Keynotes | Workshops | Moderation | Books | Show
Max is Europe’s leading futurologist and future designer. He helps individuals, businesses, and regions identify and shape their future opportunities. He lives in Berlin and Denmark and operates across Europe.
He advises individuals and businesses (from DAX-listed corporations to SMEs), as well as regions and organizations(associations), on actively shaping their own future.
Max is also a bestselling author, a regular contributor to public media, and co-founder of the Futurneo Institute for Future Design. He has served as a guest member on scientific advisory boards of the German government, various ministries, and co-founded the international #SlowFuture movement in Flødstrup, Denmark. This initiative focuses on integrating values, technology, and new structures across all 18 life areas to create meaningful benefits for society and organizations.
Keynotes
Max’s keynotes are clear, relevant, sharp, positive – and above all, entertaining!
His most popular talks include:
🎤 The Future Doesn’t Just Happen – We Create It!
🎤 The Future Thinks Differently!
🎤 More Excellence – Less Panic!
From geopolitical developments to daily life, Max shows companies, regions, and individuals how our everyday routines—originally designed for industrialization—can be reimagined for the digital age. He provides a holistic perspective on our time and demonstrates how we can start shaping the future today.
Beyond his classics, Max frequently gives talks on current topics and tailors his keynotes to various industries in coordination with clients.
Why Max?
🔹 He has worked in 100+ regions across Europe, collaborating with diverse industries, organizations, and communities.
🔹 He doesn’t just understand technology—he knows how structures need to be designed around it to make it meaningful for people in different real-life situations.
🔹 His unique professionalism and audience engagement stem from eight years of acting training—and the fact that most of his stories are based on his own experiences. His authenticity makes him relatable and enables him to explain deeper insights that only those who have worked hands-on in future projects can share.
What to Expect?
A keynote with Max is a powerful motivator. His goal? That every listener walks away with a new awareness, enabling them to reevaluate their own opportunities and start thinking and acting differently.
Workshops
The future doesn’t just happen – we create it!
A workshop designed for people in companies and regions to develop their own future solutions. Because every organization and region has unique opportunities.
What’s the Approach?
- In the 1990s, Max met Anita Roddick (founder of The Body Shop) and adopted her simple yet profound mindset:
- “Life knows more possibilities than you do. Have values, have an idea, and then let life show you the opportunities—through technology, structures, and new ways of thinking.”
- He structured this core idea into a future process that accelerates innovation for individuals, businesses, and regions. Drawing from his broad experience across industries and life areas, Max provides exactly the right future knowledge needed to make the decisive shift in the right direction.
- His goal isn’t to create theoretically perfect solutions—but rather, practical solutions that excite and engage the people within the project, company, or region. Optimization comes from life itself—when we stay open to new opportunities.
Workshops That Continue Beyond the Session
Max’s workshops don’t just end when the session is over. They are followed by a kind of “Future as a Service”—allowing participants to check in on their next steps and gain continuous confidence in using new opportunities.
Depending on the task, Max leads workshops alone or with his team of brilliant experts.
Moderation
Max is a rare combination of scientist and entertainer—with extensive hands-on experience in business, media, associations, politics, research, and academia.
With eight years of acting and entertainment training (ask him about the story—it’s worth hearing!), combined with practical entrepreneurial and scientific expertise, he brings authenticity, spontaneity, and subject-matter depth to his moderation.
As a moderator, he doesn’t just facilitate discussions—he can explain complex scientific and technological contexts, weaving together different themes and speakers into a coherent story throughout the day.
And on request: After the event, he provides a video summary of the key takeaways.
Books
Max’s latest books are available in bookstores or through the special online store, BetterLivingGroup.
📌 Special Initiative:
Every purchase through BetterLivingGroup funds keynote talks at schools and institutions that otherwise couldn’t afford them.
Shows
Max also takes the stage for high-energy, entertaining shows about the future:
🎭 “Future Unplugged!”
The premiere show was held in the legendary Jahrhunderthalle in Bochum, in the heart of Germany’s Ruhr region. Why there?
🔹 Because Max grew up in the Ruhr area and loves its people.
🔹 Because this region is home to many of the future shapers of Europe.

Booking Max as a Speaker or Moderator
📩 Email: anfragen@maxthinius.de
📞 Voice box: +49 30 6130 90 41
What Others Say!
“All the talks were interesting, but the futurologist’s keynote was my favorite.”
“Max Thinius gave me new confidence that the banking industry won’t disappear. His insights were eye-opening and made me rethink the future.”
