Mario Grunitz
{{Infobox person
| name = Mario Grunitz
| image =
| birth_date = March 5, 1980
| birth_place = Bernburg, Germany
| nationality = German
| occupation = Entrepreneur, Investor
| education = Hochschule Reutlingen (B.Sc. International Management)
NEOMA Business School (B.Sc. International Business Management)
| known_for = Co-founder of WeAreBrain, Co-founder of Tur.ai, clevergig, SOLVING, Grover Agency and Braveye ventures
| notable_works = Working Machines – An Executive’s Guide to AI and Intelligent Automation
}}
Mario Grunitz (born 5 March 1980 in Bernburg, Germany) is a technology entrepreneur and startup investor in Cloud, Mobile, SaaS and AI.
Early life and education
Grunitz was born on 5 March 1980 in Bernburg, Germany. He completed his secondary education at Herman Hellriegel Gymnasium in 1998. Following his school education, he served in the German Armed Services (Transportbataillon 465 in Ellwangen) during 1998–1999.{{Cite web |title=Mario Grunitz - Co-founder {{!}} Digital Strategy {{!}} Transformation {{!}} Innovation at WeAreBrain |url=https://theorg.com/org/wearebrain/org-chart/mario-grunitz |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=THE ORG |language=en}}
He received higher education at ESB Reutlingen from 1999 to 2001, earning a Bachelor of Science in International Management from Hochschule Reutlingen.{{Cite web |last=InvestorAmsterdam |first=Mario GrunitzWeAreBrainSerial Entrepreneur I. Co-Founder I. Angel |title=Mario Grunitz - Serial Entrepreneur I Co-Founder I Angel Investor - WeAreBrain |url=https://www.xing.com/profile/Mario_Grunitz |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=XING |language=en}} Grunitz continued his studies at CESEM Reims / Neoma Business School from 2001 to 2004, obtaining a degree in International Business Management (NEOMA/CESEM).[https://new.gophercentral.com/About/book-search/default.aspx/aie_e_commerce_marketing.pdf "AI E-Commerce Marketing" - Gophercentral, PDF Document, Accessed March 2025] In 2004, he received the Thesis Award from the Rotary Club Reutlingen.
Career
In July 2010, Mario Grunitz co-founded Maxperience (formerly known as AskAnOwner). In April 2014, he became an investor and partner at ietsmooier, where he contributed to the company’s growth until exit in June 2017.{{Cite web |title=Mario Grunitz - Co-founder {{!}} Digital Strategy {{!}} Transformation {{!}} Innovation at WeAreBrain |url=https://theorg.com/org/wearebrain/org-chart/mario-grunitz |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=THE ORG |language=en}} In September 2017, he co-founded Tur.ai, an AI and hyperautomation platform headquartered in Amsterdam and Kyiv; in the second quarter of 2023.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-11 |title=Tur.ai - Founders and Board of Directors - Tracxn |url=https://tracxn.com/d/companies/tur.ai/__pmrfKmbn0CgykR4Ys4B05xb9YNZX-NdrpNIBNUjtZl0/founders-and-board-of-directors |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=tracxn.com |language=en}}
In January 2021, Grunitz co-founded and invested in SOLVING, a strategic design studio based in Amsterdam,{{Cite web |title=Mario Grunitz - Co-founder {{!}} Digital Strategy {{!}} Transformation {{!}} Innovation at WeAreBrain |url=https://theorg.com/org/wearebrain/org-chart/mario-grunitz |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=THE ORG |language=en}} and in April 2021, alongside Paula Ferrai, he co-founded and invested in Grover Agency, a boutique growth marketing firm in Amsterdam.{{Cite web |title=WeAreBrain Company Profile - TechBehemoths |url=https://techbehemoths.com/company/wearebrain |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=techbehemoths.com |language=en-US}} In February 2021, he established Braveye Ventures, the operational venture arm of WeAreBrain,{{Cite web |title=Mario Grunitz - Co-founder {{!}} Digital Strategy {{!}} Transformation {{!}} Innovation at WeAreBrain |url=https://theorg.com/org/wearebrain/org-chart/mario-grunitz |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=THE ORG |language=en}} and in January 2023, he became co-owner of Black Magic Marker, a creative advisory firm integrated into the WeAreBrain Group.{{Cite web |title=Black Magic Marker treedt toe tot de WeAreBrain Agency Group |url=https://www.frankwatching.com/channel/black-magic-marker-treedt-toe-tot-de-wearebrain-agency-group/ |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=Frankwatching |language=nl}}
Mario Grunitz was also recognized as an Emerce 100 Winner in 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024,{{Cite web |title=WeAreBrain Reviews {{!}} View Portfolios {{!}} DesignRush |url=https://www.designrush.com/agency/profile/wearebrain |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=www.designrush.com}} and received the Employer Branding Stars Award in both 2022 and 2023.{{Cite web |last=Academy |first=Employer Brand |date=2024-06-28 |title=Employer Brand Stars Announces 2024 Winners |url=https://employerbrandmagazine.com/employer-brand-stars-announces-2024-winners/ |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=Employer Brand Magazine |language=en-US}}
In 2020, Grunitz published Working Machines – An Executive’s Guide to AI and Intelligent Automation, co-authored with Paula Ferrai and Samantha Wolhuter. The book serves as a guide for business leaders on adopting AI and intelligent automation.{{Cite web |last=Blogger |first=SwissCognitive Guest |date=2024-01-23 |title=How AI Is Transforming Language Services In Switzerland |url=https://swisscognitive.ch/2024/01/23/how-ai-is-transforming-language-services-in-switzerland/ |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=SwissCognitive {{!}} AI Ventures, Advisory & Research |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Mario Grunitz, auteur op Emerce |url=https://www.emerce.nl/auteurs/mario-grunitz |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=Emerce |language=nl}}{{Cite book |last=Ferrai |first=Paula |url=https://books.google.com/books/about/Working_Machines.html?id=CKkaEAAAQBAJ |title=Working Machines: An executive’s guide to AI and Intelligent Automation |last2=Grunitz |first2=Mario |last3=Wolhuter |first3=Samantha |publisher= |language=en}}
Also, Mario Grunitz serves as the Chair of the WeAreBrain Foundation. Under this role, he has supported various non-profit initiatives, including humanitarian support for Ukraine, AI regulation efforts,{{Cite web |title=AI Regulation News {{!}} European Union {{!}} USA {{!}} China |url=https://www.airegulation.news/ |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=www.airegulation.news}} social media policy projects, and campaigns addressing issues such as domestic violence and Europe's ageing societies.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Good Life Company - Des animations musicales et culturelles |url=https://goodlifecompany.ch/ |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=Good Life Company |language=fr}}