diff --git a/pitch-deck/app/pitch-print/[versionId]/_components/PrintDiagrams.tsx b/pitch-deck/app/pitch-print/[versionId]/_components/PrintDiagrams.tsx
index cd22da9..7fdf77b 100644
--- a/pitch-deck/app/pitch-print/[versionId]/_components/PrintDiagrams.tsx
+++ b/pitch-deck/app/pitch-print/[versionId]/_components/PrintDiagrams.tsx
@@ -127,59 +127,61 @@ export function ArchitectureDiagram({
   lang: 'de' | 'en'
 }) {
   const de = lang === 'de'
+  const MONO = "'JetBrains Mono', ui-monospace, monospace"
+
+  /** Layer pill: "01 · APPLICATION LAYER" + sub-label */
+  const LayerChip = ({ n, label, sub, tint }: { n: string; label: string; sub: string; tint: string }) => (
+    <div style={{ display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', gap: '4mm', marginBottom: '3mm' }}>
+      <span style={{ fontFamily: MONO, fontSize: '7.5pt', fontWeight: 700, color: tint, textTransform: 'uppercase', letterSpacing: '0.2em', background: '#ffffff', padding: '1.5mm 4mm', borderRadius: '99pt', border: `1px solid ${tint}55`, WebkitPrintColorAdjust: 'exact', printColorAdjust: 'exact' }}>{n} &middot; {label}</span>
+      <span style={{ fontSize: '8.5pt', color: COLORS.slate600, fontStyle: 'italic' }}>{sub}</span>
+    </div>
+  )
+
+  const productLayerBg = `linear-gradient(135deg, ${COLORS.violet50} 0%, #ffffff 50%, ${COLORS.violet50} 100%)`
+  const proxyLayerBg = `linear-gradient(135deg, ${COLORS.amber50} 0%, #fffaf0 50%, ${COLORS.amber50} 100%)`
+
   return (
-    <div style={{ display: 'flex', flexDirection: 'column' }}>
-      {/* PRODUCT TIER */}
-      <div style={{ marginBottom: '2mm' }}>
-        <div style={{ fontSize: '7pt', fontWeight: 700, color: COLORS.slate500, textTransform: 'uppercase', letterSpacing: '0.14em', marginBottom: '2mm' }}>{de ? 'Produkt-Schicht' : 'Product Tier'}</div>
+    <div style={{ display: 'flex', flexDirection: 'column', gap: '2mm' }}>
+      {/* APPLICATION (PRODUCT) LAYER */}
+      <div style={{ background: productLayerBg, border: `1px solid ${COLORS.violet200}`, borderRadius: '4pt', padding: '4mm 5mm', WebkitPrintColorAdjust: 'exact', printColorAdjust: 'exact' }}>
+        <LayerChip n="01" label={de ? 'Application Layer' : 'Application Layer'} sub={de ? 'Kundenseitige Services' : 'User-facing services'} tint={COLORS.violet600} />
         <div style={{ display: 'grid', gridTemplateColumns: 'repeat(3, 1fr)', gap: '4mm' }}>
           {product.map((p, i) => (
-            <FlowNode key={i} kicker={p.kicker} title={p.title} subtitle={p.subtitle} items={p.services} accent={COLORS.indigo600} footer={p.tech} />
+            <FlowNode key={i} kicker={p.kicker} title={p.title} subtitle={p.subtitle} items={p.services} accent={COLORS.violet600} footer={p.tech} />
           ))}
         </div>
       </div>
 
-      {/* Down arrows between product and proxy */}
-      <div style={{ display: 'grid', gridTemplateColumns: 'repeat(3, 1fr)', gap: '4mm', marginBottom: '1mm' }}>
-        {[0, 1, 2].map(i => <VArrow key={i} color={COLORS.indigo500} />)}
+      {/* connectors */}
+      <div style={{ display: 'grid', gridTemplateColumns: 'repeat(3, 1fr)', gap: '4mm', padding: '0 5mm' }}>
+        {[0, 1, 2].map(i => <VArrow key={i} color={COLORS.violet500} />)}
       </div>
 
-      {/* PROXY */}
-      <div style={{ marginBottom: '1mm' }}>
-        <div style={{
-          border: `1.5px solid ${COLORS.amber600}`,
-          borderTop: `3px solid ${COLORS.amber600}`,
-          background: COLORS.amber50,
-          padding: '3mm 5mm',
-          WebkitPrintColorAdjust: 'exact',
-          printColorAdjust: 'exact',
-        }}>
-          <div style={{ display: 'flex', alignItems: 'baseline', justifyContent: 'space-between', marginBottom: '2mm' }}>
