Munich, Mon, 28 Sep - Wed, 30 Sep, 2026
Where Founders build networks
Bits & Pretzels hosts 7,500 founders, investors, and industry leaders for three days full of learning, networking, and doing business during Munich Oktoberfest.
Europe’s most unique
Founders Conference
DAY 1 + 2
Conference
Two days filled with networking, masterclasses and a highly curated speaker line-up, providing you the resources for growth.
Limited to 7,500 awesome attendees
Curated founder-investor ratio of 2 to 1
21,000 real founder-investor meetings
600+ enterprise decision makers with €50m+ revenue
DAY 3
Oktoberfest
Doing business at the Munich Oktoberfest sounds crazy? It is – but the most unique networking experience you’ll ever make!
The entire startup scene in one tent at the real Oktoberfest
250+ Table Captains: industry experts hosting a table
2 guarantied meeting session for every attendee
1 experience we even cannot describe
The busiest people of the ecosystem come year over year
In an world of 'too many meetings,' Bits & Pretzels is the date the heavyweights refuse to miss. It simply is too efficient because everybody is there. Check out some of our regular guests.
3,000+
Founders
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1,700+
Investors
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600+ Corporate Decision-Makers
Network
Harder
Your network isn't built from your office
Bits & Pretzels exists to give founders the network they need. Your network is the supercharger for your ambition. It opens doors that will save you more time, money, and effort than you ever imagined.
Grow
Faster
How we help you
meet the right people
Whether you're looking to scale, fund, or partner - our tailored formats are designed to maximize your ROI. Explore the tracks below to find the perfect fit for your goals and see exactly what’s in it for you.
Tell us who you are
Startup
Select your goal
Table Captain Networking
What is it?
Table Captain Networking is a format happening on day 3 at the real Oktoberfest. 270+ Table Captains - handpicked tech founders, investors, and executives - host tables that seven attendees can join.
How does it help you get funding
You are selecting whose table you want to join before the event. Simply bypass formal emails by selecting the investors you want to meet. This is your chance to get to know them in a unique setting.
Learn more
Startup Exhibition
What is it?
In the Startup Exhibition startups are showcasing their innovations at their own booth. A total of 250 companies is exhibiting throughout the venue.
How does it help you get funding
Your chance to meet influential decision-makers who possess the capital to fuel your next stage of growth. These interactions provide the traction and professional connections necessary to secure investment for your startup.
Learn more
Speeddating
What is it?
First Investment Speed Dating is an organized event featuring a series of rapid-fire, face-to-face introductions with curated investors. This format allows you to immediately pitch your core value and gauge interest from multiple potential backers in a single session.
How does it help you get funding
This session helps you efficiently filter investment options by identifying which investors align with your specific stage and industry. It serves as a high-speed engine for building a volume of warm leads for more intensive follow-up discussions.
Side Events
What is it?
Side Events are curated off-site activities ranging from intimate founder runs and power lunches to exclusive dinners and mixers held throughout the city. These gatherings provide a relaxed environment for attendees to immerse themselves in the startup community outside the formal agenda.
How does it help you get funding
These events facilitate direct, casual interactions with fellow entrepreneurs and potential investors away from the conference floor. Building genuine relationships in these intimate settings creates the foundation of trust needed to secure future capital.
Plattform & App
What is it?
The Bits & Pretzels App and Web Platform is designed to navigate the event ecosystem and connect with the attendees you looking for. This tool provides centralized access to key stakeholders, enabling users to manage their event schedule and interactions directly from their devices.
How does it help you get funding
The platform enables you to filter the crowd and book direct 1:1 meetings with Tier 1 investors. By taking the initiative to secure these sessions, you create the vital connections needed to take your business to the next stage.
Pitch Corner
What is it?
The Pitch Corner is a stage right at center of the exhibition floor. Every entrepreneur can walk up there and deliver 90-second pitch to Bits & Pretzels crowd. Two experts and the audience will give them direct feedback on their presentations.
How does it help you get funding
This platform provides a warm introduction to investors and grants you immediate, sharp feedback from industry experts. It serves as an opportunity to land on the radar of decision-makers and open the door to your next investment round.
Matchmaking Team
What is it?
The Matchmaking Team consists of over 70 experts acting as a support hub for conference attendees. They help you identify key participants and show you how to navigate the event effectively.
How does it help you get funding
The Matchmakers really understand your needs & the startup ecosystem. They help you navigate all features and tools the event provides to find the people that really help your business.
Investors Stage
What is it?
The Investors Stage is a dedicated hub for Tier 1 VCs and LPs to engage in case-based discussions on core fund topics. This center facilitates deep dives into fund construction, LP/GP dynamics, and portfolio scaling.
How does it help you get funding
By opening the Investor Stage to all attendees, you can gain direct insight into the discussions and priorities of Tier 1 VCs and LPs. This access allows you to understand fund dynamics and investment strategies from the perspective of the allocators, helping you better align your own pitch and fundraising approach with market expectations.
