Innovation Ecosystem Builder · Zurich

Building spaces
where bold ideas
take root.

I help organisations turn buildings into regional centers of gravity for entrepreneurship through strategy, community design, and digital infrastructure.

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Organisations I have worked with
Switzerland Innovation
Factory
Bloxhub
IPAI
MIT REAP
ETH Zurich
Monocle
World Economic Forum
Rockefeller Foundation
Google for Startups
Switzerland Innovation
Factory
Bloxhub
IPAI
MIT REAP
ETH Zurich
Monocle
World Economic Forum
Rockefeller Foundation
Google for Startups
About

Hoi I'm Anouk.
I build ecosystems.

Since 2019, I've been co-developing innovation hubs across Europe working at the intersection of physical space, community strategy, and digital infrastructure. My clients range from national innovation parks to startup hubs and deep tech campuses.

My work is grounded in the MIT REAP methodology, a framework for building innovation ecosystems that produce lasting economic impact. I believe the most powerful ecosystems aren't accidents. They're designed with intention and with the right people in the room from day one.

I'm based in Zurich and work internationally.

0
Innovation hubs developed
0
Countries
MIT
REAP trained
2019
Since
Anouk Braune portrait
What I do

Three ways to build
something lasting.

From the first stakeholder map to a fully running community I work with you at every stage of building spaces where innovation happens.

01

Placemaking Strategy

A hub without a strategy is just a building. I design the vision, the stakeholder model, and the infrastructure logic that turns a location into a genuine center of gravity for the region.

Let's plan it →
02

Ecosystem Building

Healthy ecosystems are built through trust, not transactions. I help you identify the right stakeholders, design programming that creates real value, and build partnerships that last beyond the launch event.

Let's connect →
03

Digital Platform

The best communities extend beyond physical walls. I help you build the digital layer from community platforms to content strategy so your ecosystem stays alive between events and across borders.

Let's map it →
How I work
1

Diagnose

Map the existing ecosystem, identify stakeholders, and uncover the gaps holding it back.

2

Design

Build the strategy space concept, community model, and digital architecture.

3

Activate

Bring the community to life through programming, partnerships, and platform activation.

4

Scale

Embed the ecosystem in regional and international networks so it outlasts any single project.

Selected work

Projects across five countries.

Hover a city to see the project

01
Switzerland Innovation Park Zurich
Ecosystem Strategy & Community
02
Factory Hammerbrooklyn
Expansion Lead & Space Concepts
03
IPAI Heilbronn
Digital Community Platform
04
Factory Berlin
Event & Programming Strategy
05
THE CIRCLE Zurich
Ecosystem Strategy
06
Bloxhub Copenhagen
Digital Community Platform
MIT Campus
MIT REAP · Cambridge, MA
Regional Entrepreneurship
Acceleration Program
Visit reap.mit.edu
Speaking & Events

Nobody manages
innovation but
someone orchestrates it.

That line from one of my talks at the Swiss-Emirati AI Innovation Forum captures what I believe about ecosystems. They don't run themselves. Someone has to hold the map, know the players, and build the conditions for things to happen.

I speak at conferences, corporate offsites, and university programs, turning complex system thinking into something a room full of people can actually act on.

  • Innovation Mindset & Ecosystem Thinking
  • Placemaking as Economic Strategy
  • Building Communities that Scale
  • Deep Tech Ecosystems in Europe
  • Failure as a Feature Fuckups in History
  • The Future of Innovation Hubs
The Urbanist · Episode 652
What it takes to establish Innovation Hubs in Europe.
Andrew Tuck · Monocle Radio
Listen to the episode
Swiss-Emirati AI Innovation Forum FUckups in History talk VLC Startup Market Valencia
Self-assessment

Is your hub ready
to scale?

Three quick questions. An honest result. If you want to go deeper, book a call.

Question 01 / 03
How would you describe your current community strategy?
Question 02 / 03
How connected is your hub to international innovation networks?
Question 03 / 03
Does your community have a life beyond physical events?
Currently available for new projects

Let's build
together.

Whether you're launching an innovation hub, scaling a community, or looking for a speaker I'd like to hear about your project.