-            <div>
-              <span style={{ fontSize: '6.5pt', fontWeight: 700, color: COLORS.amber700, textTransform: 'uppercase', letterSpacing: '0.14em', marginRight: '3mm' }}>{de ? 'Gateway' : 'Gateway'}</span>
-              <span style={{ fontSize: '12pt', fontWeight: 800, color: COLORS.slate900 }}>{proxy.title}</span>
-              <span style={{ fontSize: '8.5pt', color: COLORS.amber700, marginLeft: '3mm', fontWeight: 600 }}>{proxy.subtitle}</span>
-            </div>
-          </div>
-          <div style={{ display: 'grid', gridTemplateColumns: 'repeat(5, 1fr)', gap: '3mm', fontSize: '7.5pt', color: COLORS.slate700 }}>
-            {proxy.features.map((f, i) => (
-              <div key={i} style={{ paddingLeft: '2mm', borderLeft: `1px solid ${COLORS.amber600}`, lineHeight: 1.3 }}>{f}</div>
-            ))}
-          </div>
+      {/* GATEWAY LAYER */}
+      <div style={{ background: proxyLayerBg, border: `1.5px solid ${COLORS.amber600}`, borderRadius: '4pt', padding: '4mm 5mm', WebkitPrintColorAdjust: 'exact', printColorAdjust: 'exact' }}>
+        <LayerChip n="02" label={de ? 'Gateway Layer' : 'Gateway Layer'} sub={de ? 'Routing & Guardrails' : 'Routing & guardrails'} tint={COLORS.amber700} />
+        <div style={{ display: 'flex', alignItems: 'baseline', gap: '4mm', marginBottom: '3mm' }}>
+          <span style={{ fontSize: '13pt', fontWeight: 800, color: COLORS.slate900, letterSpacing: '-0.005em' }}>{proxy.title}</span>
+          <span style={{ fontFamily: MONO, fontSize: '7.5pt', color: COLORS.amber700, fontWeight: 600, letterSpacing: '0.04em' }}>{proxy.subtitle}</span>
+        </div>
+        <div style={{ display: 'grid', gridTemplateColumns: 'repeat(5, 1fr)', gap: '3mm', fontSize: '7.5pt', color: COLORS.slate700 }}>
+          {proxy.features.map((f, i) => (
+            <div key={i} style={{ paddingLeft: '2mm', borderLeft: `1px solid ${COLORS.amber600}`, lineHeight: 1.35 }}>{f}</div>
+          ))}
         </div>
       </div>
 
-      {/* Down arrows between proxy and inference */}
-      <div style={{ display: 'grid', gridTemplateColumns: 'repeat(3, 1fr)', gap: '4mm', marginBottom: '1mm' }}>
+      {/* connectors */}
+      <div style={{ display: 'grid', gridTemplateColumns: 'repeat(3, 1fr)', gap: '4mm', padding: '0 5mm' }}>
         {[0, 1, 2].map(i => <VArrow key={i} color={COLORS.amber600} />)}
       </div>
 
-      {/* INFERENCE TIER */}
-      <div>
-        <div style={{ fontSize: '7pt', fontWeight: 700, color: COLORS.slate500, textTransform: 'uppercase', letterSpacing: '0.14em', marginBottom: '2mm' }}>{de ? 'Inferenz-Schicht (lokal, air-gap-fähig)' : 'Inference Tier (local, air-gap capable)'}</div>
+      {/* INFRASTRUCTURE (INFERENCE) LAYER */}
+      <div style={{ background: productLayerBg, border: `1px solid ${COLORS.violet200}`, borderRadius: '4pt', padding: '4mm 5mm', WebkitPrintColorAdjust: 'exact', printColorAdjust: 'exact' }}>
+        <LayerChip n="03" label={de ? 'Infrastructure Layer' : 'Infrastructure Layer'} sub={de ? 'Compute & Daten · lokal · air-gap-fähig' : 'Compute & data · local · air-gap capable'} tint={COLORS.violet600} />
         <div style={{ display: 'grid', gridTemplateColumns: 'repeat(3, 1fr)', gap: '4mm' }}>
           {inference.map((p, i) => (
-            <FlowNode key={i} title={p.title} subtitle={p.subtitle} items={[p.desc]} accent={COLORS.slate700} footer={p.tech} />
+            <FlowNode key={i} title={p.title} subtitle={p.subtitle} items={[p.desc]} accent={COLORS.violet500} footer={p.tech} />
           ))}
         </div>
       </div>
diff --git a/pitch-deck/app/pitch-print/[versionId]/_components/PrintFinancialSlides.tsx b/pitch-deck/app/pitch-print/[versionId]/_components/PrintFinancialSlides.tsx
