As a founder of a Munich-based startup, the famous Bits & Pretzels convention is certainly on your agenda. Recently, I had the chance to be a part of it and deliver a pitch on stage. 

Besides the pitch, it was a very special experience that I want to share with you now. A convention like Bits & Pretzels offers many interesting opportunities – of course, you go there to do some business, so I went there talking about Testbirds and meeting clients. These meetings were kind of special because they took place in an environment that was totally different from the common office environment: I met my clients and collocutors at the biergarten where we sat and talked, surrounded by busy people having lunch, discussing new ideas, talking about their latest investments and their greatest successes.

As you can imagine, talking to a client in an environment that smelled like startup business rather than corporate business was very refreshing, and a great experience.

There was, however, not only the business part but also the “founding” part. The event was proof that something is stirring in Germany! At Bits & Pretzels there were so many startups, showing off an incredible amount of cool, useful, exciting, and surprising products that will definitely remain in memory.

Behind all these innovative products and companies are the people who get things going, and all these people believe in their ideas; you can really feel the spirit of founding and see the innovative strength that exists in Germany. Additionally, it was very interesting to recognise that Bits & Pretzels is a German convention but with a definite international flair.To summarise my personal reasons for attending Bits & Pretzels:

• Show up, be present, meet clients, talk, laugh, sign deals
• Meet great people, listen to interesting speeches
• Experience great products and companies
• Just stroll around, feel the spirit, get motivated and inspired, stay focused and keep up the startup mentality

So, here are my closing thoughts about the convention: Germany has innovative and entrepreneurial power, and there are a lot of people who want to shape the future. We at Testbirds are proud to be part of that culture, and when attending these events you can see that all these innovative people are not only business-oriented, but they truly enjoy what they are doing and have fun working on their ideas.

Or, in the words of Formula 1 World Champion Nico Rosberg (who spoke at the event): “better life, better performance.” – stay funny and drive your business.