Munich, Germany · Venture Capital 10xDNA is a Munich-based deep-tech venture capital firm founded by serial entrepreneur and Die Hoehle der Loewen judge Frank Thelen. The fund focuses on disruptive technologies across artificial intelligence, quantum computing, space technology, synthetic biology, and energy. It targets companies whose technology has the potential to scale by an order of magnitude versus incumbents, backed by Frank Thelen's three decades of operating experience across consumer software, mobile, and deep tech.
Munich, Germany · Event Organisator Organizer of Aerospace Tech Week Europe, a specialized B2B conference and exhibition covering aerospace connectivity, avionics, and operations technology. Held annually in Munich since 2017, the event draws hundreds of aerospace engineers, OEMs, and suppliers to discuss next-generation aircraft systems and digital transformation in aviation.
Munich, Germany · Event B2B aerospace technology conference in Munich focused on digital aviation systems, avionics, connectivity, flight operations software, and testing workflows. High-value venue for deep-tech founders in aviation software, satellite communications, drones, and aerospace manufacturing partnerships.
Munich, Germany · Startup Agile Robots is a Munich-based robotics company founded in 2018 as a spin-off from the German Aerospace Center (DLR). It builds robots that combine precise force-torque sensing with AI-driven computer vision to handle delicate industrial tasks such as assembly and inspection. Backed by investors including the SoftBank Vision Fund, it manufactures both robotic arms and complete automation systems and is one of Germany's most valuable robotics startups.
Munich, Germany · Person Alexander Rinke is Co-founder & Co-CEO of process-mining giant Celonis. A founder in the German startup ecosystem, Alexander leads process-mining giant Celonis.
Munich, Germany · Person General Partner at Earlybird Venture Capital, where he leads investments in AI, software infrastructure and fintech. He is well known for data-driven venture research and writing on how machine learning is reshaping early-stage investing in Europe.
Munich, Germany · Person André Schwämmlein is Co-founder & CEO of the long-distance mobility company Flix (FlixBus). A founder in the German startup ecosystem, André leads the long-distance mobility company Flix (FlixBus).
Munich, Germany · Event Organisator Munich program operator for Antler's pre-seed founder residencies and investment cohorts. Antler Munich is an event organiser based in Munich, Germany. Organising events in the Accelerator Programs, Artificial Intelligence, Deep Tech space.
Munich, Germany · Accelerator Pre-seed accelerator and VC program for founders in AI, data, and deep tech. The spring 2026 application cut-off passed on February 27, 2026 for a March 9 cohort start; applications continue on a rolling basis for subsequent 2026 cohorts. Typical Antler offer includes early investment and startup-building support from day zero.
Munich, Germany · Startup Provides software that helps municipalities plan, coordinate and measure climate-protection efforts, integrating energy and emissions data so urban planners can track progress toward climate-neutrality goals. Works with 40+ German cities.
Munich, Germany · Startup ARX Robotics is a Munich-based defence technology company building autonomous mobile robotics and digitalisation platforms for European armed forces, founded by former German Bundeswehr officers. Its products include the Gereon RCS tracked reconnaissance robot, the Hector autonomous wheeled platform, and Mithra OS, a software system for modernising existing military vehicle fleets. The company positions itself around strengthening Europe's technological resilience and sovereignty in defence. In 2025 it expanded its Series A round to a total of 42 million euro, with backers including HV Capital, Omnes Capital, the NATO Innovation Fund, Project A and Speedinvest.
Munich, Germany · Person Bastian Nominacher is Co-founder & Co-CEO of process-mining giant Celonis. A founder in the German startup ecosystem, Bastian leads process-mining giant Celonis.
Munich, Germany · Event Organisator Leading founders festival held annually during Munich's Oktoberfest week, connecting over 5,000 founders, investors, and startup enthusiasts for networking and learning. Founded in 2012, Bits & Pretzels features high-profile keynotes, workshops, and a renowned pitch competition that has become a fixture of the European startup calendar.
Munich, Germany · Event Europe's premium founder festival at ICM Munich, blending high-signal startup networking with curated investor access and Oktoberfest culture. The event limits attendance to maintain quality, with thousands of founders and investors and structured matchmaking for fundraising and partnerships.
