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Team and Company

willpower energy is the brainchild of Gensoric GmbH.  Founded in 2009 from Dr. Gerd-Uwe Flechsig's research group at the University of Rostock, Gensoric has developed expertise in the field of electrochemistry and the applications of directly heated electrodes.

The SME-1 feasibility study showed the potential to disrupt Europe's energy market. A few months later in 2016, willpower energy won EU funding from SME Instrument Phase 2 to conduct pilot trials over the next three years.

The willpower team is made up of people from a wide variety of business and technical backgrounds and who all believe in the ability to change the world.

Europe's independence from fossil fuels can be won straight in everybody's backyards.

  • Lars Krüger (CEO)

    Lars Krüger (CEO)

    Responsible for the project development.

    Why do you love your job?
    My favourite part is to see how motivated people turn an idea into something real.

    What do you like in willpower-energy™?
    What drives me: This project is about empowering. We want private people to become independent. Energy autarky and an active contribution to a CO2 neutral economy should no longer be a privilege of big industry.

    Do you have a hobby?
    I enjoy solo-sailing on fast boats, even in cold water as it is the usual case here in our region. If you want to heat up, I would recommend Crossfit …I never felt cold.

    What did you do before willpower-energy™?
    I have studied business engineering at the University of Rostock. After that I completed my Master of Business Administration on the Handelshochschule Leipzig (HHL) and in Barcelona (EADA). Additionally, I honed my skills in technology entrepreneurship at MIT Sloan School of Management (Boston).

    Do you like cooking? Can you recommend a restaurant?
    Yes, I can make a cup of coffee and eggs for myself on a sunday morning. To others, I would recommend going to the "Likörfabrik" in Rostock.

    Tell us something about an interesting holiday trip.
    I have lived one year in Brazil and there are a lot of beautiful places. Besides Rio I liked Ihla bela the most.

    Can you recommend a film or a TV series?
    TV series: Marco Polo and Family Guy

    Get in contact with Lars:
    Tel:

  • Nils Methling (Head of Business Development)

    Nils Methling (Head of Business Development)

    Business Development and Project Management

    Why do you love your job?
    The fast communication among each other and the team spirit.

    What do you like in willpower-energy™?
    Willpower is our Baby. We raised it and watched it grow up and now we are going new ways.

    Do you have a hobby?
    I’m a passionate footballer since 18 years. I have to sit a lot, so it’s really important for me to get a good balance between work and sports.

    What did you do before willpower-energy™?
    I studied Industrial Engineering at the University Stralsund.

    Do you like cooking? Can you recommend a restaurant?
    I love being in the kitchen and to trying new recipes. My favourite dish is a good and proper meal with a big piece of good meat. My recommendation is the Kumpirhaus in Rostock.

    Tell us something about an interesting holiday trip.
    I made a road trip in America and drove 3 weeks from the Pacific Northwest to south of the US. It was a great experience.

    Can you recommend a film or a TV series?
    TV series:House of cards
    Film: Adams Äpfel and Dänische Delikatessen

    Get in contact with Nils:
    Tel:

  • Martin Schönhoff (Head of System Development)

    Martin Schönhoff (Head of System Development)

    Responsible for the System-and Software development and the quality management.

    What makes you indispensable?
    At willpower nobody is indispensable. My speciality is the technical knowledge about our product, ThermaLab™, the basic solution in electro-chemical at direct heated electrodes. This is an important part of the project.

    What do you like in willpower-energy™?
    Many ideas become a concrete project. I like that willpower is working with platform technology. It has potential to become something huge and world-shaking.

    Do you have a hobby?
    I’m a beach boy. In the summer time you can find me there playing beach volleyball or ultimate Frisbee. When the weather is bad, I like to play games on the PC. In the past, I enjoyed sailing but currently I cannot find the time for it anymore. My recommendation is of course beach volleyball.

    What did you do before willpower-energy™?
    I studied electrical engineering at the University of Rostock.

