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.
‍
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?
‍
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.
‍
It's about living the startup live and we are grateful for people appreciating that.
‍
Join 5,000 founders and become a part of Bits & Pretzels.

Get your tickets

- Close -

Why do attendees
want our logo tattooed?

Check out what makes
Bits & Pretzels so special.

Read moreClose

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.

Get your tickets

#bits22 has been rescheduled

We are incredibly sad but the current COVID-19 situation does not allow Bits & Pretzels to be held in January. That's why we have decided to reschedule the event to 25–27 September 2022.

If you've already bought a ticket, we will automatically transfer it to the new date free of charge.

Get your ticketRead our full statement

Our former speakers

View all ►

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
Eric Schmidt
Former CEO Google,
Co-Founder Schmidt Futures
Nathan Blecharczyk
Co-Founder & CTO
airbnb
Sebastian Siemiatkowski
CEO & Co-Founder
Klarna
Lea-Sophie Cramer
Founder & Advisory Board Member
Amorelie
Joko Winterscheidt
Entertainer & Entrepreneur

Stay tuned as more speakers 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 + 2 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.

Virtual • Academy Days

January

17

Mon

&

18

Tue

16:00 - 19:00 CET

Startup Masterclasses

In-person • Main Event

January

20

Thu

&

21

Fri

8:00 - 19:00 CET

Conference with 7 stages

Startup Exhibition

Startup Pitch & Awards

Table Captain Meetings

Speed Dating Sessions

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.

Your facetime

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.

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 physically 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 size. 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

#bits20

Contact

Startup Events GmbH
Rumfordstraße 15
80469 Munich
Germany

hello@bitsandpretzels.com

More

Social