Operator. Builder. Founder.
About
Biography
Dr. Volker Glaeser is a technology executive with over 30 years of experience across media, telco, e-commerce, and hospitality SaaS. He has built and scaled digital businesses from early-stage ventures to global platforms, leading cross-border M&A, and driving digital transformation at organisations ranging from Yahoo and Vodafone to Metro AG. As CEO of DISH Digital Solutions, Metro AG’s hospitality-tech platform serving 410,000+ restaurants across 16 European markets, Volker is transforming one of the world’s largest HORECA, POS, and payment networks into an AI-first operation. Agentic AI that helps restaurant operators make smarter decisions on replenishment, pricing, staffing, and guest experience. Alongside DISH, Volker runs Avitra Beteiligungen, a family-owned investment vehicle focused on high-tech and deep-tech companies. Before DISH, Volker co-founded Sprint Reply and scaled it to exit, served as COO of Mondia Media Group, and held global leadership roles at Vodafone and Yahoo. He holds a DBA from the University of Gloucestershire.
Expertise
Digital Transformation
Led large-scale digital transformations at Metro/DISH, E-Plus, and Vodafone. Introduced global e-commerce at Vodafone and rebuilt DISH into a unified SaaS platform serving restaurants across Europe.
AI & Data Strategy
Turned POS transaction data into agentic AI. Live systems that help restaurant operators decide on replenishment, pricing, staffing, and guest experience.
Hospitality Tech
Built and scaled DISH Digital Solutions into one of the world’s largest restaurant-tech networks. Connecting kitchens, POS systems, and payment terminals across 16 countries and 410,000+ venues.
Venture & M&A
Co-founded Sprint Reply, a TMT consultancy, and scaled it to a successful exit. Led the acquisition of Eijsink, one of Europe’s leading cloud POS providers.
Board Leadership
Active on advisory boards across deep tech and high-growth startups. Including UV-C LED pioneer Smart United GmbH.
Media & E-Commerce
Built digital businesses at Yahoo, Vodafone, and Mondia Media. Spanning search, mobile commerce, and digital content.
Professional Experience
CEO
Building and leading Europe's largest digital HORECA ecosystem: 410,000+ connected restaurants and hospitality venues across 16 markets.
Owner & Managing Director
Family-owned investment vehicle focused on high-tech and deep-tech companies.
Co-Founder & Managing Partner
Co-founded one of Germany's fastest-growing TMT consultancies, specializing in digital transformation across Technology, Media, and Telecom.
Digital Platforms Director
Built smartkauf.de on SAP's hybris platform. Within one year, grew it into Germany's largest dedicated telecom hardware e-commerce destination.
Group COO
Integrated the Vodafone live! business unit and shaped one of Europe's largest independent mobile entertainment providers across 8 countries.
Global Head of Online
eCommerce Director at Vodafone Germany and Global Head of Online for Vodafone Group. Established e-commerce operations across 18 countries.
Earlier Leadership Roles
Senior roles at Yahoo, Premiere, and ProSieben. Building a foundation of 30+ years across media, telecom, and digital commerce.
Insights
All articles
AI-first? The DISH Sales Director calls it “Ka-ching.”
For Episode 10 of our series DISH Digital Solutions becomes an AI-first company, I asked our Sales Director Wissam Moussallem…
Read article
Fries Over Formality: Why the Sommelier of the Year Doesn’t Care About Wine Snobs
Skater, hip-hopper, and Sommelier of the Year — Toni Askitis doesn’t do stuffy. With “Pommes & Wein” he’s shaking up…
Read article
Why 410,000 Restaurants Can’t Be Wrong. And Why Half of Them Still Won’t Digitize
How DISH removes the barriers that keep restaurants on paper: one connected platform, zero commission on direct orders, AI built…
Read articleSpeaking
All eventsPress
All pressContact