He is committed to democracy and security and supports Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with his start-up. Henri Zalbertus, Management and Technology student at TUM Campus Heilbronn, has been selected for the Deutschlandstipendium for the second time. The 23-year-old native of Cologne speaks quickly, mumbling some words, but his statements have depth and he often gets to the point in a punchy way. Henri exudes an interesting mixture of youthfulness and maturity. What drives him?

Perhaps it was his early professional experience, or the need to grow up quickly. Perhaps it was also his passion for sport. As a teenager, he played American football for the Cologne Crocodiles in the highest U19 national league and won the German championship in 2019. Competitive sport taught him resilience and responsibility. Values that also made themselves felt off the field. He started working at the age of 15 to support his single mother. The start of his studies was not easy: delays with BAföG and financial fears pushed him to his limits. "Worrying about money paralyzes you and is your constant companion," he says.

Being selected for the Deutschlandstipendium was a great relief. "It allows me to do the work that I really care about and that has a positive impact on society."

AI strategies for SMEs

Together with Jan Plüer, he started offering free workshops on generative AI in mid-2023 and founded "Zalbertus & PlüerGbR", which supports companies in implementing the technology. So far, they have trained over 1,400 people, are working with SMEs on AI strategies and are developing a solution with the TUM School of Management to make Student Support more efficient.

But there is another side to Henri. As a reservist in the German army, he is committed to our democracy and occasionally swaps his clothes for a uniform to practice with his company in the event of an emergency. His father worked as a journalist in crisis areas around the world and his older brother is a soldier. "Seeing him in camouflage made a big impression on me as a child and the Russian invasion of Ukraine made me want to enlist in the army."

His biggest motivation? "Making a difference in society and realizing my potential," says Henri. "The Deutschlandstipendium definitely paved the way for that."

General information about the Deutschlandstipendium

The Deutschlandstipendium supports students who, in addition to their academic achievements, distinguish themselves through social commitment. The TUM Heilbronn Campus has been participating in the program since the 2022/23 academic year and is currently supporting 23 Bachelor’s and Master’s students. The campus is thus contributing to the record result of the entire TUM with over 1,000 scholarships for the first time in the current funding year. The scholarship holders receive 300 euros per month – half from the federal government, the other half from private sponsors. Further information can be found here.