    Do you like cooking? Can you recommend a restaurant?
    Instant food is not an option for us, so at home we are cooking almost all the time. If you want to try a good piece of meat, I would recommend the restaurant “Carlos615” in Rostock. For every passionate cook, you should try out Friedhelms chicken tights with rosemary and thyme.

    Tell us something about an interesting holiday trip.
    I travelled to Cuba for two weeks. The first week I was sightseeing in Havanna and the second week I spent relaxing on the beach in Varadero. I really liked the white beaches and blue water which even looks better in real than on these post cards.

    Can you recommend a film or a TV series?
    TV series: Game of Thrones, film: The Intouchables

    Get in contact with Martin:
    Tel:

  • Christoph Herz (Head of Reactor Development)

    Christoph Herz (Head of Reactor Development)

    Responsible for system development and system adjustment

    Why do you love your job?
    I have great tasks and I love the work with international and loyal colleagues.

    What do you like in willpower-energy™?
    I like that our project has a thematic complexity. With Willpower we can make a significant change in the energy storage possible. With this idea every consumer can participate in the energy revolution.

    Do you have a hobby?
    I’m interested in photography. Since 6 years I’m taking pictures of friends, colleagues and the nature. But I would recommend a hobby where you can be active.

    What did you do before willpower-energy™?
    I studied chemistry at the University of Rostock.

    Do you like cooking? Can you recommend something?
    I really enjoy cooking with friends. My favorites are classic, Italian and Indian recipes. My favorite dish is lasagne. The important parts are the béchamel sauce and thin plates. My recommendations are recipes from Jamie Oliver.

    Can you recommend a film or a TV series?
    TV series: House of Cards and Game of Thrones

    Get in contact with Christoph:
    Tel:

  • Uta Hermes (Head of Sales and Marketing)

    Uta Hermes (Head of Sales and Marketing)

    Responsible for sales and marketing. Contact person for partners and curious interested people.

    What makes you indispensable?
    I have a lot professional experience, creative ideas and a constant good mood. This helps me to inspire our customers and partners about willpower.

    What do you like in willpower-energy™?
    Willpower is a place with exciting tasks and incredibly awesome colleagues. We are collegial, international, have a high team spirit and lots of fun.

    Do you have a hobby?
    I would suggest swimming. It is a good sport to relax your body and also your brain. I also participate in international competitions and for this reason I already visited New Zealand, USA, Canada and the Faroe Islands.

    What did you do before willpower-energy™?
    I studied business management at the University Bielefeld. After my studies I worked at the US-IT company ORACLE. For over 10 years I was there in different sales and marketing positions. Later I was self-employed as project manager and sales and marketing consultant.

    Do you like cooking? Can you recommend a restaurant?
    I don’t cook often, but I really like Italian food and a good steak with salad. My recommendations are the restaurants “Al Porto” and “Rosmarino”, both are located in the harbour side of Rostock.

    Tell us something about an interesting holiday trip.
    In 2002, I was in New Zealand to participate in the masters world championship in swimming.

    Can you recommend a film or a TV series?
    TV Series: The Good Wife

    Get in contact with Uta:
    Tel:

  • Katarzyna Biala (Head of Catalysts Development)

    Katarzyna Biala (Head of Catalysts Development)

    Laboratory supervisor

    Why do you love your job?
    I like the opportunity to learn new stuff. In this way I can develop my professional and personal knowledge.

    What did you do before willpower-energy™?
    I did my Master’s degree in Chemistry in Poland. After that I moved to Rostock. Recently I received my PhD degree from the University of Rostock, which I’m really proud of. During my PhD, I spent a year in Albany, NY, in the USA, where I was carrying out a part of my research work at the State University of New York.

    What do you like in willpower-energy™?
    I like working in this great and international team.

    Do you have a hobby?
    My hobby is inline skating and ice skating. While skating I always listen to my favourite music. I recommend it, because it’s a lot of fun and keeps you active.