Startup Exhibition
What is it?
In the Startup Exhibition startups are showcasing their innovations at their own booth. A total of 250 companies is exhibiting throughout the venue.
How does it help you make people know your company
The exhibition allows you to demonstrate your technology in person to secure pilot projects and strategic co-development deals. This direct interaction builds the necessary trust to convert new introductions into lasting business partnerships.
Learn more
Pitch Corner
What is it?
The Pitch Corner is a stage right at center of the exhibition floor. Every entrepreneur can walk up there and deliver 90-second pitch to Bits & Pretzels crowd. Two experts and the audience will give them direct feedback on their presentations.
How does it help you make people know your company
This icebreaker sparks curiosity among passing attendees who might otherwise overlook your booth. By engaging the crowd directly, you can invite interested prospects back to your space for deeper, more meaningful conversations.
Table Captain Networking
What is it?
Table Captain Networking is a format happening on day 3 at the real Oktoberfest. 270+ Table Captains - handpicked tech founders, investors, and executives - host tables that seven attendees can join.
How does it help you find clients or partners
You bypass formal emails to engage in direct conversations with partners who possess the authority to make deals. This personal approach could lead you to secure new clients and build lasting strategic partnerships.
Learn more
Startup Exhibition
What is it?
In the Startup Exhibition startups are showcasing their innovations at their own booth. A total of 250 companies is exhibiting throughout the venue.
How does it help you find clients or partners
The exhibition allows you to demonstrate your technology in person to secure pilot projects and strategic co-development deals. This direct interaction builds the necessary trust to convert new introductions into lasting business partnerships.
Learn more
Speeddating
What is it?
Speed Dating is a high-frequency networking format where founders and potential corporate clients participate in a series of rapid-fire, face-to-face introductions.
How does it help you find clients or partners
You directly pitch your value proposition to a concentrated group of potential collaborators to identify shared interests and available resources. This process efficiently filters your options and generates a high volume of warm leads for more in-depth follow-up discussions.
Side Events
What is it?
Side Events are curated off-site activities ranging from intimate founder runs and power lunches to exclusive dinners and mixers held throughout the city. These gatherings provide a relaxed environment for attendees to immerse themselves in the startup community outside the formal agenda.
How does it help you find clients or partners
The informal setting facilitates genuine connections and strategic conversations with potential clients and industry partners. By immersing yourself in these shared experiences, you can build the rapport and trust needed to secure future collaborations.
Plattform & App
What is it?
The Bits & Pretzels App and Web Platform is designed to navigate the event ecosystem and connect with the attendees you looking for. This tool provides centralized access to key stakeholders, enabling users to manage their event schedule and interactions directly from their devices.
How does it help you find clients or partners
The platform allows you to filter the attendee list to identify and book 1:1 sessions with the most relevant leads for your specific business goals. By taking the initiative to lock in these high-value meetings, you efficiently secure the partnerships and clients needed to scale to the next stage.
Pitch Corner
What is it?
The Pitch Corner is a stage right at center of the exhibition floor. Every entrepreneur can walk up there and deliver 90-second pitch to Bits & Pretzels crowd. Two experts and the audience will give them direct feedback on their presentations.
How does it help you find clients or partners
This format is your chance to convert passersby into potential clients or partners. By sparking immediate interest, you can transition prospects to your booth for in-depth discussions regarding pilots and scaling.
Partner Exhibition
What is it?
The Partner Exhibition hosts big brands from around the startup ecoxystem. It's the place where scaleups exhibit right next to tech-giants.
How does it help you find clients or partners
Meet companies at their booth and present them your own solutions to their problems. These companies come for the exchange with startups and it's your chance to have meeting after meeting with potential clients.
Matchmaking Team
What is it?
The Matchmaking Team consists of over 70 experts acting as a support hub for conference attendees. They help you identify key participants and show you how to navigate the event effectively.
How does it help you find clients or partners
The Matchmakers really understand your needs & the startup ecosystem. They help you navigate all features and tools the event provides to find the people that really help your business.
Corporate & Startup Collaboration Stage
What is it?
This is a dedicated stage and high-table networking zone designed to connect enterprise-ready AI startups with corporate decision-makers. The setup facilitates immediate interaction with CIOs and accelerators following their presentations.
How does it help you find clients or partners
By providing direct access to leaders who have just shared their specific needs, this space replaces cold outreach with organic, face-to-face dialogue. It allows you to demonstrate how your AI solution addresses their practical business requirements in a professional setting.
CIO & Founder Reception
What is it?
The CIO & Founder Reception is an informal gathering in the CIO Lounge hosted by the Bavarian Minister for Digital Affairs. Startups and CIOs meet in an informal setting over drinks.
How does it help you find clients or partners
This event provides a platform to pitch pilot projects and strategic partnerships directly to key corporate stakeholders. These personal connections are essential for converting big-name organizations into active clients or collaborators.
Table Captain Networking
What is it?