Munich, Germany · Person German entrepreneur and investor, founder and owner of the Munich-based Maschmeyer Group and a long-running investor on the TV show Die Höhle der Löwen (the German Shark Tank). He runs the investment arms seed+speed Ventures and Alstin Capital, and previously founded and led financial-services firm AWD.
Munich, Germany · Startup Celonis is a Munich and New York-based enterprise software company that pioneered the field of process mining – technology that analyzes a company’s IT event logs to visualize and optimize its business processes. Founded in 2011 by three friends (Alexander Rinke, Bastian Nominacher, and Martin Klenk) out of university in Munich, Celonis bootstrapped in its early years and landed Siemens as a key pilot customer for its process analytics tool. The software proved invaluable in identifying inefficiencies in processes like order-to-cash, procurement, and inventory management. By 2015 Celonis was the leader in this niche, and it partnered with SAP which resold Celonis as SAP Process Mining by Celonis. Venture capital soon followed: Celonis raised $27.5M in 2016 (Series A) then $50M in 2018 (Series B). Its growth was massive – from €1M ARR in 2012 to well over €100M by late 2010s. In 2019, Celonis raised $290M at a $2.5B valuation, making it a unicorn. It wasn’t done: by June 2021, Celonis announced a $1B Series D round valuing it at $11 billion, one of Europe’s largest software funding rounds. And in 2022, Celonis reportedly reached a $13B+ valuation, firmly cementing it among Europe’s most valuable private tech companies. The company’s product evolved into the Celonis Execution Management System (EMS), which not only discovers processes but also suggests and implements improvements (sometimes via RPA bots or triggering workflows). Celonis counts thousands of enterprise customers – including Siemens, BMW, Coca-Cola, Uber – and its software helps them save billions by cutting throughput times, reducing errors, and optimizing resource use. With dual HQs in Munich and New York, Celonis has aggressively expanded in the U.S., competing with companies like IBM’s process mining. The firm is also eyeing an IPO; CEO Rinke has mentioned that Celonis is positioning itself for a public listing when market conditions are right. In the meantime, Celonis keeps growing (estimated $400M+ ARR in 2023) and acquiring smaller tech startups to bolster its platform. Celonis epitomizes the success of enterprise software from Europe – deeply technical, essentially creating a new category, and achieving decacorn status within a decade.
Munich, Germany · Person Christian Bruch is President and CEO of Siemens Energy, a global technology company focused on the energy transition with revenues exceeding €35 billion and approximately 100,000 employees across 90 countries. He assumed the CEO role in 2020, guiding the company through its spin-off from Siemens AG and subsequent restructuring efforts including challenges within the Siemens Gamesa wind turbine business. At ONS 2026, he chairs the Strategic Conference Committee, shaping the programme agenda for one of the world's largest energy forums in Stavanger.
Munich, Germany · Person Daniel Metzler is Co-founder & CEO of the orbital-launch company Isar Aerospace. A founder in the German startup ecosystem, Daniel leads the orbital-launch company Isar Aerospace.
Munich, Germany · Person Daniel Wiegand is Co-founder & CEO of the eVTOL air-mobility company Lilium. A founder in the German startup ecosystem, Daniel leads the eVTOL air-mobility company Lilium.
Munich, Germany · Event Munich-based conference on applied data science, machine learning, and AI in the enterprise, with talks from data leaders at BMW, Siemens, Allianz, and top European scale-ups. Strong focus on real-world ML use cases, data engineering, and MLOps. 2,000+ attendees. Tickets EUR 450-990.
Munich, Germany · Startup DeepDrive is the Munich startup that convinced major automakers to rethink the electric motor itself. Its core innovation is a patented dual-rotor motor architecture. In a traditional motor, a single rotor spins inside a fixed stator. DeepDrive's design spins both the internal and external rotor simultaneously, delivering higher torque density and substantially better efficiency. The practical outcome is compelling: EVs can achieve roughly 20% more range with 50% less motor weight, while reducing bill-of-materials costs.
By 2026, DeepDrive has moved beyond impressive prototypes to industrialization. The company has reportedly secured series nominations with eight of the top ten global automakers for platform launches in 2028–2029. That level of OEM validation is rare at this stage and signals confidence in both the performance and manufacturability of the design. The company is now focused on building automated production lines in northern Munich to scale output for fleet testing and pre-series runs.
