Jan Becker

CEO and Co-Founder, Apex.AI, Inc

Jan Becker is one of the globally influential leaders in autonomous systems. Twenty years ago, he moved to Silicon Valley to develop autonomous vehicles at Stanford University. As a co-developer of the Robot Operating System (ROS), he helped lay the foundation for what has become the world’s largest open-source ecosystem for autonomous systems.

In 2017, he founded Apex.AI with a clear ambition: to industrialize safety-certified, scalable software. Under his leadership, the company evolved into an internationally recognized technology leader for safety-critical software in the mobility and automotive industries. Customers and investors include global corporations such as Toyota, Volkswagen, and Airbus. In 2024, MotorTrend named him “Software-Defined Vehicle Innovator of the Year,” and Automotive News honored him with the PACE Award for software innovation. Earlier, in 2016, Automotive News recognized him as one of the “60 People Driving the Autonomous Vehicle Movement.”

Today, Jan Becker stands at another inflection point.

He is returning to Europe to build the next generation of safety-critical software for defense applications, with the goal of strengthening Europe’s digital and technological sovereignty. As geopolitical realities reshape global security priorities, a multi-billion-dollar market is emerging for software-defined, certified systems and capabilities. Initial contracts with the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) are already in place.

His approach remains consistent: transforming complex research into certified, scalable products that shape entire industries.

Jan Becker represents deep technological expertise, entrepreneurial execution, and the conviction to redefine markets. At the conference, he will share why software-defined defense systems are becoming a strategic cornerstone of Europe’s future — and what role investors can play in building them.