News & Podcast

More international, more optimistic, and lots of AI: Bits & Pretzels 2026 puts people center stage while showcasing the topics truly driving the startup scene.

Munich Startup and the Munich Technology Center MTZ have jointly awarded the “Munich Startup Special Prize” for the first time. Naxon Robotics was recognized as the best Munich startup at Bits & Pretzels 2026, receiving the prize worth 5,000 euros.

Seven startups, up to 90 seconds, and one task: explain their business model as precisely as possible. For a special edition of our videocast Pitch & People at Bits & Pretzels 2026, we brought founders from AI, defense tech, compliance, recovery, and rescue tech in front of the camera.

A practical guide by Munich Startup for founders, investors, and the startup ecosystem

One minute of full concentration, one minute to convince your next investor. Pitch & People, the new video podcast from Munich Startup, was out and about at the Bits & Pretzels with StartupMatch, the platform that brings together startups and investors through 60-second pitches, and let founders pitch their ideas. All pitches are in the video.

The Munich startup Sitegeist has won the “Munich Startup Special Prize” 2025. The prize comes with 5,000 euros. Additionally, the company, founded in 2025, took first place in the European Pitch Contest, the official pitch competition at Bits & Pretzels.

The Bits & Pretzels enters its 12th edition and attempts to reinvent itself in the process. Under the motto “Connecting Europe,” the founder festival becomes a platform for targeted exchange between scaleups, investors, and political decision-makers. From September 29 to October 1, 2025, around 7,500 participants will meet in Munich – including 1,500 investors.

Want to get the most out of Bits & Pretzels 2025? Here are compact how-to tips – plus our highlights depending on your role: interested in founding, running a startup, or investing. And leading the way: Munich Startup’s offerings at Bits25.

The European Pitch Contest at Bits & Pretzels 2025 again offers startups the chance to pitch in front of over 1,500 investors. Applications are possible until July 6 – the Golden Pretzel awaits courageous founders.

No founder conference without founders: we were in the startup exhibition at this year’s Bits & Pretzels to speak with some Munich young entrepreneurs about their ideas and impressions.

For the 11th time now, Bits & Pretzels brings together founders, investors, industry leaders, and other startup enthusiasts. And if you’re worried that the format might seem a bit dusty after all these years, you can rest assured—because compared to previous editions, Bits & Pretzels has changed significantly in some ways. We share our impressions from the first day of the fair.

At this year’s Bits & Pretzels, Munich Startup is presenting itself again with its own lounge in hall B0. Featured: Various experts from the startup ecosystem, free ice cream from the crazy ice cream maker, and a raffle for Wiesn vouchers.