
Sebastian Schaal
Co-Founder & Managing Director at Luminovo
Experience

Founder & Managing Director
Luminovo
Nov 2017 - Present

Founders Pledge Member
Founders Pledge
Aug 2020 - Present

Founding Member
Deutscher KI-Verband e.V.
Mar 2018 - Present
Education

Stanford University
Master of Science (M.Sc.), Management Science & Engineering
2015 - 2016

Technical University of Munich
Master of Science (M.Sc.), Electrical and Computer Engineering
2015 - 2018

Center for Digital Technology and Management (CDTM)
Honours Degree, Technology Management
2014–2015

Technical University of Munich
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), Electrical and Computer Engineering
2011 - 2015
Biography
Sebastian is guided by the fundamental belief that innovative technology is the most powerful tool for solving today's global challenges. This conviction is the driving force behind Luminovo, the B2B SaaS company he co-founded in 2017 to accelerate the pace of technological progress.
After studying at Stanford University, Sebastian made the strategic decision to build his company in Munich, proving that passion and dedication can foster a world-class technology hub outside of Silicon Valley.
An electrical engineer by training, Sebastian is driven by a mission to have a lasting, positive impact and create a meaningful place to work. This principle is the driving force behind Luminovo, which he co-founded to solve the complex challenges facing the electronics industry. As a leader, he holds the principles of psychological safety as high as Bavarian traditions and is a strong advocate for team health.
At Luminovo, he leads a mission to empower the electronics industry which is the pacemaker of digitalization. The company's software streamlines the path from idea to market-ready product by integrating the value chain and automating complex processes, ultimately making technological innovation faster and more accessible.
Guided by his favorite principle, "Be proactive," Sebastian leads Luminovo's high-level direction and strategy. Outside of work, he is passionate about fitness, skiing, and hiking , and is currently trying to keep up with his co-founder's reading pace by listening to audiobooks at 1.5x speed.
Role at Luminovo
As a Founder and the lead for Revenue department lead, his work involves several key areas:
Founder: Alongside his co-founder Timon, he is responsible for setting Luminovo's mission and long-term strategy. He leads by example to establish the company culture, ensures the product roadmap aligns with the strategy, and secures the necessary funding for Luminovo's financial needs. He also represents Luminovo's mission at conferences and speaker engagements.
Revenue department lead: He oversees and aligns activities across our Growth, Sales, Customer Success and Revenue Operations. He is focused on developing the sales team, refining their processes, and ensuring they have the technical expertise to succeed, while also closing deals himself.
Manager: He is committed to creating an environment of psychological safety for his team. His goal is to provide regular feedback and guidance to help his direct reports grow and to ensure they have the freedom and resources needed to do their best work.