A particularly strategic application is the in-wheel motor. Because the dual-rotor unit is compact and lightweight, it can fit inside the wheel hub, freeing up interior volume and enabling fully flat skateboard platforms. That creates new possibilities for autonomous shuttles and urban delivery vehicles where maximizing passenger or cargo space is paramount. It also allows for advanced vehicle dynamics such as torque vectoring without complex drivetrain components, improving both safety and handling.
DeepDrive is a classic spin-out from the UnternehmerTUM ecosystem at TU Munich, with early validation support from the XPRENEURS incubator. Its investor base blends strategic automotive capital with deep-tech venture funding: Leitmotif led the Series B, BMW i Ventures provides rare early-stage OEM participation, Continental's corporate VC is a strategic partner for braking and chassis integration, and UVC Partners and Bayern Kapital anchor local support. In 2026, DeepDrive is one of Europe’s most promising hardware deep-tech bets: a motor breakthrough with clear OEM pull, manufacturability momentum, and the potential to reshape EV platform design.
Munich, Germany · Event Organisator Organizer of DevOpsCon conferences focused on cloud-native engineering, container orchestration, CI/CD pipelines, and modern software delivery practices. Held regularly in Munich and Berlin, the event attracts thousands of platform engineers and architects seeking hands-on workshops and case studies on scaling DevOps culture.
Munich, Germany · Event Major software engineering conference on cloud architecture, CI/CD, Kubernetes, observability, platform engineering, and secure DevOps practices. Valuable for DevTools startups targeting technical buyers and for startup teams recruiting senior backend and cloud talent.
Munich, Germany · Event Organisator Organizer of DLD Munich, an influential international innovation conference series founded in 2005 by Hubert Burda Media. Each January, DLD convenes around 1,500 global thought leaders, investors, and tech executives for curated discussions on digital trends, AI, science, and the future of society and business.
Munich, Germany · Event DLD Munich 2027 brings together 1,500+ pioneers from tech, business, science, and culture for three days of ideas and connections in Munich. The annual flagship conference runs immediately before the World Economic Forum in Davos, making it a key gathering point for global leaders. The 2027 edition dates are publicly announced on the official site with attendee notifications opening shortly.
Munich, Germany · Event Flagship innovation conference in Munich spanning tech, business, and science, with strong participation from French VCs and Next40 founders. Attracts high-profile speakers and senior decision-makers from across the European tech ecosystem. Particularly valuable for founders seeking visibility with corporate innovation leaders and cross-border investors.
Munich, Germany · Startup Munich-based startup deploying turnkey battery energy storage systems for German commercial and industrial SMEs. Its full-service model covers planning, financing, installation, and operations, enabling clients to cut electricity costs and earn additional revenue through energy arbitrage. Raised €25M seed in June 2026.
Munich, Germany · Event Global congress for clinical microbiology and infectious diseases at Messe Munich, drawing 15,000+ clinicians, researchers, and industry buyers from 130+ countries. Registration about EUR 600-900. Ideal for diagnostics, AMR, and medtech startups with clinical data seeking KOL validation, hospital pilots, and pharma partnerships.
Munich, Germany · Startup AI-driven materials-discovery platform spun out of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) that accelerates identification of novel materials by up to 90%. Clients including Audi, Airbus and Infineon use it to focus R&D on the most promising candidates.
Munich, Germany · Startup FINN is a car-subscription platform serving consumers and businesses with an all-inclusive monthly model that bundles insurance, maintenance, and roadside support. The company has expanded B2B fleet workflows with automated management tools and EV-focused offerings for employee mobility programs.
Munich, Germany · Startup FlixBus, operated by Flix SE, is a Munich-based global travel technology company founded in 2011 that provides affordable long-distance bus and train travel across more than 40 countries. The company partners with over 1,000 independent bus operators, handling network planning, pricing, booking, and customer service while the operators run the vehicles. Flix SE also operates FlixTrain in Germany and internationally, and Greyhound Lines in North America. The company has served over 500 million travellers since its launch.
Munich, Germany · Startup Mobility platform offering intercity bus and train travel founded in Munich in 2011. Operates across Europe and North America (acquired Greyhound in 2021) under parent Flix SE.