index 20a0f1a..af5f00a 100644
--- a/pitch-deck/app/pitch-print/[versionId]/_components/PrintFinancialSlides.tsx
+++ b/pitch-deck/app/pitch-print/[versionId]/_components/PrintFinancialSlides.tsx
@@ -219,21 +219,27 @@ export function PrintAssumptionsPage({ assumptions, lang, pageNum, totalPages, v
   }, {})
   const categories = Object.entries(byCategory)
 
+  const MONO = "'JetBrains Mono', ui-monospace, monospace"
   return (
-    <Page kicker="18" section={de ? 'ANHANG · ANNAHMEN' : 'APPENDIX · ASSUMPTIONS'} title={de ? 'Skalare Annahmen, Base-Case-Szenario.' : 'Scalar assumptions, base-case scenario.'} subtitle={de ? 'Alle Treibervariablen aus den fp_assumptions-Tabellen. Drei Szenarien (Best/Base/Worst) für Sensitivitätsanalyse verfügbar.' : 'All driver variables from the fp_assumptions tables. Three scenarios (best/base/worst) available for sensitivity analysis.'} pageNum={pageNum} totalPages={totalPages} versionName={versionName}>
+    <Page kicker="18" section={de ? 'ANHANG · ANNAHMEN' : 'APPENDIX · ASSUMPTIONS'} title={de ? 'Treibervariablen des Finanzplans.' : 'Financial plan driver variables.'} subtitle={de ? 'Die Annahmen hinter dem Base-Case. Drei Szenarien (Best/Base/Worst) für Sensitivitätsanalyse verfügbar; Base-Case ist absichtlich konservativ angesetzt.' : 'The assumptions behind the base case. Three scenarios (best/base/worst) available for sensitivity analysis; base case is deliberately conservative.'} pageNum={pageNum} totalPages={totalPages} versionName={versionName}>
 
-      <div style={{ display: 'grid', gridTemplateColumns: '1fr 1fr', gap: '8mm', flex: 1, minHeight: 0 }}>
-        {categories.slice(0, 6).map(([cat, items]) => (
-          <div key={cat}>
-            <div style={{ fontSize: '8pt', fontWeight: 700, color: COLORS.indigo600, textTransform: 'uppercase', letterSpacing: '0.1em', borderBottom: `1px solid ${COLORS.indigo600}`, paddingBottom: '1mm', marginBottom: '2mm' }}>{cat}</div>
-            <table style={{ width: '100%', borderCollapse: 'collapse', fontSize: '8pt', fontVariantNumeric: 'tabular-nums' }}>
+      {/* Visual category cards: each category as a violet-bordered panel with
+          its assumptions laid out as a clean two-col list. */}
+      <div style={{ display: 'grid', gridTemplateColumns: '1fr 1fr', gridAutoRows: 'min-content', gap: '5mm', flex: 1, minHeight: 0, alignContent: 'start' }}>
+        {categories.slice(0, 6).map(([cat, items], i) => (
+          <div key={cat} style={{ border: `1px solid ${COLORS.slate200}`, borderTop: `3px solid ${COLORS.violet600}`, background: '#ffffff', padding: '3.5mm 5mm', WebkitPrintColorAdjust: 'exact', printColorAdjust: 'exact' }}>
+            <div style={{ display: 'flex', alignItems: 'baseline', justifyContent: 'space-between', marginBottom: '2.5mm' }}>
+              <span style={{ fontFamily: MONO, fontSize: '7.5pt', fontWeight: 700, color: COLORS.violet700, textTransform: 'uppercase', letterSpacing: '0.18em' }}>{cat}</span>
+              <span style={{ fontFamily: MONO, fontSize: '6.5pt', color: COLORS.slate400, fontVariantNumeric: 'tabular-nums' }}>{String(i + 1).padStart(2, '0')} · {items.length} {de ? 'Variablen' : 'variables'}</span>
+            </div>
+            <table style={{ width: '100%', borderCollapse: 'collapse', fontSize: '8.5pt', fontVariantNumeric: 'tabular-nums' }}>
               <tbody>
-                {items.map(a => (
-                  <tr key={a.key}>
+                {items.map((a, j) => (
+                  <tr key={a.key} style={{ borderTop: j > 0 ? `1px solid ${COLORS.slate100}` : 'none' }}>
                     <td style={{ padding: '1.5mm 0', color: COLORS.slate700, paddingRight: '4mm', lineHeight: 1.35 }}>{de ? a.label_de : a.label_en}</td>
