Public invitation for the selection of companies for the startup delegation at the Bits & Pretzels 2026 event in Munich
SPIRIT Slovenia, a public agency, is organizing an outgoing economic delegation of Slovenian startup companies as part of the Bits & Pretzels Founders Festival 2026 , which will take place between September 28 and 30, 2026 in Munich (Germany).
Participation will be granted to six (6) Slovenian startup companies that meet the conditions of this invitation.
The purpose of the delegation is to present the Slovenian startup environment at one of the most important European startup events, to introduce Slovenian technological solutions to the German and wider DACH economic space, to establish direct contacts with German Mittelstand and leading industrial corporations, to obtain investment opportunities through organized 1:1 meetings, and to strengthen the visibility of the Slovenian startup ecosystem on the international stage.
Every year, Bits & Pretzels brings together the entire startup ecosystem in Munich in a unique format that combines a conference with informal networking in the spirit of a traditional Oktoberfest. This year's theme of the festival is "Human After All" and emphasizes the role of founders, resilience, and European technological independence.
Main features of the event, relevant to selected companies:
- Conference Days (September 28-29, 2026, ICM Munich ): 10+ stages, 500+ speakers, 300+ exhibitors, curated matchmaking program and online platform for pre-arranging 1:1 meetings.
- Oktoberfest networking day (September 30, 2026, Festhalle Schottenhamel) : closing day in the "Liquid Networking" format with 400+ Table Captains, offering a unique opportunity for in-depth business conversations in a relaxed environment.
- CIO AI Summit : an invitation-only platform with over 500 CIOs from German Hidden Champions and leading industrial corporations, designed to connect startups with companies looking for concrete AI and digital solutions.
- Pitch Corner: a stage within the Startup Exhibition area with 90-second presentations organized by industry, where selected companies receive direct feedback from experts and the audience.
The event is a starting point for successful international breakthroughs of Slovenian startups in the DACH region, which, with more than 100 million consumers and the densest network of industrial "Hidden Champions" in the world, is one of the most important strategic markets for the growth of Slovenian technology companies.
More information about the event, registration and conditions for participation can be found here .
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