Table Captain Networking is a format happening on day 3 at the real Oktoberfest. 270+ Table Captains - handpicked tech founders, investors, and executives - host tables that seven attendees can join.
How does it help you improve as a founder
You can pressure-test your strategy and gain honest, cross-industry insights from leaders who have already navigated similar challenges. This rare opportunity allows you to learn from the successes and failures of others to grow your leadership skills.
Learn more
Matchmaking Roundtables
What is it?
Roundtables are small, interactive sessions for groups of 10-15 founders and specialists to discuss shared challenges.
How does it help you improve as a founder
You will sit down with peers who are navigating the same hurdles and seeking fresh perspectives. This setting facilitates honest, shared learning that builds meaningful professional relationships through mutual support.
Pitch Corner
What is it?
The Pitch Corner is a stage right at center of the exhibition floor. Every entrepreneur can walk up there and deliver 90-second pitch to Bits & Pretzels crowd. Two experts and the audience will give them direct feedback on their presentations.
How does it help you improve as a founder
You will gain raw, unfiltered feedback from experts to understand exactly which parts of your pitch land effectively. This provides a necessary reality check and sharpens your ability to communicate your vision within a crowded market.
Masterclasses
What is it?
These are 45-minute sessions focusing on solving the most common real-world issues of founders and startups.
How does it help you improve as a founder
You are not alone! Most founders share the same problems and the Masterclasses focus on offering real solutions to those problems. The small group setting ensures your specific questions are answered, helping you with immediately helpful learnings.
Corporate & Startup Collaboration Stage
What is it?
This stage features interactive sessions followed by direct discussions at high tables with CIOs and accelerators. It provides a dedicated environment for founders to investigate how large organizations evaluate and implement new technology.
How does it help you improve as a founder
You will gain the opportunity to ask specific questions about corporate requirements and implementation hurdles. This direct feedback allows you to refine your strategy and ensure your AI solutions are compatible with real-world corporate roadmaps.
Ask me anything
What is it?
These are intimate Q&A sessions held in a dedicated space immediately following speaker presentations. Attendees get direct access to the speakers and can ask questions.
How does it help you improve as a founder
You will gain direct access to tactical advice and personal stories regarding failures that are often omitted from mainstage keynotes. These interactions provide practical, high-level perspectives that you can apply directly to your own startup journey.
Table Captain Networking
What is it?
Table Captain Networking is a format happening on day 3 at the real Oktoberfest. 270+ Table Captains - handpicked tech founders, investors, and executives - host tables that seven attendees can join.
How does it help you grow your investor network
You are selecting whose table you want to join before the event. Simply bypass formal emails by selecting the investors you want to meet. This is your chance to get to know them in a unique setting.
Learn more
Matchmaking Team
What is it?
The Matchmaking Team consists of over 70 experts acting as a support hub for conference attendees. They help you identify key participants and show you how to navigate the event effectively.
How does it help you grow your investor network
The Matchmakers really understand your needs & the startup ecosystem. They help you navigate all features and tools the event provides to find the people that really help your business.
Investors Stage
What is it?
The Investor Stage is a dedicated hub for Tier 1 VCs and LPs to engage in case-based discussions on core fund topics. This center facilitates deep dives into fund construction, LP/GP dynamics, and portfolio scaling.
How does it help you grow your investor network
By opening the Investor Stage to all attendees, you can gain direct insight into the discussions and priorities of Tier 1 VCs and LPs. This access allows you to understand fund dynamics and investment strategies from the perspective of the allocators, helping you better align your own pitch and fundraising approach with market expectations.
Table Captain Networking
What is it?
Table Captain Networking is a format happening on day 3 at the real Oktoberfest. 270+ Table Captains - handpicked tech founders, investors, and executives - host tables that seven attendees can join.
How does it help you find clients or partners
You bypass formal emails to engage in direct conversations with partners who possess the authority to make deals. This personal approach could lead you to secure new clients and build lasting strategic partnerships.
Learn more
Side Events
What is it?
Side Events are curated off-site activities ranging from intimate founder runs and power lunches to exclusive dinners and mixers held throughout the city. These gatherings provide a relaxed environment for attendees to immerse themselves in the startup community outside the formal agenda.
How does it help you find clients or partners
The informal setting facilitates genuine connections and strategic conversations with potential clients and industry partners. By immersing yourself in these shared experiences, you can build the rapport and trust needed to secure future collaborations.
Plattform & App
What is it?
The Bits & Pretzels App and Web Platform is designed to navigate the event ecosystem and connect with the attendees you looking for. This tool provides centralized access to key stakeholders, enabling users to manage their event schedule and interactions directly from their devices.
How does it help you find clients or partners
The app provides direct access to key decision-makers, allowing you to identify and target the most relevant attendees for your business. By securing confirmed meetings in advance, you can efficiently transform potential leads into concrete professional partnerships.
Corporate & Startup Collaboration Stage
What is it?
This stage features high tables where scaleups meet corporate decision-makers, CIOs, and accelerators focused on AI implementation. It facilitates direct Q&A and networking immediately following expert sessions.
