Yessica Klein
8 min read
09 November 2025
Anna Maria Brunnhofer-Pedemonte is the cofounder and CEO of Impact AI, a company that helps applied AI teams move from experimental models to real-world, user-centered AI products. A self-described technology geek with a background in philosophy, economics and ethics, Anna Maria’s personal connection to inclusive technology has shaped her belief that intelligent tools should be tightly integrated in every person’s life. Based in Linz, she’s built multiple companies at the intersection of Human-AI and is a strong advocate for global-first thinking, citizen-built AI and meaningful mentorship.
How did you end up founding your company in Linz?
I was born and raised near Linz and studied there most of my time at university too, at KU Linz, a small private university, and some courses at the computer science department at Johannes Kepler University. Linz has this really interesting mix: strong technical institutions, a vibrant arts-tech scene like Ars Electronica, and a few tough people who just want to make things happen by themselves. That environment was just enough for me to stay curious about Linz and connected with the region. Programs like tech2b also support founders to settle and grow here. I did look at Amsterdam, San Francisco, Berlin early on, to understand where to grow the network further, but ultimately decided to incubate in Linz.
What first drew you to AI?
I didn’t study AI directly; I studied philosophy, science of art, economics and ethics, but I was always drawn to logic and computer science. I surrounded myself with computer scientists and took some classes along the way. My brother is blind and disabled, and from an early age I saw how intelligent technology could completely change his life, enabling him to communicate, play and become more self-sufficient. That shaped my view of AI as something deeply individual. It’s not just a tool for optimizing workflows. AI can become a form of personal superintelligence, aligned to who we are, what we value and what we dream of becoming. That, to me, is its greatest promise: not just better work, but better lives.
What inspired the founding of Impact AI?
Impact AI is a continuation of work I started with AMB Technology in 2018, which was one of the globally first HCAI - Labs. There, we created a platform for everything Human-AI: models and data designed to safely recognize and understand people, and to integrate top-tier AI into real products. But we soon saw the real bottleneck of our times: teams didn’t struggle with AI models; they struggled to ship them. That insight led to the founding of Impact AI with Justin. We both knew from experience, not hype, that solving the lab-to-production gap is one of the biggest challenges in AI nowadays. And we saw how to do it right.
“There’s more here than you’d expect from a city of this size. You can also build something big from Linz — it doesn’t have to stay here.”
What changed between founding your earlier companies and starting Impact AI in 2022?
The biggest difference was that suddenly AI was cool. In 2018, no one really knew what to do with an AI platform. People asked, “But what’s the product vision?” And we’d say, “Well, the platform is the product.” Now there’s more awareness, but also more noise. Everyone wants to talk to you about AI, which is both exciting and overwhelming. Especially in 2023, cutting through that noise to find a real signal was hard.
How has the startup ecosystem changed in Austria and Europe?
One thing I really like is how schools are already inviting founders to talk about entrepreneurship. That wasn’t the case when I was younger. I used to sit with my dad going over business plans because I didn’t know anyone else to ask. Now there’s much more support and openness for young people to try and do business their own way.
What’s your advice to early-stage founders?
Don’t wish for things. Test them. Wishful thinking is not helpful. Be really honest about your product, your team, your market. And strive for excellence. Also, start global first. Absolutely nourish your local roots and mentors, but don’t limit your thinking to your region. In Europe, many people challenge us, armed with facts about the European markets. That’s fine; build on them. Be Europe first if that’s part of your mission. But don’t let local constraints limit global thinking. Europe alone is not enough, if you want to be a global leader.
Who were some of your key mentors?
My parents were entrepreneurs, so they supported me early on. I also found regional mentors like the AI luminary Sepp Hochreiter or Alois Reitbauer from Dynatrace, people who helped me see that you can build something big from Linz. Angels like Alfred Luger were key too; he was there already for AMB Technology, as the first one, when I was still a solo female founder with a crazy HCAI lab idea. And then international mentors played a crucial role, including my husband Stefano who is a leading AI scientist and founder as well, and obviously my cofounder Justin.
What are the biggest opportunities you see in AI today?
One of the most exciting opportunities with genAI is the rise of the citizen developer. That is, someone who doesn’t need a big budget, a research lab or a full engineering team to build something meaningful. AI tools are becoming increasingly accessible, and that opens up space for individuals to create highly specific, niche solutions that wouldn’t have been funded through traditional channels but deeply matter to the people who use them.
Participation and alignment has always been at the core of how I think about AI technology. Alignment is only possible through participation. I grew up watching how many systems were simply not designed for people like my brother. That shaped how I think about technology, not just in terms of who it serves but who gets to shape it. When more people can create technology for their own realities, we don’t just get better tools; we move closer to AI that is truly aligned with human needs.
“Sometimes you are too early for a mentor, sometimes you outgrow your mentor, and both are completely fine. There’s a right moment for mentors for all kinds of paths, and sometimes you touch points again.”