Helping companies
win with AI.

SUMOSMASH is an AI strategy and executive advisory company based in Berlin, led by serial entrepreneur Christian Gruber. We help leadership teams navigate the AI landscape with strategic clarity, fractional AI leadership, and hands-on transformation support grounded in 20+ years of operator experience.

Christian Gruber is a serial entrepreneur, AI strategist, and fractional executive based in Berlin. He has founded 6 companies with 2 successful exits, served as CPO at Bayes Esports (formerly Dojo Madness) scaling from zero to €20M ARR and 120+ employees, and has been active in AI consulting since 2014. He is Austrian and operates SUMOSMASH UG as his holding and advisory company.

SUMOSMASH is based in Berlin, Germany. The company operates as SUMOSMASH UG and serves clients across the DACH region and internationally. All engagements are available in both German and English.

SUMOSMASH offers three core services: AI Strategy (opportunity assessment, ROI modeling, executive alignment), Fractional AI Leadership (interim CPO or VP AI roles embedded with your team), and Executive Advisory (ongoing strategic counsel for founders and C-suite on AI transformation). For product development, Christian also runs Sugar.dev (rapid MVP studio) and Zodd.ai (AI-native agency).

Fractional AI leadership means Christian embeds with your organization part-time as your interim CPO, VP AI, or Head of Product. You get C-level AI expertise and execution without the cost and commitment of a full-time executive hire. Engagements are typically 2 to 4 days per week over 3 to 6 months.

SUMOSMASH has experience across media (Red Bull, Red Bull Media House), telecommunications (A1 Telekom), esports and gaming (Dojo Madness/Bayes Esports), cloud infrastructure (German Edge Cloud), health tech, and longevity. The advisory approach adapts to any industry where AI can create measurable strategic impact.

Both. Christian advises funded startups that need strategic AI direction and established companies navigating AI transformation. The common thread is leadership teams that are serious about AI and want operator-level guidance, not generic consulting frameworks.

Christian is an operator, not a consultant in the traditional sense. He has built, scaled, and exited his own companies. His advice comes from lived executive experience, not theoretical frameworks. You work directly with him, not a team of junior analysts. This means faster decisions, sharper insights, and accountability from someone who has been in your seat.

Christian has been active in AI consulting since 2014 through his company Nifty Black, which laid the groundwork for his current ventures. This predates the current AI hype cycle by nearly a decade, giving him deep practical experience across multiple AI technology generations and market cycles.

Christian served as Chief Product Officer (CPO) at Bayes Esports, formerly known as Dojo Madness. He led product strategy and team growth, scaling the company from zero to €20M in annual recurring revenue and growing the team to over 120 employees before the company was acquired.

Sugar.dev is a rapid MVP development studio founded by Christian Gruber. It operates as a flywheel dev shop, building products in as little as 14 days. While SUMOSMASH focuses on strategy and advisory, Sugar.dev is the fast lane for clients who need a live product shipped quickly.

Zodd.ai is an AI-native agency founded by Christian Gruber. It provides full-service engagements combining strategy, design, and engineering for companies that need end-to-end AI product delivery. It complements SUMOSMASH’s advisory work with deeper implementation capability.

Undying.health is an AI-powered longevity app built by Christian Gruber. It features a voice-first interface and personalized health coaching, reflecting his 5+ years of personal and professional involvement in the longevity space. It is one of the ventures under the SUMOSMASH portfolio.

Yes. As a Berlin-based company operating in the EU, SUMOSMASH advises on GDPR-compliant AI implementation and EU AI Act readiness. This includes risk classification of AI systems, privacy-native architecture guidance, and documentation frameworks suitable for regulatory review.

Absolutely. AI Strategy is a standalone service and often the best starting point. It includes assessing your organization’s AI readiness, identifying the highest-impact opportunities, creating an actionable roadmap with ROI modeling, and aligning your executive team on priorities. Many clients start here before deciding on implementation.

Yes. Christian is available for keynote speaking, executive workshops, and team training on AI strategy and implementation. Sessions are practical and grounded in real-world experience rather than theoretical. Available in German or English, on-site or remotely. Reach out via hello@sumosmash.com for speaking inquiries.

Pricing depends on the engagement type. Strategy projects, fractional leadership, and advisory retainers are scoped individually. The initial consultation is free and includes a clear proposal with transparent pricing before any commitment. Reach out to discuss your specific needs.

Engagements start with a free 30-minute call where Christian assesses your situation and gives honest feedback on whether he can help. If there is a fit, he proposes a clear scope, timeline, and deliverables. Strategy engagements typically run 2 to 6 weeks. Fractional leadership is usually 3 to 6 months. Advisory retainers are ongoing.

All engagements are available in German and English. Christian is a native German speaker (Austrian) and fully fluent in English. All deliverables, workshops, and presentations can be provided in either language.

SUMOSMASH UG is the registered German company (Unternehmergesellschaft) through which Christian Gruber operates his advisory, consulting, and holding activities. It is based in Berlin and serves as the legal entity for all SUMOSMASH engagements and venture investments.

You can book a free 30-minute consultation by emailing hello@sumosmash.com or by connecting with Christian on LinkedIn. During the call, he will assess your situation, give direct feedback on how he can help, and outline next steps if there is a fit. No pitch, no obligation.

Yes. Vendor selection and technology due diligence are part of both AI Strategy and Fractional Leadership engagements. Christian evaluates AI platforms, tools, and service providers with technical depth and business context. He is vendor-agnostic and recommends what fits your specific situation, not what pays the highest commission.

Christian is primarily an operator and advisor. SUMOSMASH UG serves as his holding company for his own ventures including Sugar.dev, Zodd.ai, and Undying.health. For investment inquiries or partnership opportunities, reach out via hello@sumosmash.com.