your Access to europe’S most powerful network
Who is it for?
Tailored for every stage of your founder journey
Startups
Scaleups
Get the Attention You Deserve
Meet 1,500+ Investors
Whether you’re pre-seed or scaling toward Series A, this is your direct line to the capital that counts. Step into a curated ecosystem of Business Angels and VCs who are here for one reason: to back the next big thing. From your first check to your next major milestone, find the partners who match your vision, nurture your existing investor relationships, and unlock new growth capital opportunities to power your scale.
The Ultimate Reality Check
Stop guessing and start validating. Put your product, pricing, and market fit in front of the people who matter, giving you the raw, actionable feedback you need to pivot fast and scale even faster.
.jpg)
Maximize your visibility
Be part of the startup ecosystem, meet like-minded people, build and nourish your network.
Learn from the best
From the trenches to the top: See how top founders turn every failure into a breakthrough. Master the game with insights from those who’ve played it and those who are winning it right alongside you.
Meet 600+ Enterprise decisionmakers
Turn your concept into a market leader. We provide the stage to validate your assumptions, prove your traction, and secure the strategic partnerships or pilot customers you need to move from 'idea' to 'essential'.
A breeding Ground
for success
The Voices of Innovation
Max Junestrand
Co-Founder & CEO
Legora
Mirko Novakovic
Founder & CEO
Dash0
Harry Nelis
Partner
Accel
Simon Schmincke
General Partner
Creandum
Ritika Pai
Partner
ICONIQ
Prof. Dr. h. c. Carsten Maschmeyer
CEO
Maschmeyer Group
Matthias Schranner
CEO
Schranner
Steve Basher
Founder & CEO
SolveAI
Sebastian Johnson
Founder
Scaling Europe
Fynn Kliemann
Founder & CEO
Kliemannsland
THAT'S WHAT OUR FOUNDERS SAY
"The most valuable outcome of exhibiting at the event was that a visit to our booth led to our first major corporate pilot project. It connected us with one of the world’s largest EV manufacturers and opened the door to strategic deals and funding opportunities."
"The conversations at Bits & Pretzels gave us the visibility we needed at the right time. We came to the event with a vision, and left with validation, funding leads, and a broader community that believes in our mission: to connect the unconnected, sustainably. Now flyvbird is ready to scale thanks partially to the momentum built at Bits & Pretzels."
"At Bits & Pretzels, meeting new connections turned out to be more important than expected. One year later, we’re close to a partnership with what might be the best possible match in Germany for our company. Even early investor talks were refreshingly open-minded."
"Bits & Pretzels helped us connect with like-minded founders in healthcare and longevity, gain media visibility, and strengthen our credibility with investors. Since then, we successfully closed our seed investment round this spring, an important milestone for Avancell Medical."
regularly Attending FUNDS
600+ Top Executives
Here is a glimpse into the list who joined in 2025:
The Ultimate ROI for Your Founder Journey.
Stop spending, start investing. Unlock direct access to the capital and strategic power players that will scale your startup into a global market leader. Immerse yourself in a high-level ecosystem of late-stage founders and investors to gain the executive inspiration and elite connections that turn ambitious ideas into profitable realities.
Maximize your impact
Join the startup exhibition
Ready to put your startup on the radar of Europe’s top investors, media,and decision-makers?
At the Startup Exhibition at Bits & Pretzels, you showcase your productalongside the most promising startups in the ecosystem. It's your momentto pitch, connect, and gain real traction — all in front of the people whocan fuel your next stage of growth. From visibility to validation, this is where ambitious founders take the fastlane.
Join the Pitch Corner
Step into the spotlight at the Pitch Corner, an open-concept stage situated at the very heart of the Startup Exhibition Area. This is the ultimate platform for founders to master the art of the “elevator pitch” in its purest form—no slides, no tech, and no distractions.
You have exactly 90 seconds to capture the attention of the crowd and convince with nothing but the power of your story. Following your pitch, you’ll receive instant, high-value feedback from ecosystem experts. There is no pre-registration required and no barriers to entry; simply show up, sign up on-site, and take your shot on a first-come, first-served basis. If you’re ready to turn foot traffic into a following, the stage is yours.
CIO Founder Reception
Join expert-led discussions on AI strategy, implementation, and governance. Exchange ideas with peers and get actionable answers to your toughest questions.
Your Network in Your Pocket
The Bits & Pretzels networkng platform is your digital headquarters for the event. Designed to cut through the noise, it puts the entire ecosystem of 7,500 founders & investors at your fingertips.
Don’t leave your success to chance.
Stop Searching. Start Connecting.
At Bits & Pretzels, we replace random networking with curated matchmaking. We put founders first by creating the right conditions for meaningful connections through 1:1 meetings, expert-led roundtables, and our digital networking platform.
Whether it’s high-speed dating or deep-dive sessions, we provide the tools and the mentors to ensure your startup finds the right partners. Don’t leave your success to chance, make every conversation count.
Table Captain Networking
The final day of Bits & Pretzels moves the networking to the Oktoberfest, but the real value is at the table. Join a Table Captain, a seasoned founder, industry veteran, or top-tier investor—for deep, honest conversations in the unique atmosphere of the Schottenhamel tent.
Instead of stiff appointments, you choose a table tailored to your specific challenge, from fundraising to international expansion. It’s a space built for authentic connection, allowing you to stress-test your strategy and build lasting bonds with mentors and peers alike. Grab your seat, join the conversation, and turn a tent encounter into your next major breakthrough.
%20(1).png)
WHERE WE COME FROM.
Bits & Pretzels started as founders breakfast with just 80 participants. We dared to start and the spirit of supporting founders continues in 2026 and beyond.
Join our mission in helping founders shaping a better future.
