Sparky Space launches AI platform to bridge learning gap

Sparky Space, a Berlin company founded by former German Air Force officer Nils Ristau and technology executive Daniel Schmitz, has launched an AI-based work platform now available worldwide.

The platform targets organisations trying to turn training and knowledge into day-to-day execution, a gap the founders argue persists despite heavy corporate spending on digital transformation, skills development and workplace tools. Sparky Space points to industry research suggesting that only 10% to 20% of learning is applied effectively in daily work.

Ristau said he founded the company after drawing on his military background and his belief that many businesses struggle less with access to information than with putting it into practice. In his view, companies often buy training, frameworks and software that remain detached from operational work.

“Most organisations don’t have a knowledge problem – they have an execution problem,” said Nils Ristau, founder of Sparky Space. “Companies are investing in training, frameworks and tools, but too often these sit in isolation from the reality of day-to-day work.

“What’s missing is the bridge between learning and doing. That’s where performance is either won or lost.”

The platform is designed to bring structured methods and AI guidance into live workflows, rather than offering separate learning modules or retrospective review tools. Teams can use it while working through business problems such as product development, strategic prioritisation and the adoption of generative AI in internal processes.

That approach reflects a wider debate in corporate technology over whether productivity and learning tools should remain separate from operational systems or be integrated into them. Businesses in sectors from manufacturing to professional services are under pressure to show returns on training and transformation budgets as economic conditions remain uncertain and teams are expected to work faster.

Ristau linked the product’s design to the discipline required in military settings.

“In military operations, success depends on disciplined execution under constantly changing conditions,” he said. “You don’t have the luxury of separating learning from action – they have to happen simultaneously.

“Modern organisations face similar complexity. Competitive advantage comes from how well teams perform – not just from what they know.”

Schmitz said the software was built for use during normal working routines rather than as another separate system employees visit occasionally. Many organisations already have enough tools and information, he said, but struggle to make them usable in real situations.

“We wanted to create something that teams would actually use in the flow of work,” said Daniel Schmitz, co-founder of Sparky Space. “There’s no shortage of tools or information in organisations today. The challenge is making them actionable.

“Sparky Space is designed to guide teams through real challenges – whether that’s developing a new product, prioritising strategic initiatives or integrating AI into everyday processes – in a way that is structured, repeatable and measurable.”

Use cases

The platform is intended to support innovation and customer-focused product development, agile project and portfolio management, strategic decision-making, leadership alignment and the use of generative AI in workflows. Cross-functional collaboration and product delivery are also among the areas it targets.

The launch comes as companies continue to test how artificial intelligence can be introduced into routine business operations without adding confusion or duplication. For many employers, the challenge is no longer simply gaining access to AI tools, but embedding them in existing processes while maintaining oversight and consistency.

Ristau said that issue helped shape the product’s approach.

“AI has enormous potential, but without the right ways of working, it risks becoming just another layer of complexity,” he said. “Organisations don’t just need access to AI – they need guidance on how to apply it effectively in real situations.

“That’s why we’ve built Sparky Space to combine human-centred methods with AI support, helping teams not only move faster, but also make better decisions along the way.”

The company is entering a crowded market that includes learning management vendors, workflow software providers and a growing number of AI assistants aimed at workplace use. Its argument is that these categories often leave a gap between knowing what to do and carrying it out consistently across teams.

Berlin remains a significant base for software start-ups serving international business customers, particularly in workflow, automation and applied AI. Sparky Space is seeking to tap that market with a product that links management methods with operational use across teams.

Ristau said the companies that succeed will not be those with the most information, but those that can consistently turn that information into action.