    Do you like cooking? Can you recommend something?
    I don’t cook often as I don’t have a lot of time. My favourite dish are Pierogi. These are Polish dumplings. They are filled with cabbage and minced meat or mashed potatoes and quark.

    Tell us something about an interesting holiday trip.
    During my stay in the USA I visited New York, Denver and Boston. I travelled as well to Montreal in Canada and visited the most important sightseeing spots there.

    Can you recommend a film or a TV series?
    TV series: Forensic Files, Air Crash Investigation

    Get in contact with Katarzyna:
    Tel:

  • Elina Ausekle (Inorganic catalyst development)

    Elina Ausekle (Inorganic catalyst development)

    Why do you love your job?
    It is dynamic and diverse. Work days are rarely the same and that gives me opportunity to learn every day. I like that I have a chance to use my academic experience in project development and challenge myself in the creative process. Last, but definitely not the least – motivated, professional and friendly colleagues.

    What do you like in willpower-energy™?
    Evidence of climate change due to increased levels of CO2 emission has long become indisputable. Use of CO2 as a freely available resource in willpower-energy system gives a chance to everyone to become independent in power supply and contribute in improvement of the environmental situation. This concept is motivating to be a part of a project that can really make a difference.

    Can you recommend a hobby?
    I think sports activities are always a good choice. I personally like jogging and going for long bicycle trips.

    What did you do before willpower-energy™
    I was and currently am doing my PhD in chemistry at the University of Rostock.

    Do you like cooking? Can you recommend something? Yes, I like cooking, but unfortunately I don’t have so much time for that. When I do, I like trying some new vegetarian or vegan recipes, but my personal favourite and a suggestion – vegetarian lasagne.

    Tell us something about an interesting holiday trip. I have really nice memories of my first trip in Germany, shortly after I moved here. I went to Saxon Switzerland (Sächsische Schweiz) with a group of friends and we had an amazing time exploring the area. I would suggest everyone to visit this beautiful part of Germany.

    Can you recommend a film or a TV series? I enjoy watching movies, which are based on true stories. I could recommend “The Motorcycle Diaries”, “The Imitation Game” and “Into the Wild”.

    Get in contact with Elina

  • Nadine Dietze (Reactor Development)

    Nadine Dietze (Reactor Development)

    Quality management and device development

    Why do you love your job?
    I love being part of the great willpower team. We’re having a good work atmosphere, where everyone is encouraged to bring in their ideas. Besides that I have the opportunity to take over new and interesting tasks.

    What did you do before willpower-energy™?
    I’m studying environmental engineering at the University of Rostock. Before I started my studies I had the opportunity to spend a year in Namibia. The worldwide-program of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) made this possible. I worked in Windhoek for Namibia Women’s Health Network. This is an organization which is looking after HIV-positive women.

    What do you like in willpower-energy™?
    I like the unique and innovative idea of energy storage.

    Do you have a hobby?
    I’m going for bouldering, weekly. That’s not only a lot of fun, but also a workout for the whole body. As you climb criss-cross on the wall, you often get into conversation and suffer together over hurting hands. Since you don’t need any special knowledge, I would recommend bouldering.

    Do you like cooking? Can you recommend something?
    I really like cooking together with friends and family. My favorite dish is pasta with a tasty self-made sauce. In Rostock, I would recommend the restaurant Zur Kogge. You can find it near the harbour. At the restaurant you can eat really delicious fish, and it has a cozy and rustic charm.

    Tell us something about an interesting holiday trip.
    In January, I travelled through the USA and visited San Francisco, Reno, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Las Vegas was especially impressive. I enjoyed the stay there, because the city is colorful, loud and crazy. Furthermore, I visited the “Late Late Show” by James Corden. It was really interesting to see how everything is recorded. During my time in Namibia, I have seen many great places and made a lot of friends. I especially liked the different landscapes. On the one side there are dry and sandy deserts and on the other side there are green national parks.

