Ben Kloss

Ben, a Director at Plug and Play Abu Dhabi, brings extensive experience in building successful open innovation ecosystems. As part of Plug and Play, a leading global venture capital fund and the world’s largest open innovation platform with 65+ offices and 600+ corporate partners, Ben has played a pivotal role in driving innovation across multiple industries.
In 2017, he joined PNP to support the launch of “Startup Autobahn,” Plug and Play’s mobility vertical and one of their first offices outside the US. Today, Startup Autobahn is a thriving platform, boasting partnerships with industry giants like Mercedes, Porsche, Bosch, and Hyundai, and facilitating hundreds of pilot projects.
From 2019 to 2023, Ben led Plug and Play’s Vienna office, where he supported the innovation goals of prominent companies such as Austrian Airlines, Fraport, Aeroporti di Roma, and Star Alliance. Now based in Abu Dhabi, he focuses on expanding Plug and Play’s presence in the GCC region and managing key accounts, including the TradeTech Accelerator in partnership with the World Economic Forum, Ministry of Economy and Department of Economic Development.