Shaping EcosystemsScaling Platforms
Independent advisor and interim manager for agentic AI, IoT and go-to-market.
I advise manufacturers, platform companies, startups and investors who want to introduce AI agents, keep connected products running in the field for years or sell to industry. The entry point is an audit, four weeks, fixed fee, or an interim role straight away. I have helped shape and sell platforms since 2001, in the Bosch group from 2015 to 2026. Today my advice is vendor-neutral, and I never bid for the build.
I advise manufacturers, platform companies, startups and investors who want to introduce AI agents, keep connected products running in the field for years or sell to industry. The entry point is a four-week fixed-fee audit, or an interim role straight away. I have helped shape and sell platforms since 2001, in the Bosch group from 2015 to 2026. Today vendor-neutral, never bidding for the build.
CRA self-checkCustomer paysonceStill yours after the saleyouYour cost per device?CRA self-check, 10 minutesAs of October 2026Interim 3–9 months · audit 4 weeksGevelsberg (DE) · Athens · EUGerman · Englishkai@kaihackbarth.com
What I help with.
And how we begin.
An agent works with the context it can reach. In industry that context sits in connected products and their platforms, and whoever offers those platforms sells to industry. That is why the three belong together. Each can be booked on its own.
Agentic AI: AI agents are meant for production or service. Who owns them is still open.
The board wants agents · pilots do not scale · build or buy · partner selection · AI Act
More on Agentic AI- Pilot with client-side representation
IoT: Your product stays in the field longer than the platform beneath it.
New product · platform or provider change · redesign · CRA · business model
Industry · vehicles · energy · smart home and building · healthcare
- Strategy engagement
- Platform selection and migration with client-side representation
Go-to-Market: The technology works. Revenue is falling short of plan.
Selling a platform · deals stuck in procurement · first industrial customer · subscription and data business · entering Germany · pricing and business model
More on Go-to-Market- Board advisor
- Fractional Head of Go-to-Market
- Introductory call30 minutes, confidential. You describe the situation.
- A written assessmentFeasibility, timing, cost envelope, in writing.
- Audit or roleFour weeks at a fixed fee, or an interim role straight away.
If the assessment does not hold up, it ends there, with no invoice.
A role you cannot fill with the expertise it needs.
Or one where a full-time hire would be premature.
If your team needs leadership every day: interim. If the path is still open: fractional.
Interim3–9 months
- When
- The position is open, or the function does not exist yet.
- Roles
- Interim Head of IoT / Connected ProductsInterim Head of Sales, GTM, Pre-Sales or Product
- At the end
- A handover to a named person with a budget, a team with a permanent successor.
Fractional2–8 days a month
- When
- Whether this becomes a full-time role is still open.
- Roles
- Fractional Chief AI OfficerFractional Head of Go-to-Market
- At the end
- The decision whether, and whom, you hire permanently.
You engage me directly, without an audit first, or through your interim provider. Usually starting 2–4 weeks after signing.
As Business Owner of the Bosch IoT Suite: full P&L responsibility for the third-party business, around 40 FTE in GTM, pre-sales and partner management.
Terms for clients and interim providers Profile (PDF, 2 pages)
Due diligence on the deal timetable.
Technical and commercial due diligence on IoT and platform companies, down to the firmware and the update path: red flags first, then a memo for the investment committee.
- Tech DDbased on the architecture and platform audit
- Commercial DDbased on the go-to-market audit
- Then in the portfoliointerim roles and board advisor
Formats: tech DD, commercial DD, portfolio
- Tech DDbased on the architecture and platform audit
- Commercial DDbased on the go-to-market audit
- Then in the portfoliointerim roles and board advisor
What partners say about working with me.
“He connects people, products, ideas and technical architectures.”
Full recommendation
“[…] He connects people, products, ideas and technical architectures. He creates flow in meetings and events — a talent that becomes more and more important in the age of AI, in which the latter can take over some skills but never personality.”LinkedIn · May 2026
“Kai stands out for his deep understanding of the IoT ecosystem, Edge architectures, and related technologies.”
Full recommendation
“[…] Kai stands out for his deep understanding of the IoT ecosystem, Edge architectures, and related technologies. He has the rare ability to maintain a big-picture perspective while mastering technical details, making discussions both strategic and highly practical. […] He doesn’t just follow trends — he actively contributes to them, bridging the gap between industry players, technical experts, and business needs. […] I wholeheartedly recommend him for any project involving IoT solutions, Edge computing, or environments that require both technical insights and strategic vision.”LinkedIn · Feb 2026
“Kai is a great leader to work with for IoT, AI and across verticals.”
Full recommendation
“I have worked with Kai for many years, even before he became my customer (and partner). Kai has the unique talent of knowing technology in depth, while understanding business priorities, building communities and being a human that everyone wants to work with. This is a unique and rare combination in the tech world. Kai is a great leader to work with for IoT, AI and across verticals. He is curious and learning fast by being hands on. Hope to continue working with him for more years.”LinkedIn · May 2026
Every piece read against the primary source. Where the coverage gets it wrong, the note says so.
- Coverage
- Primary source
Tell me what it is about.
Whether it is agentic AI, IoT or go-to-market, a mandate, an interim role or a first assessment, the introductory call is confidential, with no obligation.
also Athens · EU-wide