    Can you recommend a film or a TV series?
    Tv series: Gilmore Girls, Grey’s Anatomy, The Crown
    Film: Harry Potter series

    Get in contact with Nadine:
    Tel:

  • Tobias Bestier (Reactor Development)

    Tobias Bestier (Reactor Development)

    Device development and system design

    Why do you love your job?
    Using our own ideas, we are developing a system which is based on a brand new technology. There is nothing comparable in the market. In willpower, I work on complex tasks and have the opportunity to solve arising problems on my own. Besides that, it’s really fun to see how the individual parts take shape. At the end of the day, I want to say: This could really work. Where else do you have such an opportunity as a student?

    What did you do before willpower-energy™?
    After completing my Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Rostock, I’m currently in the Master's program. My specialisations are continuous-flow machines and fluid mechanics. I’m currently working on a student research project about the transport of substances in maritime soil layers. I’m researching how nutrients enter the sea over the groundwater.

    What do you like in willpower-energy™?
    Most of all I like the basic concept of the system. Not only could it solve the problem of storing renewable energy, but the system also reduces CO2 emissions. We are going to reach two goals at once. Furthermore, we don’t need a large energy plant, we can produce our own fuel at home.

    Do you have a hobby?
    Since I always need to do a lot of work for the university, I don’t have time for an intensive hobby. If I want to relax, I play on the computer or on the gaming console. I also like to spend time with my girlfriend. We enjoy going to the cinema or to the restaurant.

    Do you like cooking? Can you recommend something?
    I like to cook for my girlfriend and myself. My favourite dishes are hearty dishes such as roast and steak. I recommend the restaurant Tokyo Sushi. They have an incredible selection of Asian dishes. I also really like to go to the Vapiano, where I like to eat pasta Arrabbiata and pasta Carbonara. If it has to be fast and cheap, you should try the Coney 1817.

    Tell us something about an interesting holiday trip.
    I spent one of my holidays in Lanzarote. There I relaxed on the beach and visited all sights. The island consists mostly of volcanic rock, that’s why I really enjoyed the trips to the volcanoes. I also liked the good weather, the beautiful beaches and the Mediterranean culture. My holiday in Rhodes was also great. We drove over the island and visited old olive trees, the world’s first hospital and the ruins of the crusader castle.

    Can you recommend a film or a TV series?
    TV series: Game of Thrones, Archer
    Film: Interstellar, Pulp Fiction, Clockwork Orange, The Shawshank Redemption

    Get in contact with Tobias:
    Tel:

  • Vincent Schroeckh (Social media and marketing)

    Vincent Schroeckh (Social media and marketing)

    Social media and marketing

    Why do you love your job?
    I love the work atmosphere and the new experiences that I‘m making.

    What do you like in willpower-energy™?
    In a time when everyone is talking about CO2 reduction, willpower-energy offers a different view. I find the though that CO2 can also be used instead of just reducing it really interesting. I hope this will be another step towards clean energy.

    What did you do before willpower-energy™?
    Before willpower-energy™ I did a FSJ in the field of preservation of historical monuments.

    Do you have a hobby and would you recommend it?
    Like other guys in my age, I like to play video games. I recommend especially team games like Overwatch or CS:GO, because they need coordination in a group and strengthen the team spirit. Also I am interested in video editing and I have a youtube channel where I upload my own videos.

    Do you like to cook? What restaurant can you recommend?
    I don’t cook that often myself. I like to go out to some food places with my friends and eat there. I can recommend “L’Osteria“ and “LunchBox“ in Rostock.

    Do you like to travel? What was your favorite trip?
    I like to travel, but I only traveled to european countries so far. My favorite trip was to Scotland, because the untouched landscape there is really overwhelming.

    Can you recommend a film or a series?
    Series: Rick and Morty

    Get in contact with Vincent

  • Saikiran Gundaboina (Reactor Development)

    Saikiran Gundaboina (Reactor Development)

    Dynamic Fluid Simulation

    Why do you love your job?
    We have a great company culture and I really like to work with this professional team. It motivates me that everyone is hard-working on our project.