                     <td style={{ padding: '1.5mm 0', textAlign: 'right', fontWeight: 700, color: COLORS.slate900, whiteSpace: 'nowrap' }}>
                       {typeof a.value === 'number' ? a.value.toLocaleString('de-DE') : String(a.value)}
-                      {a.unit && <span style={{ color: COLORS.slate500, marginLeft: '1mm', fontWeight: 400, fontSize: '7pt' }}>{a.unit}</span>}
+                      {a.unit && <span style={{ fontFamily: MONO, color: COLORS.slate500, marginLeft: '1.5mm', fontWeight: 400, fontSize: '7pt' }}>{a.unit}</span>}
                     </td>
                   </tr>
                 ))}
@@ -243,11 +249,11 @@ export function PrintAssumptionsPage({ assumptions, lang, pageNum, totalPages, v
         ))}
       </div>
 
-      <div style={{ marginTop: '4mm', flexShrink: 0 }}>
-        <Callout tone="accent" label={de ? 'Sensitivität' : 'Sensitivity'}>
+      <div style={{ marginTop: '5mm', flexShrink: 0 }}>
+        <Callout tone="accent" label={de ? 'Sensitivität · Drei Szenarien' : 'Sensitivity · Three Scenarios'}>
           {de
-            ? 'Drei Szenarien, Best/Base/Worst, variieren um Wachstumsrate, Churn, ARPU und CAC. Sensitivitäts-Tornado verfügbar im Live-Modell. Base-Case ist absichtlich konservativ angesetzt.'
-            : 'Three scenarios, best/base/worst, vary growth rate, churn, ARPU and CAC. Sensitivity tornado available in live model. Base case is deliberately conservative.'}
+            ? 'Best, Base und Worst Case variieren die kritischen Treiber (Wachstumsrate, Churn, ARPU, CAC). Sensitivitäts-Tornado verfügbar im Live-Modell. Der Base-Case ist absichtlich konservativ — Worst Case noch 8 Monate Runway, Best Case Break-Even 6 Monate früher.'
+            : 'Best, base and worst case vary the critical drivers (growth rate, churn, ARPU, CAC). Sensitivity tornado available in the live model. The base case is deliberately conservative — worst case still gives 8 months runway, best case breaks even 6 months earlier.'}
         </Callout>
       </div>
     </Page>
diff --git a/pitch-deck/app/pitch-print/[versionId]/_components/PrintIntroSlides.tsx b/pitch-deck/app/pitch-print/[versionId]/_components/PrintIntroSlides.tsx
index 4db6990..eb531c7 100644
--- a/pitch-deck/app/pitch-print/[versionId]/_components/PrintIntroSlides.tsx
+++ b/pitch-deck/app/pitch-print/[versionId]/_components/PrintIntroSlides.tsx
@@ -450,7 +450,7 @@ const DE_PILLARS = [
       'BSI C5 zertifizierte Cloud-Hoster in DE und FR',
       'Self-Hosted Matrix (Chat) + Jitsi (Video) für Support-Calls',
       'Lokale LLM-Inferenz (Qwen3, DeepSeek) — air-gap-fähig',
-      'Optional: Mac Mini/Studio on-premise für Kleinstunternehmen',
+      'Optional: Mac Mini/Studio on-premise für Kleinunternehmen',
       'Vault, Keycloak, OPA für Secrets, SSO, Policies',
     ] },
 ]
diff --git a/pitch-deck/app/pitch-print/[versionId]/_components/PrintProductSlides.tsx b/pitch-deck/app/pitch-print/[versionId]/_components/PrintProductSlides.tsx
index 959382c..3baae15 100644
--- a/pitch-deck/app/pitch-print/[versionId]/_components/PrintProductSlides.tsx
+++ b/pitch-deck/app/pitch-print/[versionId]/_components/PrintProductSlides.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { Language, PitchProduct } from '@/lib/types'
 import { Page, Bullets, Callout, COLORS, DataTable, StatLine } from './PrintLayout'
-import { StepStrip, LoopDiagram } from './PrintDiagrams'
+import { LoopDiagram } from './PrintDiagrams'
 import { getDetails } from '@/components/slides/USPSlide.data'
 import {
   ScanLine, ShieldCheck, FileText, ClipboardCheck, Users, UserCheck,
@@ -26,28 +26,31 @@ export function PrintUSPPage1({ lang, pageNum, totalPages, versionName }: SlideB
