Von Flink zu Blocks: Oliver Merkels KI-Wette auf Cloud-Kostenoptimierung

from Startup Insider · host Jan Thomas, Oliver Merkel (Blocks / Flink), Redaktion: Carl Fischer, Zoe Angelis, Lucas Lehmann

„Meine Engineers sind mit dem Rolls-Royce durch die Cloud gefahren" – wie Flink-Gründer Oliver Merkel daraus ein KI-Startup machte. Oliver Merkel ist Co-Founder von Blocks, dem Berliner KI-Startup für automatische Cloud-Kostenoptimierung. Im Startup Insider Spotlight mit Jan Thomas spricht der Ex-Flink-CEO über seinen Weg vom Unternehmensberater zum Seriengründer, über unfaire Wettbewerbsvorteile, Gründer-DNA und warum KI-Agent „Major Tom" Startups bis zu 28,7 % ihrer AWS-Kosten spart. Über den Gast Oliver Merkel ist Co-Founder von Blocks und Mitgründer von Flink. Nach dem Studium begann er als Management Consultant bei BCG und später bei Bain & Company, wo er sich auf Lebensmitteleinzelhandel und Retail spezialisierte. Parallel investierte er in über 60 Startups – darunter früh in Flakoni. Im Dezember 2020 gründete er in Berlin den Schnelllieferdienst Flink, den er als Co-CEO auf über 700 Millionen Euro Umsatz skalierte und der zeitweise mit 2,1 Milliarden US-Dollar bewertet wurde. Im Oktober 2025 gründete er gemeinsam mit Dr. Andreas Schroeter das KI-Startup Blocks, das Cloud-Infrastrukturkosten für Tech-Unternehmen automatisch optimiert – und im April 2026 eine Pre-Seed-Runde von 6 Millionen US-Dollar von Speedinvest einsammelte. Zu den Webinaren:Alle unsere kommenden Webinare: https://luma.com/user/StartupInsider **Startup Insider – der tägliche Podcast zur Startup- & Tech-Szene**Startup Insider liefert dir werktäglich kompakte News, Einordnungen und Interviews zu Startups, Venture Capital, Finanzierungsrunden, Exits und neuen Technologien.**Jetzt folgen & keine Folge verpassen**   **Alle weiteren Podcasts, Newsletter, Events & Werbepartner findest du hier** :  🔗 https://linktr.ee/startupinsider  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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This episode was published on April 22, 2026.

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