With a high-caliber speaker lineup, all-day pitches, networking opportunities, and festival atmosphere, the Munich Startup Festival promises to be a highlight in the city’s event calendar once again – for participants who have already founded their startups, as well as those still considering it and wanting to immerse themselves in the Munich founder scene beforehand.
A special highlight is the keynote from founder and investor Tijen Onaran, known among other things from the TV show “Die Höhle der Löwen”. Onaran has successfully built her own personal brand. Festival visitors will learn firsthand how founders can generate more visibility for their startups through targeted self-branding and which strategies are suitable for building a strong personal brand.
Biotech boom: The key to eternal youth could lie in Munich
The festival also focuses on trends in the biotech sector. Munich is considered one of Europe’s leading locations in this field. Since the founding of BioM and the Bavarian Biotechnology Cluster over 20 years ago, more than 240 biotech startups have emerged in the vicinity of the state capital. Prof. Dr. Ralf Huss, CEO of BioM Biotech Cluster Development, is convinced:
“The success is based on the high density of scientific expertise. In addition, there is the presence of numerous pharmaceutical companies, some of which conduct research, and special support from the Bavarian state government for more than 25 years.”
Thanks to cutting-edge research, our current life expectancy can “certainly be extended to 120 to 140 years under special circumstances.”
The Munich Startup Festival will also discuss which technologies and approaches are being developed at Munich universities to address the multiple crises of today. Prof. Dr. Rafaela Kraus, Vice President for Applied Sciences, Entrepreneurship and Equal Opportunities in Higher Education at Universität der Bundeswehr München, emphasizes the importance of an interdisciplinary approach. Science, business, and society should work closely together, she says:
“Universities must think more in terms of ecosystems. Because the best ideas don’t emerge in disciplinary silos, but at the interfaces between disciplines.”
Intensive networking with investors and grownups
The Munich Startup Festival also offers founders many opportunities for exchange and networking: Munich startup supporters such as Plug and Play, Media Lab Bayern, and Start2 Group are available to answer questions. In a dedicated discussion round, interested young entrepreneurs can learn firsthand from city council members what plans Munich has to expand the local startup ecosystem. Additionally, they can present their ideas all day long on a dedicated stage and attract potential investors. Another highlight of the day will be hearing from Lilium, a successful grownup, as they share their experiences. Exomatter, a specialist in AI-enabled materials science research and development, and Energyminer, a provider and operator of kinetic hydropower plants, will grill Lilium about the challenges the flying taxi specialist has overcome on its journey to becoming a unicorn. Exomatter co-founder Barbara Bachus reveals ahead of time:
“To build a unicorn, it’s not enough to just be an entrepreneur. If you want to build a company with more than 1,000 employees, you have to be authentic, a visionary, somewhat of a manipulator, a leader, and a strategist.”
Munich Startup Award comes with €10,000 in prize money
The awarding of the “Munich Startup Award” is also eagerly anticipated this year. Supported by Messe München and endowed with €10,000, the prize seeks the best Munich startup of 2024. Young companies pitch in two semifinals before the most exciting concepts compete against each other in the grand finale on the main stage.
Arno Eggers, head of Munich Startup, explains:
“The Munich Startup Festival is a must for everyone who is part of or wants to be part of Munich’s dynamic startup scene. It offers a unique platform for networking and knowledge exchange that is unique in its form in Munich. We look forward to celebrating and promoting the innovative ideas and entrepreneurial spirit of our city.”
You can find all information about the festival and tickets here.
