A brilliant start to Bits & Pretzels 2019: With Barack Obama as the main speaker at this year's opening ceremony, Andreas Bruckschlögl, Felix Haas, and Bernd Storm thrilled around 5,000 people at the Munich trade fair. — By Helen Duran, Sandra Ohse, and Regina Bruckschlögl.
3, 2, 1 — and off we go. Almost punctually, shortly after 10 a.m., Bits & Pretzels, Munich's largest startup festival, kicks off its new season. This year, however, the opening ceremony isn't taking place at the ICM, but in a much larger hall at the trade fair. The mood is upbeat; everyone is waiting for Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States.
Motto of Bits & Pretzels 2019: Impact
Before the event begins, the three hosts, Andreas Bruckschlögl, Felix Haas, and Bernd Storm, welcome the audience. The motto of this year's Bits: "Impact." Felix Haas is convinced that everyone can make a difference. The best example: Greta Thunberg.
“We want to follow the spirit of Fridays for Future and build Founders for Future.”
In addition, the Bits & Pretzels team, together with the former editor-in-chief of Stern and SZ-Magazin, Dominik Wichmann, announces a new media portal under the working title “The Maker Mountains”.
After a welcoming address by Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs Hubert Aiwanger, Dan Ram, who will once again host Bits this year, brings three inspiring female founders onto the stage who have achieved real impact. Among them is Zarah Bruhn, founder and CEO of the Munich startup Social BeeIn our short conversation after the performance she says:
"Greta Thunberg is always accused of not offering solutions. But she's the door opener that helps us social entrepreneurs make impact a priority."
Reid Hoffmann, co-founder of LinkedIn, also inspired the participants. He offered tips on "blitzscaling" for different startup stages. The role of science fiction in technology was also briefly discussed. Hoffmann said:
"Storytellers influence the way we live. We need stories that are for hope and for solutions."
Standing ovations for Barack Obama
And finally: Barack Obama. Before he's greeted with a standing ovation and much applause, the three hosts briefly explain how they first tried to contact Obama two years ago. After receiving little response to a personal invitation video, the three finally received the positive news in early July. The reaction: F*CK, do we even have the budget for this?
In a discussion moderated by Britta Weddeling, Editor in Chief at Bits & Pretzels, Obama delves into the deeper issues. He sees diversity—the motto of Bits 2018—as an opportunity. The more diverse perspectives come together, the greater the benefit for an organization or even a company. An open culture that gives women more voice was also a topic:
Why is it important for Silicon Valley companies—which he declined to name—to pay taxes? Because the government can use it to pay for important things like education, the foundation for a successful ecosystem.
“Entrepreneurial culture starts with societies that invest in their children.”
Barack Obama
He also comments on climate activist Greta Thunberg. In his opinion, she carries a burden that no 16-year-old should have to shoulder. She demonstrates that adults have clearly failed in their duty. And he also notes that there are many Gretas around the world—young people who are making a real impact. With the Obama Foundation, he is looking for precisely such changemakers.
“We are not going to solve our problems without some sort of collective action!”
Barack Obama
For her final question, Britta Weddeling wants to know how Obama manages to stay optimistic. His answer: If your name is Barack Hussein Obama and you've been in the White House, you have to be an optimist.