   return (
     <Page kicker="05" section={de ? 'USP · 1 / 2' : 'USP · 1 / 2'} title={de ? 'Compliance ↔ Code, immer in Sync.' : 'Compliance ↔ Code, always in sync.'} subtitle={de ? 'Vier Säulen, die kein anderer Anbieter geschlossen liefert: RFQ-Prüfung, Prozess-Compliance, bidirektionale Sync, kontinuierliche Engine.' : 'Four pillars no other vendor delivers end-to-end: RFQ verification, process compliance, bidirectional sync, continuous engine.'} pageNum={pageNum} totalPages={totalPages} versionName={versionName}>
 
-      <div style={{ display: 'grid', gridTemplateColumns: '1fr 1fr', gap: '6mm', flex: 1, minHeight: 0 }}>
+      <div style={{ display: 'grid', gridTemplateColumns: '1fr 1fr', gap: '5mm', flex: 1, minHeight: 0 }}>
         {pillars.map((k, i) => {
           const p = d[k]
           const Icon = USP_ICON[k]
           return (
-            <div key={k} style={{ border: `1px solid ${COLORS.slate200}`, borderTop: `3px solid ${COLORS.indigo600}`, padding: '4mm 5mm', display: 'flex', flexDirection: 'column', minHeight: 0, WebkitPrintColorAdjust: 'exact', printColorAdjust: 'exact' }}>
-              <div style={{ display: 'flex', alignItems: 'flex-start', justifyContent: 'space-between', marginBottom: '2mm' }}>
-                <div style={{ width: '12mm', height: '12mm', background: COLORS.indigo50, display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', justifyContent: 'center', color: COLORS.indigo600, WebkitPrintColorAdjust: 'exact', printColorAdjust: 'exact' }}>
-                  {Icon && <Icon size={26} strokeWidth={1.5} />}
+            <div key={k} style={{ border: `1px solid ${COLORS.slate200}`, borderTop: `3px solid ${COLORS.violet600}`, padding: '3mm 4mm', display: 'flex', flexDirection: 'column', minHeight: 0, overflow: 'hidden', WebkitPrintColorAdjust: 'exact', printColorAdjust: 'exact' }}>
+              {/* Header: icon + title inline, kicker top-right */}
+              <div style={{ display: 'flex', alignItems: 'flex-start', gap: '3mm', marginBottom: '2mm' }}>
+                <div style={{ width: '9mm', height: '9mm', flexShrink: 0, background: COLORS.violet50, display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', justifyContent: 'center', color: COLORS.violet600, borderRadius: '2pt', WebkitPrintColorAdjust: 'exact', printColorAdjust: 'exact' }}>
+                  {Icon && <Icon size={18} strokeWidth={1.5} />}
                 </div>
-                <div style={{ textAlign: 'right' }}>
-                  <div style={{ fontSize: '7pt', fontWeight: 700, color: COLORS.indigo600, textTransform: 'uppercase', letterSpacing: '0.12em' }}>{p.kicker}</div>
-                  <div style={{ fontSize: '7pt', color: COLORS.slate400, fontVariantNumeric: 'tabular-nums', marginTop: '1mm' }}>{String(i + 1).padStart(2, '0')} / 04</div>
+                <div style={{ flex: 1, minWidth: 0 }}>
+                  <div style={{ display: 'flex', alignItems: 'baseline', justifyContent: 'space-between', gap: '2mm' }}>
+                    <span style={{ fontFamily: "'JetBrains Mono', ui-monospace, monospace", fontSize: '6.5pt', fontWeight: 700, color: COLORS.violet600, textTransform: 'uppercase', letterSpacing: '0.16em' }}>{p.kicker}</span>
+                    <span style={{ fontFamily: "'JetBrains Mono', ui-monospace, monospace", fontSize: '6.5pt', color: COLORS.slate400, fontVariantNumeric: 'tabular-nums' }}>{String(i + 1).padStart(2, '0')} / 04</span>
+                  </div>
+                  <div style={{ fontSize: '12pt', fontWeight: 700, color: COLORS.slate900, lineHeight: 1.15, letterSpacing: '-0.005em', marginTop: '1mm' }}>{p.title}</div>
                 </div>
               </div>
