of course, they will take the data that they are already available. Um, and they are, um, uh, the things that they learned at this year's show. Nevertheless, it is reasonable for me and us, um, to travel now in um, October and November visit, um mainly all major, um Asian, Asian countries to have um sea level discussions, discussing with the press that the sea level persons read about our show in their own newspapers, um in the words of their journalists. So that means for us, the promotion tour you can say for next year is already started is has already started. But to be frank, um, also sharing our results, um, our strategy for next year and also describing clearly why it is inevitable to not joining our show or to sorry to join our show. Um, yeah. And that is, uh, what happened in a moment. Um, let's say I and we have a special focus to bring semiconductor companies at our show becoming more and more the engine of every, um, let's say, innovation in our area. Um, one already committed themselves for a bigger experience next year. Very good. But as you can imagine, companies like SK Hynix or let's say, um, Nvidia who are participate at IFA as a, uh, with a big group of people who are looking around but not exhibiting. And, um, I think that are, for example, companies that we wanted to convince that, uh, it makes absolute sense, um, to also be part of next year's experience. 

That's this week's episode of Inside CVC. As always, thanks for listening. To hear more episodes, search Inside CVC on your favorite podcast platform or visit u-path.com/podcast.