*Source: https://vellmerk.ai/en/about* # About Us Process expertise, leadership experience, data analysis, and technology, combined into holistic consulting where AI is deployed exactly where it creates real value. Vellmerk.ai is a future-oriented consultancy that goes beyond pure AI advisory. We combine **20 years of process optimization experience**, **structured thinking from leadership backgrounds**, **deep data literacy**, and **technological know-how**into a holistic approach. AI is part of the solution, but only where and when it is actually needed. --- ## The Founder ![Thorsten Vellmerk, Founder of Vellmerk.ai](/assets/thorsten-portrait.webp) KI-bearbeitet ### Thorsten Vellmerk Founder & Consultant I served 18 years as an officer in the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr). During that time I learned a great deal that might seem unrelated to artificial intelligence at first, but is deeply connected: **situational assessment, the military decision-making process, leading people under uncertainty, operating in the intent of higher command**. These are mental models and frameworks for structured thinking that transfer almost one-to-one to the deployment of artificial intelligence. One concept that shaped me profoundly is **Auftragstaktik** (mission-type tactics): you define a clear objective and set the boundaries, but leave the path to get there to the executing level. This is exactly how working with AI agents and assistants works. They need a precise goal, clear constraints, and context, not step-by-step instructions. If you can lead people, you have a decisive advantage when leading AI. And leading AI agents has far more in common with leading people than most realize. The last five years of my military career were spent in **innovation management**, where I contributed to the foundational policy papers on the use of artificial intelligence in the armed forces. That was the moment two worlds came together: structured thinking and emerging technology. ![Thorsten Vellmerk at the Danish North Sea beach, vision included](/assets/strand.webp) KI-bearbeitet Denmark, vision included In parallel, **process optimization has been my forte since 2010**, initially in IT service management, then increasingly at the intersection of technology and organizational development. Qualified in **PRINCE2, ITIL 4, Scrum, COBIT 5, IREB, IPMA Level D** and more. To optimize processes, you first need to understand them, and to deploy AI, you need to understand the processes it integrates into. The GPT moment came in 2022, and since then I have focused all my expertise on the practical integration of AI into business processes. For more than six years I have been consulting SMEs and public administration. I founded **Vellmerk.ai** as the successor to my earlier consultancy **KI Learn & Consult**, same standards, new home. > "AI will never be as bad as it is today. What doesn't work now may be solved in six months. Understanding this dynamic and leveraging it strategically, that's what we help you with." At the same time: not every process needs AI. Often a simple automation is the better, faster, and more affordable solution. Good judgment about when technology helps and when it gets in the way, that is one of the most important areas where I can support you. Over 20 years of experience in process optimization and IT have made one thing clear: agile, iterative work delivers the most value for clients. No rigid waterfall projects, no months of planning without results, but fast cycles, real outcomes, and constant adaptation. And we don't leave you standing in the rain. ![Vellmerk.ai office in Denmark: a Danish farmstead surrounded by nature](/assets/house.webp) Foto Our base in Denmark, deliberately independent, close to nature --- ## Our Approach In practice, we work in a phase-oriented manner with our clients, with clear milestones and the flexibility to adjust course at any time. Or as the OODA Loop puts it: **Observe, Orient, Decide, Act**, fast cycles, continuous learning: 1 ### Conception & Analysis Together we look at your data, your processes, and your goals. Where are you today? Where do you want to go? What is realistic? 2 ### Proof of Concept We build a manageable prototype: the proverbial 80% solution. This way we quickly see whether the approach works and whether the quality we can achieve meets your standards. 3 ### Production Ready Once we are confident that we can build a solution of sufficient quality and reliability, we develop it to production readiness. ⏸ ### Or: Deliberately Wait If the technology is not yet mature enough, we may also recommend a pause. AI is evolving rapidly, sometimes it pays to wait six months and then continue significantly better. --- ## Network & Partners Vellmerk.ai is deliberately set up to be lean. For your project, we work with a **curated network of other lean consulting firms and experienced freelancers** and assemble exactly the team your task really needs. No more, no less. That keeps us fast and results-oriented: we bring in precisely the expertise that is needed, instead of maintaining expensive structures that you end up paying for. This network has grown over many years of trusted collaboration. That gives you security: should someone ever drop out, a case that has never happened so far, a replacement is ready to continue your project seamlessly. You get the reliability of a large organization, but with the speed, the results focus, and the cost advantages of a small one. We save the overhead, and so do you. --- ## AI-native: We use what we recommend What makes this possible is our AI-native way of working. We don't just advise on AI, we use it consistently in our own processes. Many recurring tasks, from research to preparation to routine workflows, we already run via AI and automation. That keeps us lean and frees us to focus on what truly creates value for you. And it is at the same time the best proof of our work: we practice what we recommend. --- ## Facts & Figures 20+ Years of process optimization & IT management 18 Years as military officer, 5 of which in innovation management 6+ Years of consulting DACH + DK Active in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Denmark ⭐ 4.9/5 Client rating 100% EU Your data stays in Europe, GDPR-compliant --- ## Industries & Clients We work across industries in the DACH region and Denmark, with a focus on: - **Public Administration**, Digitalization, automation of administrative processes, AI policies and governance - **Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)**, Practical AI integration, process automation without an enterprise budget - **Service Companies**, Automation of repetitive processes, document processing, AI agents [Book a Consultation](/en/contact)