25. July 2025

Digitale Woche Dortmund 2025

The Digitale Woche Dortmund is the leading decentralized digital festival in the Westphalian region. For many years, companies, organizations, and public institutions have opened their doors to inspire tens of thousands of visitors with current digital topics.

In 2025, the event series will once again bring together professionals from business, government, and society. IT decision-makers can expect a diverse program featuring hands-on workshops, insightful keynote talks, interactive meet-ups, and focused discussions – all curated by the Dortmund digital community with a clear focus on relevance, collaboration, and innovation.

Our Offering

Karakun is contributing with two exciting formats that combine technical expertise and open exchange:

man and woman talking into megaphone in front of yellow background. Karakun logo is on the lower right.

Was Dein Browser über Dich verrät

As in previous years, Karakun expert François Martin will demonstrate what information common browsers share with the websites we visit – and what we can (or can’t) do about it.

This talk is in German.

When?
Monday, September 1, 2025, 15:00-16:00

Register now

Hackergarten Dortmund

Hackergarten is a collaborative format where people from diverse backgrounds come together to work on projects – whether it’s writing functional software, improving documentation, or creating new learning resources. The goal: valuable contributions that benefit the wider community.

When?
Thursday, September 4, 2025, 18:00-21:00

Register now

11. July 2025

AI Discovery Session

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is more than just a hype. It is changing how we work, make decisions, and shape the future. But what does that mean for your business in concrete terms? Where does real value emerge? And how can you get started – in a strategic, feasible, and legally compliant way?

Explore AI. Identify opportunities. Develop a strategy.

Our AI Discovery Session provides orientation: compact, practical, and tailored to your business context. In a half-day on-site workshop supported by targeted preparation and follow-up, we build a common understanding, analyze potential use cases, and define first steps towards implementation.

Goals of the AI Discovery Session

  • Establish a basic understanding of AI: technology, applications, and limitations
  • Communicate relevant legal frameworks (data protection, EU AI Act, GDPR, compliance)
  • Identify AI potential within your company’s specific business context
  • Evaluate concrete use cases and introduce suitable tools
  • Draft a possible implementation roadmap
  • Address participants’ individual questions

Our method: interactive and hands-on

The session combines short input segments with active dialogue. For use case development, we apply elements of design thinking and structure ideas using an evaluation matrix based on value and feasibility. Demos and screenshots make AI opportunities tangible, while an open Q&A addresses individual concerns directly.

Do you want to find out which AI use cases make sense for your company? We’re happy to support you.

Download Flyer (German)
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1. July 2025

Claude Honegger appointed to BoD

As of July 1, Claude Honegger has been appointed as a new member of the Board of Directors of Karakun AG. Dr. Elisabeth Maier, co-founder and former CEO of Karakun, has taken over as the new Chair of the Board. The leadership team of the Basel-based software company is now completed by current CEO Markus Schlichting, Christoph Erb, and Luc Haldimann.

With Claude Honegger, Karakun has brought on board a true heavyweight in the IT industry: the former CIO of Credit Suisse is also a board member of swissICT and brings over 30 years of experience in delivering technology solutions in the banking sector and in managing large, complex, global organizations. Today, he acts as an advisor, investor, and board member, supporting both established companies and a number of startups.

At the Annual General Meeting in June 2025, Dr. Elisabeth Maier was also appointed Chair of the Board as of July 1. She succeeds René Stierli, who is stepping down along with Dr. Dirk Krampe and Christian Ribeaud. The board is now completed by Karakun Executive Board member Christoph Erb, Karakun CEO Markus Schlichting, and Luc Haldimann, Co-CEO of Unblu, who has been a member of the Karakun Board since 2019.

Markus Schlichting comments: “With Claude Honegger joining our Board of Directors, we have gained an industry expert whose extensive know-how will greatly benefit both our clients and our internal teams. We sincerely thank the departing members René Stierli, Christian Ribeaud, and Dirk Krampe for their valuable contributions to the Karakun Board.”

Looking ahead, Schlichting adds: “We are now well positioned for upcoming challenges and future growth. With our portfolio of products and services and the proven expertise of our team, we will continue to deliver groundbreaking projects in areas such as open source and AI.”

Download Press Release (DE)
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18. June 2025

Swiss Digital Ranking 2025

Switzerland’s digital economy continues to thrive – as shown in the 2025 Swiss Digital Ranking by Netzwoche. In the “Custom Software” category, we’re proud to have secured 17th place – a strong result for an independent and agile company like Karakun.

Table of the results of the Swiss Digital Ranking by Netzwoche.

Source: Netzmedien Swiss Digital Ranking 2025

Custom software for Basel and beyond

For us, this ranking is more than just a number – it reflects our technical expertise and the value we deliver to clients in Basel and beyond. Our B2B services range from end-to-end software development to process and system optimization. In addition, our experts offer deep know-how in text analytics based on linguistic, statistical, and AI-powered methods.

Digital Transformation? Karakun!

Let’s tackle your next digital challenge together – with a custom software solution that fits your needs exactly.

