The K5 Future Retail Conference is bringing startups to the big stage again this year. D2C and retailtech startups from Munich and across Germany are invited to apply for the Startup Pitches 2026 by May 16.
A total of ten startups will be selected from the submissions to pitch their ideas on June 23 and 24 as part of the K5 Future Retail Conference 2026 in Berlin. Two winners—one retail startup and one tech startup—will be awarded afterward.
Visibility and contacts
For young startups, the value of participation lies primarily in the reach of the format. Pitching on the K5 stage allows you to reach an audience over two conference days that can be relevant for your company’s further development. This includes potential investors, potential customers, and companies from the retail environment.
In particular, D2C and retailtech startups can use the pitch stage to refine their own concept, initiate new conversations, and increase visibility in the e-commerce ecosystem.
Jury of investors and industry experts
The jury members come from venture capital, e-commerce, and the startup ecosystem. For participating startups, this increases the relevance of the feedback and the contacts that can result from the pitch.
This year’s jury includes
- Sherin Maruhn from Nova Ventures,
- Florian Heinemann from Project A,
- Simon Schneider from Neoteqvc,
- Julian Rauch from Founders League,
- Lucy Larbi from Aidia,
- Björn Jopen from Jale,
- Monique Hoell from Walter Phoenix Capital,
- Jochen Krisch from Exciting Commerce,
- Kristina Schreiner from Better Ventures,
- Laura Raggl from Roi Ventures, and
- Carsten Puschmann from Scale Now Ventures.
Munich startups that want to take the K5 stage in Berlin in June can apply here by May 16.