    What did you do before willpower-energy™?
    Before I moved to Germany, I finished my Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in India. Afterwards I was working for VIRTUOUS PROS as an IT recruiter for two years. Right now I’m doing my Master’s in computational science and engineering at the University of Rostock.

    What do you like in willpower-energy™?
    I like the enthusiasm, the interest and the passion of my colleagues. We have a strong desire to make this project real.

    Do you have a hobby?
    I love playing cricket and badminton. I also like dancing and listening to music. It doesn’t matter in which situation you are, music keeps your mind relaxed and focused.

    Do you like cooking? Can you recommend something?
    I like cooking, especially the Indian dish “Sambar”. It’s a sauce with lentils, tamarind and different vegetables. It tastes nice and it’s easy to make.

    Tell us something about an interesting holiday trip.
    I went for a small four days trip to Prague. There I was sightseeing. The huge Prague Castle was really impressive. Also, you have a great view over the whole city. I liked the Charles Bridge and the Astronomical Clock as well.

    Can you recommend a film or a TV series?
    TV series: Game of Thrones
    Film: October Sky

    Get in contact with Saikiran
    Tel:

  • Lars Worm (System Development)

    Lars Worm (System Development)

    Patent system and device development

    What makes you indispensable?
    I have technical know-how of the topic and I’m always enjoying a good joke with my colleagues. Every member in our team is important for willpower-energy.

    What do you like in willpower-energy™?
    For me, this is quite clear: I like the idea, the implementation, the topic, the team and the beautiful city of Rostock.

    What did you do before willpower-energy™?
    I studied Biomedical Engineering at the University of Rostock. After that, I started as an intern at Gensoric. That’s how I came to willpower-energy.

    Do you have a hobby?
    I love spending time with my family. From time to time I enjoy playing videogames. As a compensation for work I would recommend football. In the past, I played a lot of football. It’s fun and keeps you fit.

    Do you like cooking? Can you recommend something?
    I like it when someone else cooks for me. :p
    My cooking skills are just good enough for scrambled eggs and frozen pizzas. I especially like burgers. If you want to eat a really good burger, you should go to Liberty Delis in Rostock. You can also enjoy tasty food in the restaurant zwanzig12.

    Tell us something about an interesting holiday trip.
    We traveled with a cruise ship to the Canary Islands. Besides sightseeing and relaxing on the beach, we explored the islands with bicycles. We discovered many places which you can’t visit with a big coach. Also, the Spanish food was delicious. Every evening fresh fish and tasty fruits were served.

    Can you recommend a film or a TV series?
    TV series: Fargo, Sillicon Valley, Goliath, Westworld

    Get in contact with Lars
    Tel:

  • Joana Röpcke (Corporate Attorney)

    Joana Röpcke (Corporate Attorney)

    Lawyer

    Why do you love your job?
    I like to work in different projects and to get confronted with new tasks. This makes everyday exciting and interesting. Also, I like the vigour and the engagement that our team has shown at every step in different stages throughout this project.

    What do you like in willpower-energy™?
    I like that we are working on an innovative and environment-friendly product. It will be available and useable for everybody. Such products make an important contribution to changing the impact on environment and reinforce each individual to think out-of-the-box.

    What did you do before willpower-energy™?
    I’m a fully qualified lawyer. Before I started working for our projects, I finished my legal studies at the University Rostock and my training as a mediator.

    Do you have a hobby?
    I love sports! Actually, I find delight in almost everything that includes sporty activities. Mainly I enjoy powering myself out in the track and field training. In summers, I like spending my time in doing water sports.

    Do you like cooking? Can you recommend something?
    I like eating! Also, I enjoy cooking and trying new things in the kitchen. I love melon and raspberries, but I don’t have a favourite dish. It just has to be fresh, colorful and varied. A beautiful restaurant, which is always a culinary-treat, is the Franzose Albert & Emilie in Rostock's old town.