-              <div style={{ fontSize: '13pt', fontWeight: 700, color: COLORS.slate900, lineHeight: 1.2, letterSpacing: '-0.005em', marginBottom: '3mm', marginTop: '1mm' }}>{p.title}</div>
-              <div style={{ fontSize: '8.5pt', color: COLORS.slate700, lineHeight: 1.5, marginBottom: '3mm' }}>{p.body}</div>
+              <div style={{ fontSize: '8pt', color: COLORS.slate700, lineHeight: 1.45, marginBottom: '2mm' }}>{p.body}</div>
               {p.bullets && <Bullets dense items={p.bullets} />}
               {p.stat && (
-                <div style={{ marginTop: 'auto', paddingTop: '3mm', borderTop: `1px solid ${COLORS.slate200}`, display: 'flex', alignItems: 'baseline', justifyContent: 'space-between' }}>
-                  <span style={{ fontSize: '7.5pt', color: COLORS.slate500, textTransform: 'uppercase', letterSpacing: '0.08em', fontWeight: 600 }}>{p.stat.k}</span>
-                  <span style={{ fontSize: '12pt', fontWeight: 800, color: COLORS.emerald700, fontVariantNumeric: 'tabular-nums' }}>{p.stat.v}</span>
+                <div style={{ marginTop: 'auto', paddingTop: '2mm', borderTop: `1px solid ${COLORS.slate200}`, display: 'flex', alignItems: 'baseline', justifyContent: 'space-between', gap: '3mm' }}>
+                  <span style={{ fontFamily: "'JetBrains Mono', ui-monospace, monospace", fontSize: '6.5pt', color: COLORS.slate500, textTransform: 'uppercase', letterSpacing: '0.12em', fontWeight: 700 }}>{p.stat.k}</span>
+                  <span style={{ fontSize: '11pt', fontWeight: 800, color: COLORS.emerald700, fontVariantNumeric: 'tabular-nums', whiteSpace: 'nowrap' }}>{p.stat.v}</span>
                 </div>
               )}
             </div>
@@ -86,14 +89,21 @@ export function PrintUSPPage2({ lang, pageNum, totalPages, versionName }: SlideB
         })}
       </div>
 
-      <div style={{ marginTop: '5mm', border: `1px solid ${COLORS.indigo600}`, background: COLORS.indigo50, padding: '4mm 5mm', WebkitPrintColorAdjust: 'exact', printColorAdjust: 'exact' }}>
-        <div style={{ display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', gap: '3mm', marginBottom: '2mm' }}>
-          <Infinity size={20} strokeWidth={1.5} color={COLORS.indigo700} />
-          <span style={{ fontSize: '7.5pt', fontWeight: 700, color: COLORS.indigo700, textTransform: 'uppercase', letterSpacing: '0.14em' }}>{de ? 'Die Schleife' : 'The Loop'}</span>
+      {/* Closing loop: violet-tinted hero panel with the diagram on the right */}
+      <div style={{ marginTop: '6mm', border: `1px solid ${COLORS.violet300}`, background: `linear-gradient(135deg, ${COLORS.violet50} 0%, #ffffff 50%, ${COLORS.violet50} 100%)`, borderRadius: '3pt', padding: '5mm 6mm', WebkitPrintColorAdjust: 'exact', printColorAdjust: 'exact', display: 'grid', gridTemplateColumns: '1fr 1.2fr', gap: '6mm', alignItems: 'center' }}>
+        <div>
+          <div style={{ display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', gap: '3mm', marginBottom: '3mm' }}>
+            <div style={{ width: '10mm', height: '10mm', borderRadius: '50%', background: COLORS.violet600, color: '#ffffff', display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', justifyContent: 'center', WebkitPrintColorAdjust: 'exact', printColorAdjust: 'exact' }}>
+              <Infinity size={18} strokeWidth={2} />
+            </div>
+            <span style={{ fontFamily: "'JetBrains Mono', ui-monospace, monospace", fontSize: '7.5pt', fontWeight: 700, color: COLORS.violet700, textTransform: 'uppercase', letterSpacing: '0.2em' }}>{de ? 'Die Schleife · Always in Sync' : 'The Loop · Always in Sync'}</span>
+          </div>
+          <div style={{ fontSize: '14pt', fontWeight: 800, color: COLORS.slate900, marginBottom: '2mm', lineHeight: 1.15, letterSpacing: '-0.01em' }}>{d.hub.title}</div>
