Stephan Kandler

A Franco-German entrepreneur and leading figure in international sailing, Stephan Kandler has spent more than thirty years at the intersection of elite sport, innovation and business. Born in Munich in 1970 into a family with deep roots in the sailing world, he also pursued a successful career as a competitive sailor, winning the One Ton Cup in 1999 and 2001, followed by the Copa del Rey in 2012.

Inspired from an early age by the America’s Cup, he founded K-Challenge in 2001 with the ambition of building a French campaign capable of competing with the world’s leading teams. He led the Areva Challenge campaign in 2007 before developing a number of international programmes, including the Franco-German ALL4ONE team.

After several years devoted in particular to his family’s wine business, he relaunched K-Challenge alongside Bruno Dubois. Together, they oversaw France’s return to the America’s Cup in Barcelona in 2024 with Orient Express Racing Team, before entering La Roche-Posay Racing Team in the 38th edition, to be held in Naples in 2027.

Under his leadership, K-Challenge has evolved into a Sport-Tech platform bringing together athletes, engineers, technicians and entrepreneurs. Its activities span Racing, through the America’s Cup and SailGP; the Akademy, dedicated to developing young and female talent; and the Lab, focused on the maritime technologies of tomorrow.

A visionary entrepreneur and committed competitor, Stephan Kandler champions a long-term approach built on teamwork, knowledge-sharing and the power of elite sport to accelerate innovation.