Munich, Germany · Person Florian Seibel is Co-founder & CEO of the dual-use drone maker Quantum Systems. A founder in the German startup ecosystem, Florian leads the dual-use drone maker Quantum Systems.
Munich, Germany · Person Francesco Sciortino is Co-founder & CEO of the stellarator fusion-energy startup Proxima Fusion. A founder in the German startup ecosystem, Francesco leads the stellarator fusion-energy startup Proxima Fusion.
Munich, Germany · Accelerator La French Tech Munich is one of three German chapters of the global French Tech network, connecting French and German entrepreneurs, investors, and corporates in Bavaria. Its programs focus on helping French companies enter the Bavarian market and German companies expand into France, offering mentoring, networking workshops, and recruiting events. The community operates alongside French Tech Berlin and La French Tech Düsseldorf as part of the French government's international startup promotion initiative.
Munich, Germany · Accelerator German Accelerator is a non-equity programme launched in 2012, financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, that helps high-potential German startups expand into international markets. Starting with a Silicon Valley office in 2012, it expanded to New York (2014), Boston (2016, with a life sciences focus), and Singapore (2018), and has supported over 600 startups that have collectively raised more than $13.5 billion in funding. The programme provides individually tailored workshops, expert mentorship, and access to investor networks at no equity cost to participants.
Munich, Germany · Person Gundbert Scherf is Co-founder & Co-CEO of the defence-AI company Helsing. A founder in the German startup ecosystem, Gundbert leads the defence-AI company Helsing.
Munich, Germany · Person Hanno Renner is Co-founder & CEO of the HR software unicorn Personio. A founder in the German startup ecosystem, Hanno leads the HR software unicorn Personio.
Munich, Germany · Startup Helsing is a defense technology company building AI software systems for democratic governments and armed forces in Europe. Its platform fuses data from radar, drones, optical and infrared sensors to provide real-time situational awareness and operational decision support. After major growth financing in 2025, Helsing expanded across core European defense programs and into autonomous systems, including the HX-2 platform.
Munich, Germany · Person Co-founder and General Partner of Earlybird Venture Capital, which he started in 1997. One of Europe's most experienced venture investors, he focuses on deep tech, fintech and insurtech and has helped build Earlybird into a ~€2.5bn multi-fund platform backing companies such as N26, Isar Aerospace and Aleph Alpha.
Munich, Germany · Venture Capital HV Capital (formerly Holtzbrinck Ventures) is one of Germany's most established venture capital firms, investing from seed to growth stage across European technology companies. Founded as the VC arm of the Holtzbrinck publishing group, HV Capital manages over $2 billion and has backed iconic European companies including Zalando, Delivery Hero, FlixBus, and FINN. The firm focuses on technology-enabled business models and is a cornerstone investor in the DACH startup ecosystem.
Munich, Germany · Event Jewelry and watch trade fair with the Trendfactory forum on retail tech, 3D printing, and wearables. Price: about EUR 34 early online to EUR 79 on-site.
Munich, Germany · Event Bitkom's Innovators' Pitch 2026 live finals featuring startup teams in future technologies for logistics and education. Application deadline was February 23, 2026 (now closed); live pitch takes place March 19, 2026 with equity-free prize money and ecosystem visibility.
Munich, Germany · Event B2B matchmaking event focused on France-Bavaria innovation partnerships, connecting French deep-tech startups with German industrial corporates. Features structured 1:1 meetings and panel discussions on cross-border collaboration. Particularly valuable for startups looking to enter the German market through industrial partnerships and joint R&D projects.
Munich, Germany · Startup Isar Aerospace is a Munich-based space launch company founded in 2018 by Daniel Metzler, Josef Fleischmann, and Markus Brandl, all graduates of TU Munich. The company is developing Spectrum, a two-stage launch vehicle designed to carry small and medium-sized satellite payloads to orbit at a significantly lower cost than traditional European launchers. Isar Aerospace has raised over EUR 300 million from investors including HV Capital, Porsche SE, Airbus Ventures, and Lombard Odier, making it one of Europe's best-funded NewSpace ventures. With a launch site agreement in Andoya, Norway, Isar Aerospace is positioned to offer Europe independent, commercial access to space as demand for small satellite launches accelerates.