+          <div style={{ fontSize: '8.5pt', color: COLORS.slate700, lineHeight: 1.55 }}>{d.hub.body}</div>
+        </div>
+        <div style={{ background: '#ffffff', border: `1px solid ${COLORS.violet200}`, borderRadius: '3pt', padding: '3mm 4mm', WebkitPrintColorAdjust: 'exact', printColorAdjust: 'exact' }}>
+          <LoopDiagram lang={lang} />
         </div>
-        <div style={{ fontSize: '11pt', fontWeight: 700, color: COLORS.slate900, marginBottom: '2mm' }}>{d.hub.title}</div>
-        <div style={{ fontSize: '8.5pt', color: COLORS.slate700, lineHeight: 1.5, marginBottom: '3mm' }}>{d.hub.body}</div>
-        <LoopDiagram lang={lang} />
       </div>
     </Page>
   )
@@ -252,7 +262,7 @@ export function PrintProductPage({ products, lang, pageNum, totalPages, versionN
       <div style={{ marginTop: '4mm', flexShrink: 0 }}>
         <Callout tone="positive" label={de ? 'Pricing-Logik' : 'Pricing logic'}>
           {de
-            ? 'Starter <10 MA: 3.600 €/J · Professional 10–250: 15–40k €/J · Enterprise 250+: ab 50k €/J. Mitarbeiterbasiert. Standard: BSI-Cloud DE. Optional: Mac Mini/Studio für absolute Privacy bei Kleinstunternehmen.'
+            ? 'Starter <10 MA: 3.600 €/J · Professional 10–250: 15–40k €/J · Enterprise 250+: ab 50k €/J. Mitarbeiterbasiert. Standard: BSI-Cloud DE. Optional: Mac Mini/Studio für absolute Privacy bei Kleinunternehmen.'
             : 'Starter <10 emp: €3,600/yr · Professional 10–250: €15–40k/yr · Enterprise 250+: from €50k/yr. Employee-based. Standard: BSI cloud DE. Optional: Mac Mini/Studio for absolute privacy for micro businesses.'}
         </Callout>
       </div>
@@ -275,22 +285,62 @@ const STEPS_EN = [
   { n: '04', t: 'Prepare for audit', d: 'All evidence, documents and risk assessments at the push of a button. Post-audit deviations automatically tracked, deadlines, tickets, escalation.' },
 ]
 
+const TIMELINE_DAYS_DE = ['Tag 0', 'Tag 3', 'Tag 7', 'Tag 14', 'Tag 30']
+const TIMELINE_DAYS_EN = ['Day 0', 'Day 3', 'Day 7', 'Day 14', 'Day 30']
+const TIMELINE_LABELS_DE = ['Vertrag', 'Onboarding-Call', 'Repos angebunden', 'VVT/TOMs auto', 'audit-ready']
+const TIMELINE_LABELS_EN = ['Contract', 'Onboarding call', 'Repos connected', 'RoPA/TOMs auto', 'audit-ready']
+
 export function PrintHowItWorksPage({ lang, pageNum, totalPages, versionName }: SlideBase) {
   const de = lang === 'de'
   const steps = de ? STEPS_DE : STEPS_EN
+  const days = de ? TIMELINE_DAYS_DE : TIMELINE_DAYS_EN
+  const labels = de ? TIMELINE_LABELS_DE : TIMELINE_LABELS_EN
+  const MONO = "'JetBrains Mono', ui-monospace, monospace"
+
   return (
     <Page kicker="08" section={de ? 'SO FUNKTIONIERT\'S' : 'HOW IT WORKS'} title={de ? 'In 4 Schritten zur kontinuierlichen Compliance.' : 'Continuous compliance in 4 steps.'} subtitle={de ? 'Vom Vertrag bis zur Audit-Bereitschaft in der Regel <30 Tage. Kein Excel, kein Pentest-Vendor, keine manuelle Dokumentenpflege.' : 'From contract to audit-ready typically in <30 days. No Excel, no pentest vendor, no manual document maintenance.'} pageNum={pageNum} totalPages={totalPages} versionName={versionName}>
 
-      <div style={{ flex: 1, minHeight: 0, display: 'flex', alignItems: 'stretch' }}>
-        <StepStrip steps={steps} />
+      {/* 4-step rail: numbered violet circles on a horizontal connector line,
+          title + body underneath each. Replaces the floating-arrow StepStrip. */}
+      <div style={{ position: 'relative', marginTop: '4mm', flexShrink: 0 }}>
+        {/* connector line (behind the circles) */}
+        <div style={{ position: 'absolute', top: '7mm', left: '7mm', right: '7mm', height: '2px', background: `linear-gradient(90deg, ${COLORS.violet600} 0%, ${COLORS.violet400} 100%)`, opacity: 0.85, WebkitPrintColorAdjust: 'exact', printColorAdjust: 'exact' }} />