How does it help you find clients or partners
This setting allows you to bypass cold outreach by engaging leaders right after they have articulated their specific business needs. You can initiate immediate, relevant conversations about integrating your AI solutions into their operations.
CIO & Founder Reception
What is it?
The CIO & Founder Reception is an informal gathering in the CIO Lounge hosted by the Bavarian Minister for Digital Affairs. Startups and CIOs meet in an informal setting over drinks.
How does it help you find clients or partners
The casual atmosphere removes traditional corporate barriers, allowing you to establish the personal rapport necessary for high-level business. This direct access enables you to propose pilot projects and strategic partnerships to potential big-name collaborators.
Visionaries Stage
What is it?
The Visionaries Stage is an intimate setting designed for an audience of 300 participants. It hosts high-level discussions on transformative technologies and industry-redefining trends to provide actionable insights.
How does it help you connect with other founders
You can join a group of forward-looking peers and industry experts to engage in deep technological discourse. This collaborative environment fosters the exchange of breakthrough expertise needed to drive your next wave of innovation.
Table Captain Networking
What is it?
Table Captain Networking is a format happening on day 3 at the real Oktoberfest. 270+ Table Captains - handpicked tech founders, investors, and executives - host tables that seven attendees can join.
How does it help you connect with other founders
You are selecting whose table you want to join before the event. Simply bypass formal emails by selecting the founders you want to meet. This is your chance to get great mentorship that might save you a lot of time and money.
Learn more
Side Events
What is it?
Side Events are gatherings hosted throughout the city. These informal meetups bring together entrepreneurs and ecosystem leaders in a relaxed atmosphere away from the main stage.
How does it help you connect with other founders
Engaging in shared activities like morning workouts or strategy dinners facilitates genuine conversation and relationship building. This immersive environment allows you to forge deep, lasting connections with peers through authentic social interaction.
Matchmaking Roundtables
What is it?
Roundtables are small, interactive sessions for groups of 10-15 founders and specialists to discuss shared challenges.
How does it help you connect with other founders
You will sit down with peers who are navigating the same hurdles and seeking fresh perspectives. This setting facilitates honest, shared learning that builds meaningful professional relationships through mutual support.
Plattform & App
What is it?
The Bits & Pretzels App and Web Platform is designed to navigate the event ecosystem and connect with the attendees you looking for. This tool provides centralized access to key stakeholders, enabling users to manage their event schedule and interactions directly from their devices.
How does it help you connect with other founders
You can filter for specific expertise and book direct 1:1 meetings with growth-stage peers who have navigated similar scaling hurdles. This targeted approach enables you to initiate the high-value conversations that build a lasting professional network.
LP x Emerging Manager Matchmaking Event
What is it?
This is an invite-only matchmaking event that organizes curated, structured meetings between emerging managers and institutional LPs. The setup provides a professional environment for face-to-face interactions based on your fund's specific stage and sector focus.
How does it help you fundraise & LP Relations
By bypassing traditional gatekeepers, this program streamlines your fundraising process and provides direct access to active investors. This efficiency allows you to focus your efforts on building the essential relationships needed to secure your next fund close.
LP Roundtables
What is it?
This is a curated, off-the-record session for 15 selected individuals led by prominent LPs. The format features a 45-minute peer-level exchange on market realities governed by Chatham House Rules.
How does it help you fundraise & LP Relations
This confidential environment connects you directly with influential allocators away from the typical conference hustle. It fosters deep, authentic relationship building through candid discussions without the pressure of formal pitches or presentations.
Investor Lounge
What is it?
The Investor Lounge is a professional, quiet space tailored for informal catch-ups and coffee breaks between meetings.
How does it help you fundraise & LP Relations
This setting allows you to focus exclusively on building and deepening the LP relationships that drive your fundraising success. By providing a distraction-free venue, it helps you secure the meaningful connections necessary to move your fund forward.
Visionaries Stage
What is it?
The Visionaries Stage is a dedicated platform for investors to engage with Series A-ready founders presenting transformative technology. It combines live startup pitches with deep-dive, case-based panel discussions to showcase both innovation and strategic depth.
How does it help you source quality dealflow
This format allows you to move beyond early-stage storytelling to evaluate leaders who are already redefining their industries. It provides a strategic scouting ground to efficiently identify high-quality prospects and the innovators shaping the next market cycle.
Startup Exhibition
What is it?
In the Startup Exhibition startups are showcasing their innovations at their own booth. A total of 250 companies is exhibiting throughout the venue.
How does it help you source quality dealflow
This space enables you to bypass endless deck reviews by directly assessing how a team operates and building essential personal touchpoints. It offers an efficient environment to filter for your next lead and spot new talent through genuine interaction.
Learn more
Speeddating
What is it?
Investment Speed Dating is a structured session providing investors with rapid-fire access to a diverse range of startups. This format eliminates the need to filter through numerous individual meeting requests manually.