Munich, Germany · Person Head of Quantum Technologies at Airbus, where he leads the aerospace group's research and application of quantum computing and quantum sensing for aviation and space. He is an announced speaker at the 2026 AI, Data & Quantum Summit (AIDAQ) in Berlin.
Munich, Germany · Startup Kiutra is a Munich-based deep tech startup developing cryogenic systems and services for quantum technologies. The company manufactures helium-3-free cryostats that reach sub-kelvin and millikelvin temperatures, including the L-Type Rapid, X-Type, S-Type, and T-Type product lines, and offers cryogenic characterisation lab services for quantum device development. Kiutra serves leading quantum computing companies and research institutions globally and is a sponsor of Finnish Quantum Days 2026.
Munich, Germany · Startup Lilium is a Munich-based aerospace company founded in 2015 by Daniel Wiegand and a team of TU Munich engineers to develop an all-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) jet for regional air mobility. The Lilium Jet uses 30 electric engines mounted on its canard wings to achieve vertical lift and efficient cruise flight, targeting ranges of up to 300 km at speeds over 250 km/h. Lilium went public on NASDAQ in 2021 but faced financial challenges and entered insolvency proceedings in late 2024. A consortium of European investors acquired the company in early 2025, allowing development to continue. Lilium remains one of the most ambitious European eVTOL programs and a test case for the viability of electric regional air transport.
Munich, Germany · Startup Fusion energy company founded in 2019 in Munich developing laser-based inertial fusion using nanostructured proton-boron fuel targets, backed by over $400M with partners including Siemens Energy.
Munich, Germany · Event Munich stop of the global Venture Capital World Summit series at Nymphenburger Hoefe, bringing together seed and Series A investors, angels, and growth-focused startups. High-priority event for founders actively fundraising in Q2/Q3 2026 and seeking cross-border capital access.
Munich, Germany · Startup Personio is a Munich-based HR software company that has become one of Europe’s most valuable SaaS startups. Founded in 2015 by Hanno Renner (CEO) and three co-founders from the Technical University of Munich, Personio set out to streamline HR management for small and mid-sized businesses. Its cloud platform offers an “all-in-one” suite – from recruiting and applicant tracking to payroll, attendance, and performance management. Personio’s focus on Europe’s underserved SME segment paid off spectacularly: as of 2024, the company serves 12,000+ customers across 70 countries (primarily firms with 10–2,000 employees). This rapid growth attracted major VC funding. Personio became a unicorn in January 2021 with a $1.7 billion valuation, and by October 2022 it raised a $200 million Series E extension at a staggering $8.5 billion valuation – making it one of Europe’s most valuable private tech companies at the time. Investors like Index Ventures, Accel, Lightspeed, and Greenoaks have backed Personio. The company has since expanded to 8 offices (including London, Dublin and Amsterdam) and grown to about 2,000 employees. Despite the size, Personio continues to post strong metrics: in 2023, revenue reportedly doubled and the firm reached over 15,000 customers by 2025. Personio’s success is often attributed to its user-friendly, modular platform tailored to non-technical HR teams at smaller companies. It integrates with 100+ other business tools and emphasizes automation of routine HR tasks. Now valued at $8.5 billion+, Personio is widely seen as a future IPO candidate and a role model for Europe’s B2B SaaS boom – proving that an “SMB HR” niche can scale to a global category leader.
Munich, Germany · Startup Proxima Fusion is a deep-tech fusion energy company spun out from the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics in 2023. It is developing quasi-isodynamic stellarator systems designed for stable, commercial fusion power generation and is targeting a demonstrator pathway toward net-energy performance in the next decade.
Munich, Germany · Person President of Bitkom, Germany's digital industry association, and Group CEO of Giesecke+Devrient, a Munich-based security technology company. He represents thousands of digital-economy companies and is an announced speaker at the 2026 AI, Data & Quantum Summit organized by Bitkom.