+        <div style={{ position: 'relative', display: 'grid', gridTemplateColumns: 'repeat(4, 1fr)', gap: '5mm' }}>
+          {steps.map((s, i) => (
+            <div key={i} style={{ display: 'flex', flexDirection: 'column', alignItems: 'flex-start' }}>
+              {/* number circle on the rail */}
+              <div style={{ width: '14mm', height: '14mm', borderRadius: '50%', background: COLORS.violet600, color: '#ffffff', display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', justifyContent: 'center', fontSize: '14pt', fontWeight: 800, letterSpacing: '-0.01em', boxShadow: `0 0 0 4px ${COLORS.violet50}`, WebkitPrintColorAdjust: 'exact', printColorAdjust: 'exact' }}>{s.n}</div>
+              <div style={{ marginTop: '3mm', fontSize: '12pt', fontWeight: 700, color: COLORS.slate900, lineHeight: 1.15, letterSpacing: '-0.005em' }}>{s.t}</div>
+              <div style={{ marginTop: '2mm', fontSize: '8.5pt', color: COLORS.slate700, lineHeight: 1.5 }}>{s.d}</div>
+            </div>
+          ))}
+        </div>
       </div>
 
-      <div style={{ marginTop: '6mm', flexShrink: 0 }}>
-        <Callout tone="accent" label={de ? 'Typische Time-to-Value' : 'Typical time-to-value'}>
-          {de
-            ? 'Tag 0: Vertrag · Tag 3: Onboarding-Call · Tag 7: erste Repos angebunden · Tag 14: erste automatische VVT/TOMs · Tag 30: audit-ready Status erreicht.'
-            : 'Day 0: contract · Day 3: onboarding call · Day 7: first repos connected · Day 14: first automated RoPA/TOMs · Day 30: audit-ready status achieved.'}
-        </Callout>
+      {/* Fill space between steps and footer with a visual timeline */}
+      <div style={{ flex: 1 }} />
+
+      <div style={{ flexShrink: 0, marginBottom: '2mm' }}>
+        <div style={{ fontFamily: MONO, fontSize: '7.5pt', fontWeight: 700, color: COLORS.violet600, textTransform: 'uppercase', letterSpacing: '0.18em', marginBottom: '4mm' }}>
+          {de ? 'Time-to-Value · Median 14 Tage · Worst Case 28 Tage' : 'Time-to-Value · Median 14 days · Worst case 28 days'}
+        </div>
+        {/* dotted timeline with 5 day markers */}
+        <div style={{ position: 'relative', height: '14mm' }}>
+          {/* the rail */}
+          <div style={{ position: 'absolute', left: '7mm', right: '7mm', top: '5mm', height: '1.5px', background: `repeating-linear-gradient(90deg, ${COLORS.violet400} 0, ${COLORS.violet400} 2mm, transparent 2mm, transparent 4mm)`, WebkitPrintColorAdjust: 'exact', printColorAdjust: 'exact' }} />
+          <div style={{ display: 'grid', gridTemplateColumns: 'repeat(5, 1fr)', height: '100%' }}>
+            {days.map((d, i) => (
+              <div key={i} style={{ display: 'flex', flexDirection: 'column', alignItems: 'center', position: 'relative' }}>
+                {/* day marker pill */}
+                <div style={{ fontFamily: MONO, fontSize: '7pt', fontWeight: 700, color: COLORS.violet700, background: COLORS.violet50, padding: '1mm 3mm', borderRadius: '99pt', border: `1px solid ${COLORS.violet300}`, WebkitPrintColorAdjust: 'exact', printColorAdjust: 'exact' }}>{d}</div>
+                {/* dot on rail */}
+                <div style={{ width: '3mm', height: '3mm', borderRadius: '50%', background: COLORS.violet600, marginTop: '1mm', WebkitPrintColorAdjust: 'exact', printColorAdjust: 'exact' }} />
+                {/* label below */}
+                <div style={{ marginTop: '2mm', fontSize: '7.5pt', color: COLORS.slate700, textAlign: 'center', fontWeight: 600 }}>{labels[i]}</div>
+              </div>
+            ))}
+          </div>
+        </div>
       </div>
     </Page>
   )