Munich deeptech startups, pay attention: Apply now for the Munich qualification round of the WeStart TOP100 competition on June 15, 2026. Ten selected startups will present their business models to a jury. The best will qualify for the international final in Shanghai in September 2026.
The Munich round is part of the global selection process for the competition, which is embedded in the WeStart Entrepreneurial Investment Conference and is supported by the city of Shanghai.
Application and selection
Startups can apply until June 1. The requirement is the submission of a pitch deck and basic information about the company and team. The jury will select ten finalists from all applications who will pitch in Munich on June 15.
The competition is aimed at startups in the deeptech sector. Four topic areas are mentioned:
- integrated circuits
- biotechnology
- artificial intelligence and
- other future industries such as quantum technology or hydrogen.
Early-stage teams as well as growth-oriented startups can participate. The requirement is a core team of at least three people.
- pitch deck in PDF format
- brief description of the startup
- overview of the team and key roles
- description of planned activities in China
The jury will then select the ten most promising applicants in their view. On June 15, these will have the opportunity to qualify through 5-minute pitches.
Access to the Chinese market
The winners of the Munich qualification round advance to the semifinal in Shanghai, with travel and accommodation costs covered by the organizer. As part of the benefits, participating startups receive access to investors, industrial companies, and other actors in the Chinese innovation ecosystem, such as contacts to manufacturing and innovation networks in China.
The competition is part of the “Startup in Shanghai” initiative. In the previous edition, according to the organizer, 1,487 teams applied worldwide. Seventy-one international projects presented themselves in Shanghai.
Organizer XNode is an innovation platform headquartered in Shanghai with additional locations including Munich. Since its founding in 2015, the company has supported more than 500 technology companies with market entry, according to its own information.
More information can be found here.