As a well-known face in the global tech and electronics industry, Sebastian Schaal is often invited to speak on industry event stages. Below are a few of his recent appearances.
Speaker at EMS-Tag 2025: 'Lecture: Digital business models for EMS'
Interview with Handelsblatt: 'This start-up bans Excel from the electronics industry'
Video Interview with EMSNow: 'Up Close with Sebastian Schaal, Founder & Managing Director, Luminovo'
Industry
Aug 4, 2025
The Strategic Buyer's Guide to Electronic Component Lifecycle and Obsolescence Management
In this guide, you'll learn how to anticipate, manage, and mitigate obsolescence risk for electronic components. We'll show you a number or proactive strategies, forecasting techniques, and lifecycle planning best practices to ensure you stay ahead of the obsolescence curve.
Partners
Jul 28, 2025
A Practical Guide to Sustainable Component Sourcing in Electronics with Hexachip and Luminovo
Discover how Luminovo and Hexachip are partnering to help you embrace sustainable component sourcing and the circular economy to boost your electronics supply chain resilience and meet ESG goals.
Partners
Jun 13, 2025
Bridging Design and Procurement: How Luminovo and SI Electronics reduce Complexity in Electronics Development
Discover the value of the partnership between Luminovo and SI Electronics for your electronics designs, with real-world sourcing intelligence directly embedded into the earliest stages of development.
Industry
May 23, 2025
How to Reduce Sourcing Risks with Real-Time BOM Costing
Stay ahead of supply chain disruptions. Discover how real-time BOM costing and component availability insights help reduce sourcing risks, avoid delays, and improve supply chain resilience.
Industry
May 9, 2025
Mitigating Risks in the Electronics Supply Chain: Best Practices
Discover effective strategies to mitigate risks in the electronics supply chain. Learn best practices for managing disruptions, improving supplier resilience, and ensuring continuity.
Industry
Apr 24, 2025
Electronics Supply Chain Chaos: Who's Hurt Most – OEMs, EMS, or PCB Makers?
Discover how you can turn supply chain disruptions, rising costs, and geopolitical risks into competitive advantages, whether you are an EMS provider, an OEM or a PCB manufacturer.
Inside
Apr 10, 2025
Danny’s Journey at Luminovo
In this personal and honest post, Danny shares how a rejected job application turned into a pivotal career opportunity, how he learned to thrive in Revenue Operations, and how working at Luminovo helped him find both clarity and joy in his professional journey.
Industry
Mar 27, 2025
President Trump’s Tariffs: How They’re Shaking Up Electronics Manufacturing and What You Can Do
Learn how an advanced software solution can help you navigate complex economic situations that have the power to impact the electronics supply chain worldwide, like President Trump’s 2025 tariffs.
Industry
Mar 14, 2025
Maximising Efficiency and Transparency in the OEM Electronics Supply Chain
Optimise your OEM electronics supply chain with cutting-edge solutions. Learn strategies for optimising processes, reducing costs, and enhancing collaboration to streamline your supply chain operations.
Industry
Feb 28, 2025
The Impact of Technology in OEM Supply Chain Management
Discover how technology is revolutionising OEM supply chain management. Learn about the role of cutting-edge technologies in optimising OEM supply chain management, from real-time data insights to automated solutions driving success.
News
Feb 19, 2025
Towards Circular Electronics: a New Partnership between Luminovo and GREENCHIPS
Discover how Luminovo and GREENCHIPS are revolutionising the electronics industry with a new partnership focused on circular electronics. Learn about their sustainable initiatives and innovative solutions driving a greener future.
Industry
Feb 13, 2025
Big Supply Chain Issues: Key Challenges and Solutions
Discover the biggest challenges facing electronics supply chains today, from component shortages to rising costs and logistics delays. Explore actionable solutions and innovative strategies to build resilience and optimise operations in a rapidly changing landscape.
Industry
Jan 22, 2025
How CPQ Software Transforms Pricing and Quotation Processes
Discover how Configure Price Quote (CPQ) software revolutionises pricing and quotation processes in the electronics supply chain. Improve accuracy, speed, and profitability while staying ahead in a dynamic market.
News
Sep 25, 2024
BMKyourproto & Luminovo Revolutionise Technical Customer Communication
Our successful partnership with BMK reaches a three-year milestone.
News
Jul 17, 2024
Luminovo Partners with Sluicebox to Offer an Industry-First Instant Product Carbon Footprint for Electronics
Pioneering sustainability in electronics with instant carbon footprint estimates.
News
Jun 11, 2024
Zollner Elektronik AG and Luminovo Set the New Standard for Digital Supply Chain Collaboration in the EMS Industry
The EMS industry is taking a new turn towards digital collaboration: hear how it all began and what the future holds from the two companies pioneering this change.
Partners
May 8, 2024
