{"id":53289,"date":"2019-09-29T14:47:43","date_gmt":"2019-09-29T12:47:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.munich-startup.net\/?p=53289"},"modified":"2019-09-29T14:56:31","modified_gmt":"2019-09-29T12:56:31","slug":"bits-pretzels-2019-day-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms.munich-startup.net\/en\/53289\/bits-pretzels-2019-day-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Bits & Pretzels 2019: \u201cThere are Gretas everywhere\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

A brilliant start to Bits & Pretzels 2019: With Barack Obama as the main speaker at this year's opening ceremony, Andreas Bruckschl\u00f6gl, Felix Haas, and Bernd Storm thrilled around 5,000 people at the Munich trade fair. \u2014 By Helen Duran, Sandra Ohse, and Regina Bruckschl\u00f6gl.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3, 2, 1 \u2014 and off we go. Almost punctually, shortly after 10 a.m., Bits & Pretzels, Munich's largest startup festival, kicks off its new season. This year, however, the opening ceremony isn't taking place at the ICM, but in a much larger hall at the trade fair. The mood is upbeat; everyone is waiting for Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Motto of Bits & Pretzels 2019: Impact<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before the event begins, the three hosts, Andreas Bruckschl\u00f6gl, Felix Haas, and Bernd Storm, welcome the audience. The motto of this year's Bits: "Impact." Felix Haas is convinced that everyone can make a difference. The best example: Greta Thunberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe want to follow the spirit of Fridays for Future and build Founders for Future.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In addition, the Bits & Pretzels team, together with the former editor-in-chief of Stern and SZ-Magazin, Dominik Wichmann, announces a new media portal under the working title \u201cThe Maker Mountains\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a welcoming address by Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs Hubert Aiwanger, Dan Ram, who will once again host Bits this year, brings three inspiring female founders onto the stage who have achieved real impact. Among them is Zarah Bruhn, founder and CEO of the Munich startup Social Bee<\/a>In our short conversation after the performance she says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

"Greta Thunberg is always accused of not offering solutions. But she's the door opener that helps us social entrepreneurs make impact a priority." <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Reid Hoffmann, co-founder of LinkedIn, also inspired the participants. He offered tips on "blitzscaling" for different startup stages. The role of science fiction in technology was also briefly discussed. Hoffmann said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

"Storytellers influence the way we live. We need stories that are for hope and for solutions." <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Standing ovations for Barack Obama<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

And finally: Barack Obama. Before he's greeted with a standing ovation and much applause, the three hosts briefly explain how they first tried to contact Obama two years ago. After receiving little response to a personal invitation video, the three finally received the positive news in early July. The reaction: F*CK, do we even have the budget for this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

How do you react when Barack #Obama<\/a> like this? #bits19<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/oERp1W8sn4<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Verena Gr\u00fcndel (@View85) September 29, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote>