Why people love Bits & Pretzels

At the 2019 festival we provided a tattoo artist and offered a free lifetime-ticket for the first 10 attendees willing to get our logo tattooed.
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The tickets have been gone within the first morning, but people didn‘t stop getting tattoos with the iconic pretzel logo. But why do people decide to wear a brand on their skin for the rest of their lives?
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We believe it‘s because of our honest approach to celebrate the challenges and  highlights of being an entrepreneur. We always put founders first and give them a stage to promote their companies. We try to act like a startup and we never settle with what we achieved.
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It's about living the startup live and we are grateful for people appreciating that.
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Join 5,000 founders and become a part of Bits & Pretzels.

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Why do attendees
want our logo tattooed?

Check out what makes
Bits & Pretzels so special.

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Bits & Pretzels 2022 has been rescheduled to 25 – 27 September. Read our statement →

Founders,
this is for you.

25–27 September 2022 • Munich

Europe's leading founders festival returns to Munich. Join 5,000 founders, investors, and startup enthusiasts for three days full of learning, networking & inspiration.

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Reuniting founders

There is a reason why we are called The Founders Festival: Back in 2014, Bits & Pretzels started as a small founders breakfast with just 80 participants.

Today, thousands of founders, the world's leading companies and the most inspiring speakers are joining our annual festival – sharing the belief that entrepreneurship can drive positive change in Germany, Europe and all over the world.
‍
In September 2022, we will reunite our exceptional community of 5,000 creators to support, connect and inspire those that will help solving the problems of our generation.

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Our speakers 2022

View all ►

Niklas Adalberth
Founder
Norrsken Foundation
Hanno Renner
Co-Founder & CEO
Personio
Miriam Wohlfarth
Founder & CEO
Banxware
Fridtjof Detzner
Co-Founder & General Partner
Planet A Ventures
Christian Vollmann
CEO
C1 Green Chemicals AG
Valerie Bures
CEO
VAHA
Felix Ohswald
Co-Founder & CEO
GoStudent
Jakob Berndt
Co-Founder
Tomorrow

Stay tuned more speakers for September will be announced soon!

Mitchell Baker
Executive Chairwoman
Mozilla Foundation & Corporation
Stefan Raab
Entrepreneur & Entertainer
Philipp Lahm
Founder Philipp Lahm Holding, Partner
Fanmiles
Jan Böhmermann
satirist, tv host, and multiple award-winner
Margit Wennmachers
Operating Partner
Andreessen Horowitz
Barack Obama
Jessica Alba
Founder
The Honest Company
Reid Hoffman
Co-Founder
LinkedIn
Richard Branson
Founder
Virgin Group
Dirk Nowitzki
Former NBA Player
Drew Houston
Founder & CEO
Dropbox
Arianna Huffington
Founder & CEO
Thrive Global

2 + 3 days

of learning, networking,
inspiration

At our main event at the ICM Munich, you'll get the full Bits & Pretzels experience. On top of that, you'll also have access to two virtual Academy Days packed with How-to Sessions and Masterclasses.

On the last day, Bits & Pretzels returns to the Munich Oktoberfest. You don't want to miss it.

Virtual • Academy Days

September

21

Wed

&

22

Thu

15:00 - 18:00 CET

Startup Masterclasses

In-person • Main Event

September

25

Sun

-

26

Mon

8:00 - 19:00 CET

Conference with 10+ stages

Startup Exhibition

Startup Pitch & Awards

Table Captain Meetings

Speed Dating Sessions

Matchmaking Area

After Party

Side Events

In-person • Oktoberfest

September

27

Tue

9:00 - 12:00 CET

5,000 Founders at the

Munich Oktoberfest

Table Captain Meetings

A day to remember

Everybody should
know your startup.

This is how you do it.

a founder

Grow as

Bits & Pretzels is the only major startup event that limits its number of attendees. We make sure that you'll get the most out of the Festival: Learn from the experiences and mistakes of our handpicked speakers and improve your knowledge and skills at the Startup Masterclasses.

achievements

Bits & Pretzels is an event from founders for founders. At our Festival, it is easy to get your name out: Join our Startup Exhibition, pitch in front of hundreds of investors or promote your company by partnering with us.