Luminovo and EPN Enter a New Era of PCB Procurement with Automatic PCB Pricing
Read how PCB manufacturer EPN was able to automate their entire PCB procurement process thanks to Luminovo’s innovative Automatic PCB Pricing, and how you could benefit from it too.
Industry
Apr 24, 2024
Supply Chain Collaboration: Regain Control over your Electronics
Discover how collaboration in the electronics supply chain can ensure that the right electronics parts are in the right place, at the right time.
Partners
Feb 29, 2024
Efficiency and Transparency: Luminovo and Perzeptron Support the Entire Electronics Order Process in Dynamic Times
Luminovo and Perzeptron work together to increase their joint impact on making the electronics supply chain less complex and more efficient.
Tech
Nov 28, 2023
ERP Integration Made Easy: Myths and Solutions
Let's debunk myths about ERP integration into modern software tools like Luminovo being too complicated, expensive and time-consuming. Learn exactly what the process entails through the experience of Stern-Elektronik GmbH.
Partners
Sep 22, 2023
Seamless PCB Ordering with Safe-PCB on Luminovo platform
Luminovo and Safe-PCB join forces to connect the German and French electronics market through a partnership based on digitalisation. Hear what CEO Vincent Charrat has to say about it.
Product
Aug 30, 2023
Transforming Collaboration: Exploring the Advantages of a Digital Customer Portal in the EMS Industry
The EMS industry is expected to grow by 28.5% by 2027. Can you imagine your EMS business grow the same way? Read this blog to understand how transforming your customer relationship can transform your entire business.
Product
Jul 28, 2023
Strategically Navigating Risks Across Your Product Portfolio
Should the state of the electronics supply chain limit your product development? We don't think so. Is there a way around it? Yes, and you can find it out in this blog.
Industry
Jun 2, 2023
Manufacturing Calculation – from Manual Processes towards Smart Automation
In this blog, we provide a framework for precise manufacturing costing calculation and show you the way towards automating this process for the benefit of your business.
Partners
May 30, 2023
OnlineComponents.com and Luminovo Optimize Procurement Decision-Making
Find out how the partnership with American distributor OnlineComponents.com makes your sourcing process seamless, automated and collaborative.
Product
Apr 19, 2023
Ignoring Risk is so 2022: Save your Product Design with Luminovo
Are you an electronic engineer thinking you should focus on designing high-quality products for your customers, instead of dealing with compliance? You’re totally right. This blog will help you make the switch.
Product
Mar 31, 2023
A Day in the Life of an EMS Provider Using a Modern Quoting Tool
Every EMS company has its own ways but, what matters in the end, is making your customer happy. In this blog, we’ll go through 4 steps to seamlessly achieve this with the help of modern software.
Industry
Jan 4, 2023
How to Make your Electronics Development more Robust, Anticipatory and Collaborative
Collaboration and technology can improve electronics development and NPI processes, despite volatile component markets. In this article, we will explore common problems and modern solutions.
Industry
Nov 23, 2022
Why Modern RfQ Software is the Tool to Secure your Bottom Line
What does modern RfQ software look like? And how can it help you ramp up your EMS business revenue? Read our Founder’s advice to end your 2022 with a bang, despite the challenges of the electronics sector.
Inside
Oct 17, 2022
Reini’s Journey at Luminovo
Curious to know what being an Intern or Working Student at Luminovo looks like? We've asked Reini, who has experience in both.
Industry
Oct 4, 2022
The End of the Chip Crisis?
You've read it right – looks like the global chip shortage is coming to an end, but other challenges await. In this blog, we’ll go through the latest research findings on the semiconductor industry and what we can expect in the near future. Read on!
News
Aug 18, 2022
Luminovo raises €11 million in seed funding to fix the broken electronics value chain with transformative software suite
A big milestone in our journey to making innovation faster, cheaper and more sustainable for everyone – now backed by Chalfen and Verve, as well as our existing group of stellar investors.
Inside
Aug 18, 2022
Yet Another Primer on the Electronics Industry
The what, why, why now and what next of Luminovo: read our vision and plans for the future after receiving €11M in Seed funding.
Industry
May 17, 2022
How to Deal with Long-Term Supply Shortages – pt. 2
The supply shortages saga continues: in 2022, the global supply chain still fights against the pandemic, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict adds on to the uncertainty. What has changed in a year? And, is technology still the answer?
Partners
Apr 26, 2022
Würth Elektronik and Luminovo cooperate on transforming PCB order processes
The connection of Würth's online shop for PCBs with the Luminovo Software Suite makes order processes for PCB prototypes easier, faster and more precise.
Tech
