️ With Josef Lentsch – Political Entrepreneur, CEO of the
Political Tech Summit, author & Managing Partner at the
Innovation in Politics Institute
Summary
In this episode of the in-between trust podcast, Eva
Simone Lihotzky speaks with political entrepreneur Josef Lentsch
about the transformation of democracy through innovation,
leadership, and trust. From co-founding the NEOS party in Austria
to building the Political Tech Summit, Josef shares his
perspective on political entrepreneurship as a practice of
systemic change. Together, they explore the erosion and
rebuilding of trust in political systems, the role of AI in
democratic communication, and how technology can support—not
replace—citizen engagement. The conversation highlights how
leadership, transparency, and adaptability are key to restoring
trust across systems and borders.
Takeaways
Political entrepreneurship is about building systems that
scale trust.
Trust reduces friction — in both governance and society.
Authentic leadership is core to meaningful political
transformation.
Technology can support, but not substitute, democratic
dialogue.
Political startups create new paths for citizen
participation.
Rebuilding trust requires both structural reform and cultural
change.
Cross-border collaboration is key to political innovation in
Europe.
AI must be governed with integrity to support political
legitimacy.
️ Sound bites
“Trust makes democracy efficient — and possible.”
“We need to build better models.”
“Political tech is not a silver bullet, but it’s part of the
solution.”
️ Chapters
00:00 The Concept of Political Entrepreneurship
04:25 The Importance of Trust in Democracy
10:17 Building Trust Through Political Startups
16:05 Leadership and Trust in Politics
22:32 The Role of AI in Political Communication
25:36 Navigating the Intersection of Tech and Politics
30:38 Hope Amidst Challenges in Democracy
36:40 In-Between Moments and Reflections
Links
in-between trust on Instagram: @inbetween_trust
More about Josef
Lentsch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jlentsch/
More about Innovation in politics:
https://innovationinpolitics.eu
More about the Political Tech Summit:
https://www.politicaltech.eu
More about Josef Lentsch's book:
https://www.amazon.de/Political-Entrepreneurship-Successful-Centrist-Start-ups/dp/3030028607
Keywords
political entrepreneurship, trust in democracy, political
startups, civic engagement, digital democracy, AI in politics,
leadership and trust, political innovation, democratic systems,
political tech
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