Standing in front of the most renowned venture capitalists and business angels from all over Europe and presenting one's vision on stage – for many startups, a unique opportunity that became reality yesterday at the "Cashwalk" event series in Munich. LMU Entrepreneurship Center and the German Accelerator For the second time, promising startups brought together potential investors in the halls of Ludwig Maximilian University.
The idea behind Cashwalk is both incredibly simple and promising. From several hundred startups, LMU Entrepreneurship Center and German Accelerator selected 50 young entrepreneurs beforehand. They were invited to pitch to an exclusive circle of hand-picked investors with investment potential of several billion euros. A critical jury consisting of industry giants such as Holtzbrinck Ventures, Jochen Schweizer Ventures, Earlybird, Redstone, and Target Partners subsequently selected the most promising ideas and teams.
The award-winning teams also reflect the diversity of the different industries at the Cashwalk: inveox (MedTech), teamstr (Gaming & Online Sports), Bohemian (Digital Media & Location Based Services), klarx (Construction Industry), Mindgeist (Big Data, Software Marketing), Parklife (Automotive / Navigation / SmartCities).
A rarity: More investors than startups
But the main prize for the startups was, of course, the chance to convince selected investors with their pitch and thus secure the upcoming financing. Some teams were literally "besieged" by investors after their pitch.
“It is important to us to give young founders the chance to present their ideas and visions to potential investors in an effective way,”
so Andy Goldstein –Director at LMU Entrepreneurship Center.
"For us, effective means that the Cashwalk is exclusively about funding. Compared to other startup events or conferences, the focus is on the direct exchange between the presenting startups and the investors."
For this purpose, the startups also have access to high-ranking partners such as Invest in Bavaria with advice and support.
A special feature of this format, which also left a lasting impression on the startups, is that far more investors than startups were accredited. This excellent ratio guarantees networking at the highest level, which could be further deepened during even more personal meetings in the Investors Lounge.
"It was an amazing experience to pitch in front of a variety of top-tier investors: from experienced business angels to international VCs. We are proud to be part of the event!",
so Dominik Sievert, Co-Founder of inveox.
Focus on smart money
In addition to the high-caliber jury, LMU Entrepreneurship Center was able to attract other renowned investors, such as SpeedInvest, Creathor, SevenVentures and a number of dedicated business angels for the event. In addition to pure financial strength, the LMU Entrepreneurship Center also places particular emphasis on Smart Money This means selecting investors who bring expertise in the participating startups' fields and relevant industry contacts. For many startups, the Cashwalk is merely the prelude to more in-depth investor discussions, and some were able to celebrate financing shortly after the event.
Cashwalk takes place twice a year
Twice a year, startups have the chance to apply for a Cashwalk The exclusive events take place in Munich at Ludwig Maximilian University in spring and fall each year. The next edition is already planned, and applications for startups will open soon. Investor participation is on an invite-only basis.