Mar 22, 2022
Up your PCB Game with Digital Twin Technology
In PCB manufacturing, communication between PCB suppliers and EMS provider or OEM is key. In this blog, we’ll see how the PCB digital twin can bridge the gap between the two and bring your business to the next level.
Industry
Feb 16, 2022
Startups vs. Corporations: Who Would Win the Race for the Future?
The modern world, and especially the electronics industry, needs startups. Startups are the key to progress in all aspects of society – in this article, we’ll tell you why.
Industry
Jan 14, 2022
5 Reasons Why Now is the Right Time to Upgrade your RfQ Process
It’s never too late to change and improve a certain way of doing things. What’s crucial, is to come to the realisation that progress is necessary, especially in a sector such as electronics.
Tech
Nov 26, 2021
APIs in the Electronics Value Chain – Curse or Blessing?
These days, it's all about being fast and up-to-date. Modern software development makes it possible, and APIs are the reason. The future of the electronics industry is already here – what are you waiting for?
News
Oct 19, 2021
Luminovo Acquires PCB Software Provider Electronic Fellows to Pioneer Next-Gen Software Suite
Joint efforts yield accelerated existing processes and new opportunities of interconnectedness for the electronics industry.
Partners
Jun 1, 2021
Luminovo and Orbweaver form Automatic Data Integration Partnership
Combined Capabilities Offers First Ever Fully-Digital OEM/EMS Sourcing Experience
Industry
Apr 28, 2021
How to Deal with Long-Term Supply Shortages
EMS providers currently have to deal with unpredictable availabilities, prices and delivery times. How much longer will this last? What good is a high demand if supply shortages persist?
Inside
Apr 9, 2021
On the Bare Necessity of Psychological Safety
The what, why and how of effective teams. By our co-founder Timon Ruban.
Tech
Mar 16, 2021
Cloud Solutions in the Electronics Industry – Why Now?
This blog combats prejudice against the cloud, by providing technical, easy-to-understand insights into cloud solutions, and explaining their benefits and why they play an inevitable role in the future of the electronics industry.
News
Feb 18, 2021
Onboarding Eight Renowned Business Angels
We’re incredibly proud to announce that eight new and impactful business angels have joined Luminovo’s journey to revamp the electronics industry.
Inside
Oct 29, 2020
A Short Primer on the Electronics Industry
The Electronics industry has long innovation cycles, but uses short acronyms: We can deal with both.
Inside
Sep 3, 2020
Luminovo Alumni - Being a Marketing and Growth Hacker Intern at Luminovo
Nicole, student at National University of Singapore, spent 6 months at Luminovo during her exchange year in Germany. From marketing strategy to beer gardens, Nicole took home a lot of new experiences - most exotic one for someone from a tropical island probably being 'Eisstockschießen'.
Inside
Jul 3, 2020
Luminovo Alumni - Being a Growth Manager Intern at Luminovo
Sophie, a graduate from WHU, spent 3 months at Luminovo during her gap year before pursuing her Master's. From water rafting to giving pitches to potential clients, Sophie's definitely had the best of both worlds.
AI
Jun 2, 2020
New Perspectives on Transfer Learning: Structuring ML Concepts
This last installment introduces Hybrid Processing and maps it together with Active Learning and Transductive & Inductive Semi-Supervised Learning in a novel framework.
AI
May 25, 2020
Processing Unlabeled Data in Machine Learning - Structuring ML Concepts
In this post, I finally found personal closure on the topic of how AL translates to some real-world scenario and introduce Hybrid Processing as a new paradigm.
AI
May 20, 2020
The Four “Pure” Learning Styles in Machine Learning - Structuring ML Concepts
People are starting to realize that some techniques that were previously regarded as Unsupervised Learning should more aptly be named Self-Supervised Learning. Let’s expand on that.
News
Apr 8, 2020
From AI to Electronics
Lumimovo goes Electronics! We have received over €2 Million in pre-seed funding for our new journey into the Electronics Industry.
AI
Jun 10, 2019
AI and the Question of Explainability
Do we need to understand our models in order to trust them?
AI
Apr 25, 2019
Data Privacy in Machine Learning
Data privacy - one of machine learning’s biggest challenges and how to tackle it.
AI
Nov 28, 2018
The Deep Learning Toolset
Every problem worth solving needs great tools for support. Deep learning is no exception. If anything, it is a realm in which good tooling will become ever more important over the coming years.
AI
Jun 6, 2018
Mythbusters: 7 Common Myths About AI
Artificial Intelligence is one of the most hyped topics of recent years. Naturally, a lot of superficial knowledge has found its way into the press and the minds of the general public. In this post, I want to uncover a few of those misconceptions.
AI
Jan 24, 2018
A Refresher on Batch (Re-)Normalization
If you’re like me, you enjoy throwing CNNs at every pictorial problem that comes your way. If you’re like me, then you have heard of BatchNorm.