David is an American entrepreneur, investor, and film producer based in Hamburg. He studied astrophysics before moving into international business, and has since worked across Europe, the United States, Asia, and Latin America in technology, investment, and innovation. He is Operating Partner and Head of Europe at a U.S.-based venture capital firm, runs a Hamburg consultancy, and co-founded a U.S. film production company. For many years he has also worked on European Union programs connecting cities and regions worldwide on sustainable development, innovation, and economic transformation. The U.S. Department of State has recognized his contributions to transatlantic relations. He speaks six languages.

Petra has been living in Silicon Valley since 1981 and has 25 + years of business experience in the US, Europe and Asia. A pioneer in the mobile industry, she is one of the first women globally to co- found a mobile company in 2005 and under her leadership, Smaato has become one of the largest mobile companies in the world.

Matthias serves as CFO and Vice President in a scale-up in Hamburg and brings extensive leadership experience in international corporate finance, strategy, and cross-border transactions. He holds a Law degree from the University of Sheffield / UK and a dual Masters degree in European Economic Law and Management from the University of Hamburg/DE and from the University of St. Petersburg/RU. Over his career, Matthias has led strategic financial transformations and US-inroads M&A projects, alongside senior roles at companies such as Lotto24 and Expedia Inc. Outside of his executive work, he is passionate about international culture and business, enjoys staying active, and continuously expands his language skills in Spanish and French.

Antonia moved to Hamburg in 2019, simply because she fell in love with the city. A Northern California native, she has a BA in History and an MFA in Costume Design. During her 12 years living in New York City, she had success in two different careers: as an award-nominated costume designer and then a senior project manager in finance (a very American career path!). She is currently the Chief of Staff of a fintech startup and is now a dual citizen of the US and Germany. Her diverse experience gives her a unique perspective on building strong relationships, which is why she was so eager to join the board of the American Club. In her free time, she enjoys taking her dog on nature adventures, attending cultural events, and exploring hidden gems in Europe.

Lindsey was born and raised in Fargo, North Dakota where she graduated with a degree in Microbiology. Eager to learn, she moved to Berlin in 2013 for a Master’s degree in Polymer Science. Realizing the opportunities Hamburg has to offer, she started a PhD in Chemistry at UHH with the Max Planck Institute for the Structure of Dynamics of Matter. She is a former Max Planck PhDnet Spokesperson for over 5,000 doctoral researchers across Germany.  When she’s not intersecting Biology, Chemistry and Physics she’s finding ways to connect people and ideas together.

Born and raised in northern Germany, Sebastian took the opportunity to spend one High School year in the Midwest of the United States. Ever since that time the U.S. has been a second home to him and his many trips to the U.S. have taken him from the icebergs of Alaska to the most southern point of the continental United States. Having a professional background in banking and asset management, he currently supports a deep tech startup from Hamburg in the areas of fund raising and business development.

Born on the East Coast of the United States, Dustin moved to Germany in 2017 and is now a dual U.S.-German citizen. A scientist by training with a master's degree in business administration (MBA), he is drawn to the adventure of building and scaling startups. Outside of work, Dustin enjoys international travel and spending time with his wife and son at their home in the northern Germany countryside.