    Tell us something about an interesting holiday trip.
    I enjoy travelling. It doesn’t matter if the destination is around the corner, like Usedom, or on the other side of the world, like Hawaii or Asia. It’s exciting to explore new countries and to meet the inhabitants. One of my best travel experiences was to breathe in the air from rainforest and to witness the serenity of the surfers on huge waves in Hawaii.

    Can you recommend a film or a TV series?
    TV series: Hart of Dixie
    Film: Silver Linings

    Get in contact with Joana
    Tel:

  • Christian Tholen (System Development)

    Christian Tholen (System Development)

    Industrial property rights

    Why do you love your job?
    My job as a patent engineer is more exciting than you might think. It’s true that a part of my work is to read a lot of literature on patents and to deal with formalities of the intellectual property application. However, my job also gives me exciting insights into innovative ideas and concepts long before the products are market-ready and open for the public.

    What do you like in willpower-energy™?
    It’s fascinating what a young, motivated, interdisciplinary and international team can achieve when everyone believes in the idea. The perspective that my house could be powered-up with our willpower-energy™-system drives me to give my best every day.

    What did you do before willpower-energy™?
    Already during my engineering studies I was working as an intern in the topic of the industrial property rights. After my studies I worked as an innovation manager and made a qualification in the industrial property rights field. Since then I’m working as a patent engineer.

    Do you have a hobby?
    Of course, I have a lot! But unfortunately not enough time. Nevertheless I go regularly in the woods to rock a single trail with my mountain bike.

    Do you like cooking? Can you recommend something?
    I’m not really good at cooking, but I like it anyway. My casserole is the best!
    I generally like the simple kitchen. There is nothing like fresh fried herrings with fried potatoes. In Warnemünde there are a lot of restaurants which can make tasty herrings.

    Tell us something about an interesting holiday trip.
    I love travelling with my small self-sufficient caravan and enjoy the stillness at lonely beaches and lakes in Scandinavia. There are abandoned areas where you can enjoy wonderful places and breathtaking nature by yourself.

    Can you recommend a film or a TV series?
    TV series: Santa Clarita Diet
    Film: Guest House Paradiso

    Get in contact with Christian
    Tel:

  • Britta Hillebrandt (Team Assistance)

    Britta Hillebrandt (Team Assistance)

    Finance, human resources, management assistance

    Why do you love your job?
    I love interacting with people and the versatility of my tasks.

    What do you like in willpower-energy™?
    I like that we create a system which helps us heat our houses while being independent from fossil fuels. The basis are patents, which were developed with a lot of perseverance and tenacity by our team. Also, I’m enthusiastic because everyone is standing behind this project.

    What did you do before willpower-energy™?
    I completed two business management trainings. Before coming to Gensoric and the willpower-energy project, I worked as a head dispatcher at VEB Chemiehandel. Also, I worked as a business employee for the Treuhandanstalt and TLG GmbH. There I supported the contract management and receivables management for many years.

    Do you have a hobby?
    I prefer a good balance between office and free time. My hobby is painting, building sculptures and designing my garden. If you give me a good book, I can read it without a break. I also like to be in the nature. That’s why I like to hike with my family and our dog.

    Do you like cooking? Can you recommend something?
    I love cooking for friends and guests. My favourite dishes are from the light Italian and Mexican cuisines. I also like to eat fresh fish and hearty meals. I would recommend the "Vielmeer" in Kühlungsborn and the "Ristorante Al Porto" at the harbour of Rostock.

    Tell us something about an interesting holiday trip.
    In winters, I like to escape into the sun for a few days. The Canary Islands are the perfect destination for a warm holiday. They are not too far away and the clime is nice. My farthest holiday trip was to the United Arab Emirates.

    Can you recommend a film or a TV series?
    Film: The Edge, Inside Man

    Get in contact with BrittaFinance, human resources, management assistance
    Tel:

This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 726539.