News & Podcast

AI enables young founders to develop products within a few weeks and market them internationally – at the same time, around 186,000 family businesses in Germany are up for handover between 2026 and 2030. At the Munich Startup Festival 2026, experts discussed why speed alone is not enough and what opportunities business succession offers for the next generation.

You’ve surely noticed our new look here at Munich Startup. However, the relaunch is more than just a new design: With Munich Startup 2.0, the platform is evolving from a classic news portal into a personalized entry point for the Munich startup ecosystem. The new platform was presented as part of the Munich Startup Festival.

Europe boasts cutting-edge research, strong companies, and excellent talent – yet too few global technology leaders are created here. At the Munich Startup Festival, Celonis co-founder Bastian Nominacher, CK Ventures investor Katja Ruhnke, Edurino co-founder Irene Klemm, and entrepreneur Magdalena Oehl discussed why Europe has so far failed to systematically leverage its innovation potential and what role Munich can play in the process.

1,300 visitors, exciting discussions, intensive networking and plenty of festival vibes: Our photo gallery shows the best moments of the Munich Startup Festival 2026 – from the first panel to the award ceremony.

David Baumgartner’s founding story is straight out of a picture book. During a trip around the world, the Munich native came up with the idea for Dean&David. As part of the Munich Startup Festival, he spoke with us about his success and explained why not everyone can achieve what he has.

No bubble, just real contacts – under this motto, the Munich Startup Festival 2026 brought together around 1,300 guests on July 22 at Backstage Munich. Founders, investors, academia, corporations and politicians discussed Europe’s innovative strength, the future of entrepreneurship and key technologies such as defence tech, biotech and space tech. Inspiring keynotes, high-caliber panel discussions, workshops, speed networking and numerous encounters made the festival a day full of ideas, exchange and new connections.

Around 1,300 visitors, over 30 speakers, more than 30 partners and countless new contacts: The Munich Startup Festival brought the Munich startup community together for the fourth time at Backstage. Between high-caliber panels, inspiring founder stories and festival atmosphere, it became clear: Munich wants to further expand its role as Europe’s leading innovation hub.

8pm Social is the best Munich startup 2026: At the Munich Startup Festival, 8pm Social won the Munich Startup Award, endowed with 10,000 euros. In the final, Pulsetrain, which develops intelligent battery management systems for electric vehicles, and Jessy Works, with an AI solution for tax consulting firms, also competed.

On July 22, 2026, unicorn founders, investors, politicians and talent will meet at the Backstage. The festival offers high-caliber panels, the Munich Startup Award and festival flair for Munich’s innovation scene.

July is here, and that means our Munich Startup Festival is taking place this month. We’re sure your anticipation for July 22 is just as high as ours. The Backstage will transform once again into the meeting place of the Munich startup scene – with founders, investors, talent, and everyone who’s excited about new ideas and genuine encounters. In our panel talks, you’ll learn a lot about the ecosystem. Here we present a selection of moderators who will guide the program on the main stage that day.

Startup feeling meets summer festival: Together with Kinoliebe, Munich Startup brings the Munich founding scene to the open-air stage at Königsplatz. On July 16, visitors can expect inspiring founder stories, exciting startup pitches and plenty of festival atmosphere. And five Munich startups have a chance at something very special.

You should mark July 22 on your calendar – if you haven’t already – because this year’s Munich Startup Festival is taking place then. Backstage will transform again into the meeting place of the Munich startup scene – with founders, investors, talent, and everyone who wants new ideas and real connections. To get an insight, we’re presenting a first selection of speakers to you today.