Lukas Haitzmann

Background

About Lukas Haitzmann

Lukas founded SARNO Industries to tackle shipping’s biggest challenge: its fuel and emissions footprint. As CEO, he is leading the development of a breakthrough engine that redefines efficiency, sets a new emissions benchmark, and is built to run on both today’s fuels and tomorrow’s alternatives, helping one of the world’s largest industries navigate towards a cleaner future while being able to solve today’s problems. From extreme adventurer to entrepreneur and philanthropist. Lukas has broken three Guinness World Records and set two world firsts in rowing and cross-country cycling. He sits on the committee and non-executive board for major organisations and national governing bodies, including the Institute of Directors and The Royal Yachting Association. As a mechanical engineer and ex-Techstars founder, Lukas has driven a portfolio of high-impact ventures across Europe. He focuses on building companies that tackle real-world challenges. At 18 years old, he became the youngest person in history to row solo and unassisted across the Atlantic Ocean, a record that still stands today. A journey that tested every limit of endurance, courage, and self-belief. For two months, the closest human would have been an astronaut on the International Space Station. After the row, as part of his philanthropic efforts focused on environmental advocacy, Lukas was backed by Volvo and Columbia Sportswear, along with 80 other sponsors, to complete a world-first expedition spanning the entire length of the UK, from the Orkney Islands to the Isles of Scilly, spotlighting the urgent need to protect national parks and marine environments. While leading teams and scaling ventures remains his core focus today, Lukas also gives keynote talks and workshops on resilience and stepping beyond self-imposed limits. Drawing on lived experiences, he helps organisations shift from hesitation to deliberate, forward-moving action. Offering teams a clear mental reset, helping them think sharper, act faster, and stay composed in high-pressure situations.