How They Work Together
What makes Stunde Null tick is the chemistry between three very different minds. Oliver brings the founder's perspective: business models, ecosystems, market timing. Henning provides the analytical framework: macroeconomics, European policy, structural transformation. Wilbert contributes what most tech podcasts lack: the cultural dimension, the human side of disruption.
Together they cover blind spots that none of them would catch alone. No scripts, no filters, always with a glass of wine. After 72+ episodes, the three have developed an intuitive rhythm: they challenge, complement and occasionally provoke each other.
Oliver Rößling
The Entrepreneur
CEO CAPS & COLLARS GmbH, Hamburg
Background
- MBA Universität Hamburg (game theory, HR, economics)
- Founded 12MIN.ME: Europe's largest meetup movement (1,500+ events, 70+ cities, 100K+ community)
- TEDx Heidelberg Speaker ("Start Reflecting on Expectations")
Today
- CEO CAPS & COLLARS: Venture studio for AI, Automotive, DeepTech & Dual Use
- Previously CEO AHEAD Automotive (JV of ZF, Hella, Niterra, Clarios)
- Chief Disruption Officer at umlaut (now Accenture)
Role in the Podcast
Translates complex tech trends into tangible business strategy. Asks the uncomfortable "so what?" questions and pushes for concrete implications over abstract analysis.
DeepTech
Agentic AI
Venture Building
Automotive
Community
Prof. Dr. Henning Vöpel
The Economist
Direktor cep, Professor BSP Berlin
Background
- Director and CEO of the Hamburg Institute of International Economics (HWWI, 2014-2021)
- Professor of Economics at BSP Business & Law School Berlin
- Twice invited by the U.S. Department of State (IVLP)
Today
- Director of the Centre for European Policy (cep) in Freiburg, Berlin, Paris and Rome
- Research: monetary policy, globalization, digital economics, sports economics
- Author of "disruption" (2020), co-founder Hammerbrooklyn.DigitalCampus, host "Hamburg 4.0" (Hamburg 1)
Role in the Podcast
Provides the macro perspective: contextualizes trends in economic theory, European policy and historical precedent. When the conversation gets emotional, he brings structure. When it gets theoretical, he draws the line to real-world consequences.
Wirtschaftspolitik
Europa
Globalisierung
Digitalökonomie
Sportökonomie
Wilbert Hirsch
The Creative
Filmkomponist, Gründer acg Hamburg/New York, Gründer Hifind (Vorläufer von Spotify, 2000), Software Unternehmer (React)
Background
- Film composer since the mid-1980s
- Credits: "American Werewolf in Paris" (1997), "Balko" (28 episodes), "The Piper" (2022)
- Running Hirsch Music / complete audio since 1991
Today
- Founder audio consulting group (acg), offices in Hamburg and New York
- Founder of Hifind (2000): a precursor to Spotify for music streaming
- Software entrepreneur focused on React development
- Acoustic branding: how brands sound, from sonic logos to complete audio identities
- Bridges artistic sensibility with strategic brand thinking
Role in the Podcast
The counterweight to pure tech and economics talk. Brings culture, aesthetics, media literacy and the question that often gets lost: What does all of this do to us as human beings? His film and music background gives him an instinct for narrative and timing that shapes the podcast's unique tone.
Filmkomposition
Acoustic Branding
Musikproduktion
Software
Medien
Storytelling
