When the Munich startup ecosystem gathers for the annual Bits & Pretzels Festival, a major part of the exchange takes place away from the main stages. Around the three-day founders’ festival in autumn, a dense program of satellite events, roundtables, and networking meetups unfolds. For founders and investors, this environment offers the opportunity for focused expert discussions and new contacts. Munich Startup has curated the most important dates and put together practical recommendations for effective planning
Start with a Goal
A successful visit to side events starts before actually scheduling meetings. Instead of packing as many meetings as possible into the calendar, a clear prioritization by focus topics and target groups is recommended. Founders should define in advance which contacts are relevant for their current company stage.
A precise elevator pitch and specific questions make it easier to start professional conversations. Participants benefit from sharpening their own profile beforehand and choosing target events selectively.
Selected Side Event Highlights 2026
Casino Night
The Casino Night combines a relaxed setting with intensive networking opportunities. Founders and investors meet here in an informal atmosphere. The format is particularly well-suited for deepening existing contacts and having initial conversations without the pressure of a formal pitch.
“With Casino Night, we want to build on last year’s success and bring the entire ecosystem together for an exciting evening at WERK1.”
says Tiberiu Voicu, organizer from WERK1
Official Afterparty
After the first intensive day of the conference, the official afterparty serves as the central meeting point for the entire ecosystem. This is where founders, business angels, VC representatives, and ecosystem partners gather to wind down the conference day and continue informal conversations.
Superconnectors Munich 2026
Targeted matching takes center stage at Superconnectors. The format does away with traditional presentations, opting instead for moderated intros: participants articulate specific challenges, and the “superconnectors” in attendance provide direct contacts from their networks. This saves time and leads to resilient B2B connections.
Power People Meetup
The “AI x PEOPLE” meetup by The Power People revolves around practical best practices and concrete use cases that founders, executives, and HR professionals in startups, scale-ups, and SMEs can put into practice the very next day.
Notion Sundowner
For teams looking to optimize their internal processes, knowledge management systems, and workflows, the Notion Sundowner provides a platform for hands-on exchange. Product teams and startup operators will share concrete best practices for scalable workflows. A fireside chat with Ion Mesca from Ledgy is also on the agenda. The event will take place at Fora (a loft for startups) at Stachus.
Let the Networking Begin
The side events of Bits & Pretzels 2026 offer an ideal environment to generate targeted added value for your startup. Crucial to success are registering early for formats with limited capacity and structured follow-ups with newly made contacts in the days that follow. You can find all side events here.