How does it help you source quality dealflow
The event allows you to evaluate multiple teams and their potential within a single, high-efficiency environment. You can immediately identify and prioritize the most promising prospects for comprehensive follow-up discussions after the session.
Pitch Corner
What is it?
The Pitch Corner is a stage right at center of the exhibition floor. Every entrepreneur can walk up there and deliver 90-second pitch to Bits & Pretzels crowd. Two experts and the audience will give them direct feedback on their presentations.
How does it help you source quality dealflow
This format enables you to quickly gauge founder charisma and communication skills while filtering for high-potential ventures. It provides a natural starting point to identify standout candidates for immediate follow-up meetings and deeper due diligence.
Investor-only Side Events
What is it?
Investor-only Side Events are curated, exclusive gatherings such as the LP/GP Breakfast and private mixers held throughout the city. These invite-only sessions provide a secluded environment for high-level networking and peer-to-peer engagement within the investor community away from the main festival crowds.
How does it help you exchange with other investors
This setting encourages substantive conversations away from the main stages, allowing you to effectively deepen professional ties and share market insights with influential peers.
Investor Stage
What is it?
The Investor Stage is where Europe’s leading investors go beyond headlines, sharing real strategies on fund building, exits, and backing the next generation of companies.
How does it help you exchange with other investors
The stage hosts fireside chats and reverse pitch sessions designed for co-investors who value substance and genuine depth. These interactions allow you to sharpen your professional perspective and build a powerful network of high-value peers.
Investor Lounge
What is it?
The Investor Lounge is a professional, quiet space tailored for informal catch-ups and coffee breaks between meetings.
How does it help you exchange with other investors
The lounge is the Base Camp for Investors and LPs at Bits & Pretzels. By providing a distraction-free venue, it helps you secure the meaningful connections necessary to move your fund forward.
Visionaries Stage
What is it?
The Visionaries Stage is a dedicated forum where corporate leaders engage with founders of mature, Series A ventures. It showcases technologies that have moved past the experimental phase to become established industry standards.
How does it help you stay up to date on trends
By highlighting proven solutions with real-world impact, this stage allows you to witness the transition from bold ideas to functional market tools. This direct insight helps you keep your organizational strategy ahead of the curve by identifying validated technological shifts.
Inspiration Stage
What is it?
The Inspiration Stage is the place where the biggest names in tech present their ideas.
How does it help you stay up to date on trends
By hearing from those steering global shifts, you gain a direct understanding of how culture, capital, and technology are currently converging. This insight allows you to anticipate global trends and understand their impact on your strategic roadmap.
Arena Stage
What is it?
The Arena Stage is a meeting point centered around a stage that hosts an influential mix of policy makers, industry veterans, and breakthrough founders. This two-hour session gathers the key figures shaping your sector into a single, focused location.
How does it help you stay up to date on trends
You can quickly identify sector shifts by observing how key players are positioning themselves against emerging trends. Engaging in this space facilitates the cross-industry connections necessary to keep your business strategy relevant.
Visionaries Stage
What is it?
The Visionaries Stage is a dedicated platform for corporate leaders to engage with mature, Series A+ startups that have moved beyond the experimental phase. This showcase highlights proven ventures that are actively setting new industry standards through real-world impact.
How does it help you scout great startups
This experience allows you to identify proven solutions rather than just bold ideas, streamlining the search for scalable partners. By observing these established ventures, you can refine your organizational strategy to stay ahead of industry shifts.
Startup Exhibition
What is it?
In the Startup Exhibition startups are showcasing their innovations at their own booth. A total of 250 companies is exhibiting throughout the venue.
How does it help you scout great startups
This environment allows you to identify high-potential partners early by observing their specialized tools in action. You can discover startups building tangible solutions that align with your specific organizational needs.
Learn more
Pitch Corner
What is it?
The Pitch Corner is a stage right at center of the exhibition floor. Every entrepreneur can walk up there and deliver 90-second pitch to Bits & Pretzels crowd. Two experts and the audience will give them direct feedback on their presentations.
How does it help you scout great startups
The rapid-fire sessions allow you to get a sneak-peak of the most promising innovators directly from the stage. It serves as a discovery tool to identify long-term innovation potential and connect with founders whose vision may align with your organization’s future strategic roadmap.
Golden Pretzel Award
What is it?
The Golden Pretzel Award tries to find the most promising startup of the year. 20 European business angels bring their most promising startup to the event where they compete for the award.
How does it help you scout great startups
Each business angel screens hunderets of startups per year. But they only bring their one biggest gem to Bits & Pretzels. This is your chance to evaluate pre-selected, high-quality ventures and identify potential strategic partners or investment targets.
Table Captain Networking
What is it?
Table Captain Networking is a format happening on day 3 at the real Oktoberfest. 270+ Table Captains - handpicked tech founders, investors, and executives - host tables that seven attendees can join.
How does it help you meet awesome people
You are selecting whose table you want to join before the event. Select the right person that really can help you. This is your chance to get great mentorship that might save you a lot of time and money.
Learn more
Side Events
What is it?
Side Events are curated off-site activities ranging from intimate founder runs and power lunches to exclusive dinners and mixers held throughout the city. These gatherings provide a relaxed environment for attendees to immerse themselves in the startup community outside the formal agenda.
How does it help you meet awesome people
Engaging in these intimate activities allows you to forge genuine connections with fellow corporate leaders and strategic partners. Immersing yourself in this community environment facilitates organic networking where meaningful collaborations begin.
Matchmaking Team
What is it?
The Matchmaking Team consists of over 70 experts acting as a support hub for conference attendees. They help you identify key participants and show you how to navigate the event effectively.
How does it help you meet awesome people
The Matchmakers really understand your needs & the startup ecosystem. They help you navigate all features and tools the event provides to find the people that really help your business.
Arena Stage
What is it?
The Arena Stage is a high-density meeting point centered around a stage that hosts an influential mix of policy makers, industry veterans, and breakthrough founders. This two-hour session gathers the key figures shaping your sector into a single, focused location.
How does it help you meet awesome people
This platform allows you to step outside your usual circle and connect directly with the leaders driving current industry discourse. Engaging in this concentrated environment facilitates meaningful interactions with the most impactful individuals in your field.
Become a partner
Bits & Pretzels is your chance to amplify your brand in the heart of European tech innovation. Now matter if you want to generate relevant leads or place yourself as a thought leader - our audience is the right one for you.
Learn more
Visionaries Stage
What is it?
The Visionaries Stage is a specialized forum for CIOs to engage with founders of mature, Series A plus ventures. It showcases technologies that have transitioned from experimental concepts into proven industry standards with real-world impact.
How does it help you staying up to date
By presenting solutions that are already setting new industry standards, this stage helps you identify technologies ready for enterprise adoption. It ensures your organizational strategy remains ahead of the curve by focusing on proven innovation rather than experimental ideas.
Startup Exhibition
What is it?
In the Startup Exhibition startups are showcasing their innovations at their own booth. A total of 250 companies is exhibiting throughout the venue.
How does it help you staying up to date
By interacting with the teams behind the tech, you can quickly identify which innovations are maturing and relevant to your industry. This provides the unfiltered insights needed to build a mental map of the startups that could move the needle for your organization’s roadmap in the future.
Learn more
Inspiration Stage
What is it?
The Inspiration Stage is the place where the biggest names in tech present their ideas.
How does it help you staying up to date
By hearing from those steering global shifts, you gain a direct understanding of how culture, capital, and technology are currently converging. This insight allows you to anticipate global trends and understand their impact on your strategic roadmap.
Corporate & Startup Collaboration Stage
What is it?
This curated stage brings together corporate leaders and startup founders solving complex AI challenges. It provides a professional environment to witness firsthand how specific technologies are implemented at scale.
How does it help you staying up to date
By connecting with innovators and evaluating tools aligned with your roadmap, you remain at the forefront of industry shifts. This exposure helps you gain the clarity needed to lead and support your organization’s AI transformation.
CIO AI Summit Stage
What is it?
The CIO AI Summit Stage is a central element of the CIO AI Summit that offers exclusive insights from industry leaders and peers. CIO learn how leading CIOs are successfully integrating AI into their organizations, beyond pilots, beyond theory, and with measurable business impact.
How does it help you staying up to date
The stage's focus is sharing real-world strategies and case studies on actual implementation of AI in enterprise companies. CIOs need to lead the AI revolution and therefore we move beyond the AI hype and help you deliver measurable business impact.
Learn more
Arena Stage
What is it?
The Arena Stage is a meeting point centered around a stage that hosts an influential mix of policy makers, industry veterans, and breakthrough founders. This two-hour session gathers the key figures shaping your sector into a single, focused location.
How does it help you staying up to date
Engaging with this cross-industry network allows you to quickly identify emerging trends and shifting sector dynamics. These insights and connections ensure your strategy remains relevant by highlighting what is next in your field.
Corporate & Startup Collaboration Stage
What is it?
This stage connects CIOs with startup founders to facilitate the transition from AI theory to scalable enterprise application. It provides a transparent look at the technical and organizational frameworks needed to solve complex corporate hurdles.
How does it help you master AI Implementation
Participants engage in direct discussions with speakers and startups to bypass surface-level talk and focus on integration details. These sessions provide the practical insights necessary to implement stable, scalable AI solutions tailored to your organization’s use cases.
CIO Roundtable
What is it?
These intimate, 45-minute sessions in the CIO Lounge host moderated 360-degree discussions between CIOs and AI specialists. The format focuses on the mechanics of enterprise AI, including governance, security, and organizational change.
How does it help you master AI Implementation
Participants gain specific, peer-validated answers necessary for navigating complex AI options and implementation strategies. This high-level exchange provides the practical insights needed to successfully drive organizational change and manage security.
CIO AI Summit Stage
What is it?
The CIO AI Summit Stage is a central element of the CIO AI Summit that offers exclusive insights from industry leaders and peers. CIO learn how leading CIOs are successfully integrating AI into their organizations, beyond pilots, beyond theory, and with measurable business impact.
How does it help you master AI Implementation
The stage's focus is sharing real-world strategies and case studies on actual implementation of AI in enterprise companies. CIOs need to lead the AI revolution and therefore we move beyond the AI hype and help you deliver measurable business impact.
Learn more
Corporate & Startup Collaboration Stage
What is it?
This dedicated stage facilitates direct interaction with founders and teams delivering enterprise-scale AI solutions. It serves as a specialized venue for meeting innovators who are actively building tools to solve integration and scaling hurdles.
How does it help you expand your network
You can bypass formal introductions to engage in immediate 1:1 conversations with promising AI focused startups. This streamlined access allows you to efficiently build professional ties and identify startup partners that align with your corporate roadmap.
CIO Roundtable
What is it?
These intimate, 45-minute sessions in the CIO Lounge host moderated 360-degree discussions between CIOs and AI specialists. The format focuses on the mechanics of enterprise AI, including governance, security, and organizational change.
How does it help you expand your network
The intimate environment moves beyond casual networking by connecting you with leaders facing similar professional challenges. This collaborative approach fosters high-level professional ties that endure long after the event concludes.
CIO Lounge
What is it?
The CIO Lounge is the place where CIO AI Summit participants meet between sessions in an informal setting.
How does it help you expand your network
The lounge hosts a high density of decision-makers in a single location. This concentrated environment provides a highly efficient way to build your professional circle during the summit.
CIO AI Summit Stage
What is it?
The CIO AI Summit Stage is a central element of the CIO AI Summit that offers exclusive insights from industry leaders and peers. CIO learn how leading CIOs are successfully integrating AI into their organizations, beyond pilots, beyond theory, and with measurable business impact.
How does it help you expand your network
This format provides a closed-door environment to connect with peers who are managing similar technical and organizational challenges. By focusing on high-level executive exchange rather than general tech trends, it allows you to build a professional network of fellow decision-makers at your same leadership level.
Learn more
CIO & Founder Reception
What is it?
The CIO & Founder Reception is an informal gathering in the CIO Lounge hosted by the Bavarian Minister for Digital Affairs. Startups and CIOs meet in an informal setting over drinks.
How does it help you expand your network
You will step outside the corporate bubble to build personal ties with innovators and problem solvers. These direct interactions help you identify and connect with founders who may become your strategic partners by next year.
Visionaries Stage
What is it?
The Visionaries Stage is a dedicated presentation space where CIOs evaluate mature startups that have progressed beyond the experimental phase. This venue showcases proven ventures at the Series A stage or higher that are already establishing new industry standards.
How does it help you find great startups
By connecting with founders of verified solutions, you can identify impactful technologies ready for immediate enterprise integration. This ensures your organizational strategy remains competitive by adopting innovations that have transitioned from concepts to proven results.
Startup Exhibition
What is it?
In the Startup Exhibition startups are showcasing their innovations at their own booth. A total of 250 companies is exhibiting throughout the venue.
How does it help you find great startups
By engaging with these innovators early, you can spot high-potential partners before they reach the mainstream market. This process helps you secure solutions that are purpose-built to solve your organization's specific challenges.
Learn more
Pitch Corner
What is it?
The Pitch Corner is a stage right at center of the exhibition floor. Every entrepreneur can walk up there and deliver 90-second pitch to Bits & Pretzels crowd. Two experts and the audience will give them direct feedback on their presentations.
How does it help you find great startups
The rapid-fire sessions allow you to get a sneak-peak of the most promising innovators directly from the stage. It serves as a discovery tool to identify long-term innovation potential and connect with founders whose vision may align with your organization’s future strategic roadmap.
Matchmaking Team
What is it?
The Matchmaking Team consists of over 70 experts acting as a support hub for conference attendees. They help you identify key participants and show you how to navigate the event effectively.
How does it help you find great startups
The Matchmakers really understand your needs & the startup ecosystem. They help you navigate all features and tools the event provides to find the people that really help your business.
Golden Pretzel Award
What is it?
The Golden Pretzel Award tries to find the most promising startup of the year. 20 European business angels bring their most promising startup to the event where they compete for the award.
How does it help you find great startups
Each business angel screens hunderets of startups per year. But they only bring their one biggest gem to Bits & Pretzels. This is your chance to evaluate pre-selected, high-quality ventures and identify potential strategic partners or investment targets.
