Founders, we really care for you

At Bits & Pretzels, we put founders first by creating the right conditions for meaningful connections. We open doors and provide the tools and guidance you need to meet the people who will move your business forward—through curated Matchmaking, our Online Platform, and in-person at Summits, Masterclasses, and our Oktoberfest Networking Experiences.

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OUR UNIQUE APPROACH
TO YOUR NETWORKING

Your personal networking team

70+ Matchmakers

Most conferences leave you alone with your goals. Not us. Our team of 70+ trained matchmakers knows the startup ecosystem – and makes sure you walk away having met the people who actually matter for your business.

Personal guidance based on your specific goals

Support before and throughout the event

Multilingual & deeply familiar with the startup world

Based at the Matchmaking Area – your on-site hub

Your access to all 7,500 attendees

Networking platform

Who's there? What are they looking for? How do you reach them? Our networking platform answers all of that – weeks before you even arrive. Message attendees, lock in meetings and show up prepared.

Access to all 7,500 attendees

Direct messaging & meeting scheduling

Available as app & desktop version

Start using it weeks before the event

We’re Here to Make
Connecting Easier

Your goal at Bits & Pretzels should be to meet as many relevant people for your business as possible. We give you the tools, spaces, and guidance to make it happen.

70+ Matchmakers Guide Your Bits Journey

A team of skilled and trained networkers

Understand your needs & the startup ecosystem

Professionals in the age of 25 - 50

Multi-cultural and multi-lingual: English, Spanish, Russian, Bulgarian, Italian, Polish, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, Dutch

Discover How our
Matchmaking Works

We make connecting easy — through Roundtables, Speed Dating, and 1:1 Meetings via our Online Plattform. Just drop by with your goals for the day — we’ll guide, connect, and support you personally.

Roundtables

Pull up a chair and join the conversation. Jump into moderated roundtable discussions on shared challenges and opportunities in the Bits & Pretzels landscape. Topics range from Fundraising Stories, to Building AI Agent Teams up to Founder Mental Health & Resilience.

No registration needed—just drop by and join in.

Speed dating

Want to make meaningful connections fast? Speed Dating is your spot. Join sessions that match your needs and interests, and meet people who truly fit. Topics include Women in the Startup Ecosystem, Building Your Network as a Founder and First Investment Speed Dating.

1:1 Meeting Area

Use our online platform to browse the attendee list and easily schedule meetings with fellow participants, business leaders, and investors ahead of time. Once onsite, meet face-to-face in our dedicated Meeting Area, designed to foster meaningful conversations and new business opportunities.

Join our european  networking hub

Founder-first: We design every detail to help you connect with people who can move your business forward.

Human-powered Matchmaking: Our team and curated formats guide you to the right conversations without the noise.

Opportunities at scale: Meet fellow founders, investors, and leaders you won’t find anywhere else in one place.

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Experience the business magic of Oktoberfest

Yes we really take thousands of startup people to a single tent at the real Munich Oktoberfest. And yes, it’s even more about business as it is fun.

Every table hosts a pre-booked meeting of 8-10 attendees. It’s a place where founders pitch, new partnerships are made, and business partners become friends.

It’s a day like nothing you have ever experienced.

2025

Bits & Pretzels unites its most international community yet under the Connecting Europe theme to help build a competitive, strong, and vibrant European ecosystem.

2023

Bits & Pretzels is home. The Home of Founders. People came for Michelle Obama and they stayed for the community.

2019

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

2017

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

2015

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

2025

Bits & Pretzels unites its most international community yet under the Connecting Europe theme to help build a competitive, strong, and vibrant European ecosystem.

2023

Bits & Pretzels is home. The Home of Founders. People came for Michelle Obama and they stayed for the community.

2019

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

2017

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

2015

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

2024

Bits & Pretzels launches the first-ever Investor Summit and CXO Summit — setting a new standard for founder and investor networking.

2022

What a return after a two year break. It was time to reunite the European startup ecosystem and everybody joined.

2018

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

2016

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

2013-14

Wild first years. Started with only 80 participants at Hofbräuhaus the event grows to 1,400 attendees.