Write us!
Call us!

4. June 2025

Digitization and Cloud Transformation

On June 24, 2025, the Swiss Software Festival will convene leading figures from Switzerland’s IT sector at uptownBasel. Karakun is honored to participate as a “Mönch” sponsor, actively supporting the Swiss software ecosystem.

A highlight of the event will be a presentation by our Senior Software Engineer, Mike Mannion, titled “Beyond the Tech: Leading the Organisational Shift to the Cloud”. In this talk, he will explore strategies for organizations to successfully navigate not only the technological but also the organizational aspects of cloud migration.

Additionally, our Board Member and former CEO, Elisabeth Maier, will contribute her expertise as a member of the festival’s advisory board.

Organized by swiss made software, in collaboration with Women in Tech® Switzerland, Swico, and baseltech, the festival offers a platform for exchanging ideas on innovative software solutions and digital advancements.

For more information about the event, please visit the Swiss Software Festival website.

22. April 2025

prostep ivip Symposium 2025

From May 13–14, 2025, everything at the prostep ivip Symposium at the bcc Berlin Congress Center will revolve around future-proof processes, tools, and standards for digital product development. Karakun will be on-site at booth no. 20, showcasing the latest version of our data management solution EXOKNOX.

EXOKNOX is specifically designed for data-intensive scenarios and helps companies accelerate their engineering processes – from component development to Digital Twin integration. The solution brings order to the growing complexity of distributed development projects and promotes efficient data management in digital engineering.

Talk: FDX based Function Data Process Applied in Engineering

On May 13, from 14:20 to 14:50 PM, our expert Michael Baumann will share insights into the practical use of the FDX standard in engineering projects.

The talk will explore how the standardized FDX format improves the handling of function data – a real gamechanger for modern automotive development.

Meet our Experts

Our experts Dr. Hans-Dirk Walter and Michael Baumann look forward to meeting you – whether at our booth or in the presentation hall. Feel free to reach out and schedule a personal meeting at the event. We’re also happy to give you an individual and non-binding live demo of EXOKNOX in a virtual meeting.

Dr. Hans-Dirk Walter

Dr. Hans-Dirk Walter

Member of the Board

Michael Baumann

Michael Baumann

Head of Digital Engineering Solutions

9. April 2025

Karakun GmbH with new offices

Since April 1, 2025, we have been welcoming clients, partners, and colleagues to our new premises at Kanalstrasse 25 in 44147 Dortmund.

Our new office is located on the Dortmund Industrial Campus in the Dortmund harbor. The campus also houses the Digitale Werkbank, a center focused on the digitalization of medium-sized industrial enterprises (SMEs). It also serves as the event location for our regularly hosted Hackergarten Dortmund – a gathering where developers collaborate on open-source projects and learn from each other.

Our new location brings us even closer to our existing and future clients and partners. For our team members, it offers modern workspaces, more room for innovation, and ideal conditions for our growing team in Germany.

We look forward to many inspiring encounters in our new office – on-site or virtually.

2. April 2025

be-digital basel Forum 2025

We are pleased to support the be-digital basel Forum 2025 as a sponsor on April 9, 2025, at the AI Innovation Center in Allschwil. The event is held under the theme “AI – The Underrated Revolution” and provides a platform for exchanging insights on the latest developments in artificial intelligence.

During the networking apero, our experts Dr. Elisabeth Maier and Dr. Holger Keibel will showcase Karakun’s latest AI solutions at our stand. They will be available for in-depth discussions and will provide hands-on demonstrations of our technologies. Take this opportunity to learn more about innovative AI approaches and connect with industry peers.

About be-digital

be-digital is a platform dedicated to promoting digital entrepreneurship and enhancing the competitiveness of the Basel region. It strengthens the regional ICT sector and effectively supports SMEs in their digital transformation.

visit event website

21. February 2025

Swiss NLP Days 2025

The Swiss NLP Days 2025 is the leading event in Switzerland for anyone working with Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) – whether from a technical or strategic perspective. Karakun is not only a sponsor but also actively contributing to the organisation: We are exhibiting at the NLP Expo, supporting the organizing committee with our expertise, and are involved in shaping three NLP Crash Courses. These free events take place every two weeks and provide participants with hands-on insights into NLP, GenAI, and the underlying techniques.

Crash Course: ChatGPT – Tips and Tricks!

A highlight of our involvement is our first NLP Crash Course on February 25, 2025. The topic: “ChatGPT – Tips and Tricks.” We offer you the opportunity to learn about the latest developments, exciting use cases, and practical examples from the ChatGPT ecosystem.

Our Speakers:

  • Reto Vogt – Freelance Journalist & Author, Program Director “Digital Media and AI” at MAZ Institute for Journalism and Communication
  • Markus Stauffiger – CEO & Co-Founder at Archipanion by 4eyes GmbH
  • Sandra Wendland – Global Digital Marketing Manager at Lionbridge
  • Moderation: Elisabeth Maier, Board Member & Co-Founder at Karakun

The online event “ChatGPT – Tips and Tricks” will take place on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, from 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM. Participation is free. Register today at https://swiss-nlp-days-2025.org/nlp-crash-course/.