Munich, Germany · Accelerator The Siemens Technology Accelerator (STA) is a unique corporate accelerator program run by Siemens AG since 2001, aimed at spinning out non-core technologies from Siemens’ R&D into independent startups. Based in Munich, STA essentially identifies promising internal innovations (often developed at Siemens Corporate Technology labs) that don’t fit Siemens’ core business, and forms new ventures around them. STA provides seed funding, co-founding management, and access to Siemens’ infrastructure to these ventures, effectively acting as a venture builder. Over its history, the Siemens Technology Accelerator has spun out more than 12 companies across sectors like energy, industrial automation, healthcare, and materials. Notable spin-offs include MetisMotion (advanced actuators), Magazino (warehouse robotics – which STA helped early on), and Epiqo (a digital twin software). One high-profile case is Rethink Robotics GmbH: in 2020, STA helped relaunch assets of Rethink Robotics (the US cobot pioneer) in a joint venture, integrating it with Siemens technology. The typical STA project starts with identifying a tech with market potential. STA then recruits external entrepreneurs or Siemens intrapreneurs to lead the startup, develops a business plan, secures intellectual property rights (license or assign IP from Siemens to the newco), and provides initial funding (often low millions of euros). Siemens often remains a minority shareholder and provides pilot customers or manufacturing help. The time from project inception to an independent company launch is around 18–24 months. STA’s model addresses a common big-corporate problem: great inventions that don’t make it to market. By essentially incubating startups from within, Siemens both creates value from dormant IP and fosters innovation culture. Many STA spin-outs go on to raise venture capital or get acquired. For example, Ionity (an EV charging network) was seeded by Siemens’ STA and later became a major joint venture with automakers. The Siemens Technology Accelerator operates with a small specialized team and has won awards for corporate venturing. It serves as a best-practice example of how large industrial firms can proactively spin off new ventures rather than let R&D sit on a shelf. In essence, STA extends Siemens’ innovation beyond its core by unleashing startups that bring cutting-edge tech (like novel sensors, new materials, etc.) to the broader market.
Munich, Germany · Accelerator Social innovation accelerator promoted in the Munich ecosystem for mission-driven startups and social impact business models. Application deadline: April 15, 2026. Program start: mid-2026. Program notes include zero-equity participation, no-fee access, and travel reimbursement support for selected teams.
Munich, Germany · Event Organisator Organizer of founder-focused meetups and AI events including The Munich AI Conference. Startup Network Europe is an event organiser based in Munich, Germany. Organising events in the Events, Startup Ecosystem, Artificial Intelligence space.
Munich, Germany · Startup The Exploration Company is a Munich-based space startup founded in 2021 by Helene Huby, a former Airbus and ArianeGroup executive. The company is developing Nyx, a reusable orbital vehicle designed to carry cargo to the International Space Station and future commercial space stations. Nyx uses a green propulsion system and is designed for multiple missions, reducing cost per flight. The company has raised over EUR 150 million, including a major Series B, making it one of Europe's best-funded space startups. The Exploration Company represents Europe's push for independent orbital logistics capabilities beyond traditional government-led programs.
Munich, Germany · Event Focused evening conference hosted by Startup Network Europe and held at Codecentric Munich, centered on turning AI strategy into scalable enterprise execution. Designed as a compact, high-quality networking environment for founders, enterprise decision-makers, and technical AI leaders.
Munich, Germany · Person Torsten Reil is Co-founder & Co-CEO of the defence-AI company Helsing. A founder in the German startup ecosystem, Torsten leads the defence-AI company Helsing.
Munich, Germany · Person Valérie Bures is Partner and Managing Director for DACH at XAnge, a French institutional venture capital firm backed by La Banque Postale that invests in early-stage technology and deep tech companies across Continental Europe. She leads the firm's expansion and investment activities in the German-speaking European markets, covering Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Bures is a confirmed speaker at NORDEEP 2026, representing the Franco-German deep tech investment perspective.
Munich, Germany · Event Organisator Global summit organizer focused on investor-founder matchmaking and early-stage capital access. The Venture Capital World Summit hosts annual events in major European cities, bringing together hundreds of VCs, angel investors, and growth-stage founders for structured pitch sessions and networking to accelerate cross-border deal-flow.
Munich, Germany · Person Vlad Larichev is Associate Vice President of Industrial AI at Siemens Advanta, the consulting and IoT-as-a-service division of Siemens AG, a global industrial and technology conglomerate headquartered in Munich. He leads initiatives focused on applying artificial intelligence to industrial settings including manufacturing, automation, and smart infrastructure, and speaks at major AI and industry 4.0 events.