“Exceptional keynotes—but the outlook on the future topped everything!”
“Max Thinius’ talk showed me how open we need to be to future trends.”
“His talk was incredibly inspiring—it provided a holistic vision for the future in all aspects of life.”
Some of Max’s Career Highlights
🔹 Inspired by Anita Roddick (The Body Shop) in 1988, learning how small mindset shifts can positively shape the future for many.
🔹 Worked for agencies like Springer & Jacoby and various media houses—always with the goal of creating a positive future for people, businesses, and regions.
🔹 Held the Chair for Innovation and Future Studies at IMK Institute in Berlin and Wiesbaden for over 10 years, with guest lectures in Miami and London.
🔹 Co-founded a sustainable investment house with 3M, Fred Kogel, and others.
🔹 Developed the first international sustainability rating agency for financial products for the government of Liechtenstein.
🔹 Co-founded the #SlowFuture movement in Denmark.
🔹 Helped Deutsche Post pioneer online grocery shopping and advised many businesses and regions on future perspectives.
🔹 Initiated the Federal Association for Online Food Retail (BVLO) and chaired it for 8 years.
🔹 His mission: Helping people develop the sensitivity to recognize and leverage new opportunities.
Together with expert strategist Thomas Schmidt, Max co-founded the Futurneo Institute for Future Design.
With mind architect Mareike Fell, he hosts “Bettgeflüster”—arguably the most unusual future talk show in the world.
For “everyone,” as Max likes to say, his show “ZUKUNFT unplugged!” at the Jahrhunderthalle in Bochum is designed to be a grand spectacle of the future. As the largest future show of all time (there is no other like it), Max entertains and inspires people, businesses, and regions by showing them how they can actively shape their own future.
References (Selection)
📌 Business: Deutsche Post, Lufthansa, Microsoft, IBM, Coca-Cola, Unilever, Allianz, Volkswagen, PwC, and more.
📌 Politics: German Federal Ministries, CDU, FDP, City of Berlin, State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Liechtenstein.
📌 Institutions: Free University of Berlin, University of St. Gallen, Deutsche Umweltstiftung, Bitkom, and more.
🚀 The future doesn’t just happen – we create it! 🚀
References Max Thinius
Business: Axel Springer, AllyouneedFresh, BioCompany, Burda, Chupa-Chups, Coca-Cola, Christ Juweliere, Diageo, Deutsche Post, Douglas Holding, Dow, Heineken, GASAG, Lufthansa, MAMA AG, Mercedes Benz, Merck Pharma, MLP, PWC, STEAG, Sparkassen, Togal-Werk-AG, Vattenfall, Voeslauer, Volkswagen.
Politics: Bitkom, Bundesverband E-Commerce und Versandhandel Deutschland e.V. (bevh), Deutscher Bauernverband, Forum nachhaltige Geldanlagen, BMWi, Wissenschaftlicher Beirat der Bundesregierung, UVWM – Unternehmensverband Westfalen Mitte, Konzernrepräsentanz der Deutschen Post, VFI – Verband der Fertigwarenimporteure.
Institutions: Schule im Aufbruch, Rock it Biz – Stiftungsgesellschaft für Unternehmertum, Deutsche Umweltstiftung, Earthrise Foundation, IMK – Institut für Marketing und Kommunikation, Freie Universität Berlin, Universität St. Gallen, Die Tafel, Miami Ad School, Wirtschaftsförderung Brandenburg, Wirtschaftsförderung Düsseldorf, Mitglied im Rat der Gesellschaft.
Comments on Max shows
“That was the best, most comprehensive and insightful talk I have ever heard on the subject of the future.”
Dr. Luling Lo / Uni Bremen, Lehrstuhl Logistik
“He is one of Germany’s most famous futurologists.”
BILD online
“Pretty cool performance yesterday – Merci!”
Ute Welty / Moderatorin, Journalistin
“At last a sound and positive contribution to the topic of digitization and the future.”
Petra Ohlmeyer / Wesco
“Super keynote!”
Uwe Riechel / Regional Director Fashion Europe bei Hellmann Worldwide Logistics
“This ranges from enthusiasm to euphoria!”
Dr. Michael Arretz / VFI – Verband der Fertigwarenimporteure
“Thank you – your lecture makes me feel good about the future.”
Hans Martin Pleiss / ABN AMRO
“Your lecture has given me much to think about in a positive sense.”
Jens Kaß / Geschäftsführer C. Mackprang jr. GmbH & CO. KG
“It’s always impressive to listen to!”
Julia Miosga / Bitkom