Speakers of 2026
Name Surname
Position, Company name
Name Surname
Position, Company name
Name Surname
Position, Company name
Name Surname
Position, Company name
Name Surname
Position, Company name
Name Surname
Position, Company name
Dr. Karsten Wildberger
Federal Minister for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation
Germany
Max Junestrand
Co-Founder & CEO
Legora
Mirko Novakovic
Founder & CEO
Dash0
Harry Nelis
Partner
Accel
Jeannette zu Fürstenberg
President & Managing Director
General Catalyst
Simon Schmincke
General Partner
Creandum
Seema Amble
Partner
Andreessen Horowitz
Prof. Dr. h. c. Carsten Maschmeyer
CEO
Maschmeyer Group
Matthias Schranner
CEO
Schranner
Ben Fletcher
Partner
Accel
Ritika Pai
Partner
ICONIQ
Andreas Klinger
GP
PROTOTYPE
Sebastian Johnson
Founder
Scaling Europe
Moustafa ElBialy
CIO
Kleiner Perkins
Franziska Kayser
Partner, Head of European TMT
KKR
Robert Lacher
Founding Partner
Visionaries Club
Fabian Kamberi
Founder & CEO
Born
Fynn Kliemann
Founder & CEO
Kliemannsland
Hakob Astabatsyan
Co-Founder & CEO
Synthflow AI
Steve Basher
Founder & CEO
SolveAI
Enrico Mellis
Founder
Animal Syndication Company
Lennard Schmidt
Co-Founder & CEO
Langdock
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Thousands of Founders trust Bits & Pretzels
OUR GOAL IS Helping Founders
and it seems to work
The most valuable outcome of exhibiting at the event was that a visit to our booth led to our first major corporate pilot project. It connected us with one of the world's largest EV manufacturers and opened the door to strategic deals and funding opportunities.
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Dr. Jonathan Spitz
Founder & CEO, GaussML
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Bits & Pretzels helped us connect, gain media visibility, and strengthen our credibility with investors. Since then, we successfully closed our seed investment round this spring, an important milestone for Avancell Medical.
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Angelika Reich
Co-Founder, Avancell Medical
The conversations at Bits & Pretzels gave us the visibility we needed at the right time. We came to the event with a vision, and left with validation, funding leads, and a broader community that believes in our mission. Now we are ready to scale partially thanks to the momentum built at Bits & Pretzels.
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Tomislav Lang
Founder, flyvbird
Bits & Pretzels was planned and structured so well. We didn’t feel overwhelmed, tired, or anything like that at any moment—we were simply experiencing experiences.
Gjorge Lazarov
Co-founder, Moxelle/Worwise
At Bits & Pretzels, meeting new connections turned out to be more important than expected. One year later, we’re close to a partnership with what might be the best possible match in Germany for our company.
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Guido Sluijsmans
Co-Founder & CEO, NEXTdriver
You don't just buy a ticket.
you invest in your .
Tickets are limited to 7,500. Yes really.
Experience the business magic of Oktoberfest
Yes we really take thousands of startup people to a single tent at the real Munich Oktoberfest. And yes, it’s even more about business as it is fun.
Every table hosts a pre-booked meeting of 8-10 attendees. It’s a place where founders pitch, new partnerships are made, and business partners become friends.
It’s a day like nothing you have ever experienced.
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THE Munich startup ecosystem is burning hot
Munich became a powerhouse of b2b and deep tech startups. It is the heart of Europe’s most powerful economy, features world-class universities, and is home to huge enterprise companies like BMW, Siemens, and Allianz.
Coming to Munich is always a good idea. But coming for Oktoberfest and Bits & Pretzels makes it the best trip of your year.
Why do 600+ enterprise Executives join a startup conference?
The CIO AI Summit is part of Bits & Pretzels. And while most executives come for a dedicated program - connecting with awesome startups is what makes them return year over year. If you are looking for enterprise partners or clients - this is your hunting ground.
Want to know who they are? Here is an excerpt of the 2025 attendee list:
Want to know who they are? Here is an excerpt of the 2025 attendee list:
Whats new in 2026
Our Theme: Human After All
This year we’re going back to our roots and put founders front and center with the theme: Human After All. We will celebrate those who take risks, push through the hard moments, adapt under pressure and lead in uncertain times.
Hospitality
is back
We heard you loud and clear. Catering is fully included again. Great conversations are just better over lunch.
Keeping it accessible
Despite inflation, we’re keeping ticket prices stable. We’ve also added new, affordable categories for students and early-stage teams (up to 10 employees) to make sure the next generation can be part of the mix.
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Fairness through applications
To ensure these categories reach the right people, Startup, Scaleup, and Investor tickets are now application-only. A quick step to check of eligibility to keep everything fair.
A "Power Hub" for Networking
All those improvements are connected by this year's theme. Let’s harness Europe's immense potential by connecting all entrepreneurial stakeholders.
A more open
festival
We are taking down walls so you can meet more people. Now, anyone can watch our big Investor Stage. Fewer closed doors make it easy to find partners and get inspired. Let’s build the future together.
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There is more to come...
This is only the beginning. More new features and improvements will be published soon.
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WHERE WE COME FROM.
Bits & Pretzels started as founders breakfast with just 80 participants. We dared to start and the spirit of supporting founders continues in 2026 and beyond.
Join our mission in helping founders shaping a better future.
You don't just buy a ticket.
you invest in your .
Tickets are limited to 7,500. Yes really.