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Think globally, connect locally: That was the Munich Startup Festival 2025

Networking, keynotes & panels, startup pitches, and workshops – for the third time, the local startup scene gathered at the Munich Startup Festival on July 16, 2025, at Backstage in Munich. The goal: to foster a strong ecosystem that drives innovation and business alike.

July 17, 2025 3 min reading time

On July 16, 1,500 founders, investors, companies, experts, and supporters from the Munich ecosystem gathered for the Munich Startup Festival at Backstage in Munich. With four stages, workshops, panels, pitches, and a networking area, the event offered a full program for startups, scaleups, investors, and the ecosystem throughout the day. (Photo: Munich Startup)
"It's fantastic to see that so many participants did exactly what we created this festival for: networking! The energy was palpable – the Munich startup ecosystem once again demonstrated how strongly it sticks together and works together. I'm excited to see what concrete successes will emerge from the Munich Startup Festival," says Arno Eggers, Director of Munich Startup. (Photo: Munich Startup)
On the Main Stage, a full program of keynote speeches and panel discussions captivated attendees. In the political panel and the discussion on Munich as an innovation hub, Dr. Christian Scharpf, Minister of Labor and Economic Affairs of the City of Munich, and Dr. Fabian Mehring, State Minister for Digital Affairs, provided fascinating insights. Scharpf emphasized: "Munich is a European best practice, where regional innovative strength has a global impact." Dr. Fabian Mehring recognizes the importance of supporting young entrepreneurs: "Founders must not be hampered by unrealistic overregulation – so that they can implement innovations quickly, cost-effectively, and in compliance with the law, despite the complex requirements of the EU AI Act." (Photo: Munich Startup)
In the Munich Startup Awards pitch final, UniteLabs prevailed live on stage, impressing the jury with its connectivity platform for biotech companies. It connects hardware and software systems in the laboratory across manufacturer boundaries, enabling seamless, sustainable integration within minutes. (Photo: Munich Startup)
Also well attended: the pitching stage of the Stadtsparkasse München. Founders presented their business ideas in the fresh air. In the Impact Area, there was also plenty of time for networking between presentations on impact investing and pitches: In two speed networking sessions hosted by The Matchmakers, the goal was to speak with as many people as possible within an hour – and then follow up on the most promising conversations in a relaxed atmosphere. (Photo: Munich Startup)
At the same time, startups and scaleups expanded their knowledge in the club's workshops. These provided practical insights on scaling, funding programs, and financing, as well as IP protection and lessons learned from partnerships between startups and corporates. (Photo: Munich Startup)
After the official program, there was still time to network over cold drinks and pizza before heading to the festival's afterparty. Among those on stage was Malik Harris, whose Eurovision Song Contest hit "Rockstars" stormed the top 10 of the German charts. (Photo: Munich Startup)

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