Bits & Pretzels Founders Festival 2026

Bits & Pretzels is a prominent festival in Europe tailored for startup founders, investors, and industry professionals. Over three days, the event combines structured conference sessions, extensive networking opportunities, and the cultural experience of Oktoberfest, facilitating knowledge exchange, partnerships, and business development.

Initially a small breakfast meeting for 80 founders, Bits & Pretzels has transformed into a global event, attracting more than 7,500 participants, including entrepreneurs, investors, and corporate leaders. The festival merges business insights with a vibrant community atmosphere, promoting connections that lead to tangible outcomes.

Event Format

Days 1 & 2 — Conference Sessions

• Two full days dedicated to networking, masterclasses, and selected speaker presentations
• Optimized founder-investor ratio to foster significant connections
• Over 21,000 meetings between founders and investors during the event
• Exhibitions for startups and pitch competitions
• €390 billion in assets under management represented
• More than 500 distinguished speakers across 10 stages
• 40+ interactive Startup Academy sessions

Day 3 — Networking at Oktoberfest

• Business networking within the historic Schottenhamel Tent
• 300+ tables managed by 250 experienced Table Captains
• Two organized “liquid networking” sessions
• A distinctive networking experience that merges culture with business

Featured Speakers & Influencers (Sample)

• Niklas Zennström – Founder & CEO, Atomico
• Katherina Reiche – Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Germany
• Caroline Stage Olsen – Minister for Digital Government, Denmark
• Thomas Wolf – Co-Founder & Chief Science Officer, Hugging Face
• Dorothee Bär – Federal Minister of Research, Technology and Space, Germany
• Hélène Huby – Founder & CEO, The Exploration Company
• Martin Mignot – Partner, Index Ventures
• Peter Sarlin – Co-Founder & CEO, AMD Silo AI
• Robert Gentz – Founder & Co-CEO, Zalando
• Simon Schmincke – General Partner, Creandum
• Hanno Renner – Co-Founder & CEO, Personio
• Andrei Brasoveanu – Partner, Accel

(Speaker lineups may vary each year, with full lists available closer to the event date.)

Intended Participants

Founders

This event is aimed at early-stage to growth-stage founders who wish to:

• Present to investors and obtain funding
• Establish strategic partnerships
• Gain insights from leading executives and entrepreneurs
• Access mentorship opportunities with industry experts

Investors

Investors and venture capitalists can expect to:

• Participate in curated one-on-one meetings with founders
• Network with emerging startups from Europe
• Engage in discussions about investment trends and corporate strategies

Corporate Leaders & Executives

• Learn about the application of emerging technologies such as AI
• Discover strategies from leading businesses
• Connect with startups for potential innovation partnerships

Event Features

• Structured Networking: Over 21,000 meetings between founders and investors during the event
• Startup Pitch & Exhibition: Opportunities for startups to present to investors and partners
• Investor & CXO Summits: Dedicated areas for corporate leaders and investors
• Festival Environment: Oktoberfest-themed networking for lasting connections
• Diversity & Inclusion: Sessions and awards supporting underrepresented founders
• Global Participation: International attendees and speakers contributing to the growth of the European startup ecosystem

Historical Overview

• 2013–14: Began as a breakfast gathering with 80 participants
• 2015: Expanded to a three-day festival with 3,500 attendees
• 2016–17: Featured founders from Virgin, Airbnb, and other global brands; attendance capped at 5,000 for enhanced networking
• 2018: Emphasized diversity with a keynote by Tarana Burke (#MeToo)
• 2019: President Barack Obama served as the keynote speaker
• 2022: Festival resumed after a two-year hiatus to reconnect the European startup community
• 2024: Introduction of the first Investor Summit and CXO Summit for improved networking