Accelerate

your business

The leading decision-makers in the startup ecosystem join Bits & Pretzels. Use this chance to meet potential customers, partners or investors. Our Table Captain eetings make it easy to create meaningful connections that accelerate your business.

of change makers

Join a community

Our community wants to create real and sustainable impact through innovative ideas and technology. Imagine how inspiring it is to meet people who actually do stuff for three straight days. Be open and talk to each other – you'll make connections that last for a lifetime.

Face to face

with leading

 .

Hundreds of startups, investors and corporates are joining Bits & Pretzels every year. They know that a network cannot be built from your office.

Skip weeks of business lunches and investor meetings – and do all your networking over the course of just three days.

France is our

guest country

Together with La French Tech, we’ll bring the most important French startups and tech companies to Germany – to unite the European startup ecosystems that needs to stay resilient against the strong digital competition from the US and Asia.
‍
At the Festival, there will be over 600 square meters of exhibition space dedicated to French startups and corporations. We’ll also host a special conference stage with top speakers from France.
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Our partnership coincides with this year’s French Presidency of the Council of the European Union and President Emmanuel Macron’s plan to boost the growth of European scaleups and innovation.

Tell me more >

Where we come from.

2013

Andy and Bernd initiate the first Founders Breakfast. Eighty participants join them at the famous Hofbräuhaus.

2014

Felix joins the team and 1,400 attendees gather for the first edition that is called Bits & Pretzels.

2015

For the first time the Festival lasts for three days. The grand finale gathers 3,500 founders at the Oktoberfest.

2016

5,000 attendees come to see the founders of Virgin, Airbnb, and other inspiring personalities.

2017

Bits & Pretzels establishes its quality over size rule and limits the number of attendees to 5,000.

2018

Tarana Burke, founder of the #metoo movement, opens the Festival to underline the commitment to diversity.

2019

President Barack Obama joins Bits & Pretzels and leads an amazing speaker lineup.

2020

The first virtual edition of Bits & Pretzels proves that not even a pandemic can stop the startup community.

Our values

Founders are always first

Bits & Pretzels is an event from founders for founders. We don‘t compromise when creating content for our fellow entrepreneurs. Everything we do is about giving founders what they need to achieve their goals and reach for the stars.  

Quality Over Size

Bits & Pretzels is the only major event for startups that limits its number of attendees. To us, it’s important to rather gather the best players of the ecosystem than keep growing and sacrifice the quality of your event experience.

We do things Bits-Style

We always give 110%. This ambition makes us pioneers of our time, looking ahead - ready to tackle problems with our community. With enthusiasm for technology and precision, we provide an exciting environment that enables founders to shape a better future.

THE COMMUNITY

We love progressive change-makers. Always questioning the status quo and looking for new ways to improve our environment. We want to create a world of possibilities with true & sustainable impact for everyone who joins Bits & Pretzels. Our aim: to constantly develop and benchmark a better future.

FAQ

Will the Bits & Pretzels festival be a virtual or physical event?
▼

Since the beginning, Bits & Pretzels has been about the power of community. After too many years full of virtual events, we believe that our physical festival is the perfect occasion to reunite founders, investors and startup enthusiasts.

Where will the Bits & Pretzels festival be held?
▼

The Bits & Pretzels Festival will be held in person at the ICM Munich on 25–27 September 2022.

How many visitors can attend the Bits & Pretzels festival?
▼

Traditionally, Bits & Pretzels is the only major startup event that limits its number of attendees. We focus on quality over quantity. This stays the same in 2022 where we will have a maximum of 5,000 attendees at our festival.

I am interested in partnering with you, who do I contact?
▼

For sponsorship inquiries, please write to hello@bitsandpretzels.com

#bits22

Events 2022

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Contact

Startup Events GmbH
Rumfordstraße 15
80469 Munich
Germany

hello@bitsandpretzels.com