Other Crash Courses we are planning:

 

Meet us at the NLP Expo

In addition to the Crash Courses, we will also be present at the NLP Expo. Visit us and learn how Artificial Intelligence helps companies achieve process-oriented automation, innovative digital services, and business-relevant insights.

The NLP Expo will take place on May 13, 2025, at the Mehrzweckhalle Teuchelweiher in Winterthur. We look forward to engaging with you!

16. January 2025

Karakun supports XP Conference 2025

We are excited to announce that Karakun is a proud sponsor of the 26th International Conference on Agile Software Development (XP 2025), taking place from June 2 to 5, 2025, at the FHNW Campus in Brugg-Windisch, Switzerland.

As a company deeply rooted in the agile community, we recognize the significance of this premier event, which brings together researchers, practitioners, and thought leaders to explore advancements in agile methodologies.

XP 2025’s theme, “Adapt – Uncovering better ways to deliver valuable software products,” resonates with our commitment to continuous improvement and innovation in software development.

By sponsoring XP 2025, we aim to contribute to the exchange of knowledge and best practices that drive the agile movement forward.

We look forward to engaging with fellow professionals at XP 2025 and collectively advancing the future of agile software development.

For more information about the conference, including registration details and the full program, please visit the official XP 2025 website.

13. December 2024

Merry Christmas

The holiday season is a perfect opportunity to pause and say thank you. We look back on 2024 with great appreciation for your support, ideas, and collaboration, which have been instrumental in our success.

As we enter the new year, we wish you and your loved ones all the best: good health, exciting projects, and moments of rest to recharge. We look forward to continuing our journey together in 2025, exploring new paths and celebrating shared achievements.

With this in mind, we wish you happy holidays and a fantastic start to the new year!

Warm regards from Basel,
The Karakun Team

4. September 2024

Diwodo 2024

Why seek far and wide when the good is just around the corner – like digitalization and innovation? Everyone needs something different, but ultimately, everyone needs the same: creative minds on the same level, competence, and efficiency.

The solution for all companies looking for inspiration and contacts in the digital economy can be found right on their doorstep: The Digitale Wocke Dortmund (short: #diwodo) will take place from September 23-28, 2024. Our experts have prepared the following presentations (all in German):

man and woman talking into megaphone in front of yellow background. Karakun logo is on the lower right.

Was dein Browser über dich verrät

Unsere Browser, die wir täglich verwenden, geben beim Besuchen von Webseiten viel mehr Informationen preis, als wir denken. Damit wird es Webseiten leicht gemacht, uns als Besucher eindeutig zu identifizieren und das auch ohne Login. Versuchen wir uns zu schützen, könnte das dazu führen, dass wir es dadurch den Webseiten sogar noch leichter machen.

In diesem Vortrag geht es darum aufzuzeigen, was die verschiedenen Browser den Webseiten, die wir besuchen verraten und was wir dagegen tun können (oder auch nicht).

Kann Generative AI die Aufgaben der Softwareentwicklung wirklich verstehen?

KI-basierte Dienste wie ChatGPT und Copilot versprechen, die Qualität und Effizienz der Programmierung zu steigern. Solche Tools können einen großen Einfluss darauf haben, welche Informationen Entwickler konsumieren und wiederverwenden – und damit unser Wissen, unsere Überzeugungen, Entscheidungen und Handlungen beeinflussen.

In diesem Vortrag werden wir zunächst einen Überblick über die Grundlagen der Generativen KI geben. Anschließend werden wir die Toolchain und die Auswirkungen von KI auf die Praxis der Softwareentwicklung und die Arbeits- und Denkweise von Softwareentwicklern diskutieren.

Suchen und chatten – das Beste aus beiden Welten

Generative KI-Chatbots wie ChatGPT und die ihnen zugrunde liegenden Large Language Models (LLMs) liefern beeindruckende Ergebnisse beim Verstehen und Generieren von Texten in menschlicher Sprache. Wir haben solche Chatbots nahtlos mit den Suchfunktionalitäten unserer HIBU-Plattform kombiniert, um das Beste aus beiden Welten zu erhalten.

Durch die Anwendung von Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) leitet die Chatmaschine ihre Antworten aus dem in den relevanten Dokumenten eingebetteten Wissen ab – anstatt sie zu erfinden.

Hackergarten Dortmund: September Edition

Der dritte Dortmunder Hackergarten findet im Rahmen der DiWoDo statt. Lasst uns zusammenkommen, um in einer unterstützenden und kollaborativen Umgebung etwas zu schaffen, zu lernen und zu wachsen. Es ist egal, ob Du Anfänger oder Experte bist. Diese Gruppe richtet sich an alle, die Spaß am Ausprobieren von Technologien und Diskussion über diese haben.

As always, all events are free. To register, you need to sign up on the platform https://diwodo.de. Of course, we are also happy to provide individual consulting. Send us an email or give us a call!

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