At founders poker, up to 100 participants from the startup scene regularly meet in Munich to network in a curated environment – combined with a poker tournament without any money involved. Behind the format is the company Foundersphere, founded by Sascha Bever, who rebuilt the event after the pandemic and established it in Munich.
Networking with structure instead of chance
What sets founders poker apart from classic networking events is the clearly structured framework: instead of casual exchanges over drinks, participants sit at fixed tables and automatically come into conversation with new contacts. The poker format serves as a social catalyst – low-barrier, but interactive enough to let conversations develop organically.
“Poker is easy to learn, hard to handle – and that’s exactly why it’s such a great format to get into conversation with people”,
says Sascha Bever in an interview with Munich Startup.
Especially in the Munich startup ecosystem, which is characterized by a high density of founders, investors, and service providers, the format is in demand. Through permanent integration at Werk1, the event has established itself as a recurring meeting point.
Originally, the concept dates back to the late 2000s and was first implemented in Cologne. After a pandemic-related break, Bever took over the format, further developed it, and repositioned it from Munich.
Curated participants: Focus on quality over quantity
A central element is the targeted selection of participants. Tickets are not freely available, but are awarded based on applications, usually via LinkedIn profiles. This creates a curated mix of early-stage startups, investors and business angels, freelancers and agencies, as well as selected experts such as lawyers or tax consultants, with the aim of creating a balanced dynamic without dominating sales interests.
“The ticket is never available for general sale – we want to ensure that participants fit together and there aren’t more hunters than prey”,
reveals Sascha Bever in conversation.
How it works: Tournament, exchange, and informal deals
The evening follows a fixed schedule: after a short introductory phase, participants are assigned to tables. For beginners, there’s an introduction to the game before the tournament starts.
Those who are eliminated don’t leave the event – quite the opposite: many use the time afterwards deliberately for conversations at the bar or in the lounge areas. Poker is optional; the event also works as a pure networking format.
No gambling, but measurable added value
Play happens without money involved; the ticket price covers organization and the overall program, while prizes are usually provided by sponsors in the form of goods or vouchers. However, the real added value lies in the network: new business contacts, collaborations, and occasionally investments emerge. While there are no concrete deal figures, participants regularly report follow-up contacts and collaborations, making the event for many a recurring meeting point with the character of a class reunion within the scene.
And for those still hesitant to apply for founders poker, Bever has a tip:
“Just do it. You have very little to lose here and will definitely meet new people.”
Scaling and open challenges
In the long term, Foundersphere plans to bring founders poker to other cities more actively. Before the pandemic, there were already events in Berlin, Hamburg, and Frankfurt.
Currently, the focus is on Munich, where the format runs organizationally smoothly and an established network exists.
A central challenge remains diversity: the share of female participants has been comparatively low so far. The team is therefore deliberately testing adjustments and new formats to reach a broader target audience.
Those who want to participate next time can register here for the next founders poker. The events take place quarterly, often as an official side event to Bits & Pretzels.
