Munich Startup Award: A look back

It all began at Bits & Pretzels 2016: For the first time, Munich Startup presented the Munich Startup Award, endowed with €5,000, to the Munich startup that had performed best in the founders' festival's pitch competition. The ceremony didn't take place just anywhere, but right in the middle of Oktoberfest – except during the coronavirus pandemic, of course. Since this year, however, a lot has changed: The award is now part of the Munich Startup Festival. was awarded at the first edition Deepdrive – and at Bits & Pretzels, the Munich Startup Special Prize will be awarded to the best Munich startup at Bits & Pretzels. This prize is endowed with €2,500. Before that happens, let's take a look back at the Munich startups that have already been honored with a Munich Startup Award at Bits & Pretzels.

Munich Startup Award 2016
2016: It all started in 2016 Cleverciti SystemsThe Munich-based startup was able to prevail against around 70 other companies from the region in the pitch competition at Bits. Gabriele Böhmer, editorial director of Munich Startup and member of the jury, praised the winning team at the award ceremony: "Cleverciti is enriching Munich's startup scene with a pioneering, innovative smart city solution. By presenting the 'Munich Startup Award,' we want to reward Cleverciti for its entrepreneurial courage and commitment and set an example." Cleverciti aims to enable cities and parking operators to achieve smart and efficient parking management using sensor technology. The Munich Startup Award was just a (small) beginning for the smart city startup: Cleverciti has now 21 million euros in funding for his project. (Photo: Munich Startup / Robert Pupeter)
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