Axel Unger
VP, Client Growth
Axel is Mach49’s VP of Client Growth for DACH and is an experienced leader with over 25 years of experience in design, entrepreneurship, and venture building. Axel is dedicated to driving growth through new client acquisition, managing strategic relationships, and ensuring clients are paired with the right teams and expertise. His focus on developing solutions that set clients up for market disruption, new venture creation, and long-term success defines his approach. As a leader in strategic growth, Axel specializes in identifying exciting new market opportunities and connecting clients with tailored solutions that drive measurable results.
Before joining Mach49, Axel served as Managing Director and Partner of IDEO Germany, where he led groundbreaking initiatives in healthcare and technology. His work helped organizations like BMW, Zalando, Novartis, and UBS become more customer-centered and to successfully build and launch new ventures. Axel also co-founded NextVenture.ai, leveraging AI to help businesses launch market-leading products and ventures. His expertise in strategy, design, and venture building has made him a trusted advisor to senior executives and a keynote speaker on leadership and transformation.
Axel holds a BFA in Industrial Design from the Rhode Island School of Design and an Executive Coaching Certificate from INSEAD. He currently lives in Germany with his wife, two daughters, and their Golden Retriever. Having lived in multiple countries, Axel is fluent in five languages: English, German, Swedish, Italian, and Spanish.
In his spare time, Axel enjoys painting, making music, and exploring the intersection of creativity and technology. His passion for the latest innovations keeps him inspired both personally and professionally.
Before joining Mach49, Axel served as Managing Director and Partner of IDEO Germany, where he led groundbreaking initiatives in healthcare and technology. His work helped organizations like BMW, Zalando, Novartis, and UBS become more customer-centered and to successfully build and launch new ventures. Axel also co-founded NextVenture.ai, leveraging AI to help businesses launch market-leading products and ventures. His expertise in strategy, design, and venture building has made him a trusted advisor to senior executives and a keynote speaker on leadership and transformation.
Axel holds a BFA in Industrial Design from the Rhode Island School of Design and an Executive Coaching Certificate from INSEAD. He currently lives in Germany with his wife, two daughters, and their Golden Retriever. Having lived in multiple countries, Axel is fluent in five languages: English, German, Swedish, Italian, and Spanish.
In his spare time, Axel enjoys painting, making music, and exploring the intersection of creativity and technology. His passion for the latest innovations keeps him inspired both personally and professionally.
Axel Unger
VP, Client Growth
Axel is Mach49’s VP of Client Growth for DACH and is an experienced leader with over 25 years of experience in design, entrepreneurship, and venture building. Axel is dedicated to driving growth through new client acquisition, managing strategic relationships, and ensuring clients are paired with the right teams and expertise. His focus on developing solutions that set clients up for market disruption, new venture creation, and long-term success defines his approach. As a leader in strategic growth, Axel specializes in identifying exciting new market opportunities and connecting clients with tailored solutions that drive measurable results.
Before joining Mach49, Axel served as Managing Director and Partner of IDEO Germany, where he led groundbreaking initiatives in healthcare and technology. His work helped organizations like BMW, Zalando, Novartis, and UBS become more customer-centered and to successfully build and launch new ventures. Axel also co-founded NextVenture.ai, leveraging AI to help businesses launch market-leading products and ventures. His expertise in strategy, design, and venture building has made him a trusted advisor to senior executives and a keynote speaker on leadership and transformation.
Axel holds a BFA in Industrial Design from the Rhode Island School of Design and an Executive Coaching Certificate from INSEAD. He currently lives in Germany with his wife, two daughters, and their Golden Retriever. Having lived in multiple countries, Axel is fluent in five languages: English, German, Swedish, Italian, and Spanish.
In his spare time, Axel enjoys painting, making music, and exploring the intersection of creativity and technology. His passion for the latest innovations keeps him inspired both personally and professionally.
Before joining Mach49, Axel served as Managing Director and Partner of IDEO Germany, where he led groundbreaking initiatives in healthcare and technology. His work helped organizations like BMW, Zalando, Novartis, and UBS become more customer-centered and to successfully build and launch new ventures. Axel also co-founded NextVenture.ai, leveraging AI to help businesses launch market-leading products and ventures. His expertise in strategy, design, and venture building has made him a trusted advisor to senior executives and a keynote speaker on leadership and transformation.
Axel holds a BFA in Industrial Design from the Rhode Island School of Design and an Executive Coaching Certificate from INSEAD. He currently lives in Germany with his wife, two daughters, and their Golden Retriever. Having lived in multiple countries, Axel is fluent in five languages: English, German, Swedish, Italian, and Spanish.
In his spare time, Axel enjoys painting, making music, and exploring the intersection of creativity and technology. His passion for the latest innovations keeps him inspired both personally and professionally.
