Startup trade mission to Baden-Württemberg Summit in Germany

Why the Startup BW Summit?

Are you interested in expanding your business to the German market? Then, the Startup Baden-Württemberg Summit (Startup BW Summit) might interest you.

The Baden-Württemberg federal state is an industrial- and export-heavy region and home to 412,601 large businesses in 2023. Companies such as Bosch, Daimler, Heidelberg Cement, IBM, Porsche, SAP, Schwarz Gruppe (Lidl), Voith, and ZF Friedrichshafen are headquartered or have branches in Baden-Württemberg. Additionally, renowned research institutions such as the Max Planck Institute and the universities of Stuttgart and Karlsruhe make the area an essential location for research and development.

Discovery Tours BW

Before the Startup BW Summit, on 9 and 10 July, you can join the 'Discovery Tours BW'. This event is exclusive to startups that participate in the Startup BW Summit. You will visit local tech ecosystems and learn about local startup hubs, German companies, and knowledge institutions.

Each of the startups we select can choose to join one of the tours below with 1 representative from your startup.  

Tour North

• Heilbronn (CampusFounders, Innovation Park Artificial Intelligence, talk with MedTech company)
• Heidelberg (Wavehouse, networking dinner)
• Mannheim (MedTech Mannheim Cluster, CUBEX 41, CUBEX ONE, Mafinex Tech Centre, Up2B and Life-Science Accelerators)
• Böblingen (AI Express)

Tour South

• Karlsruhe (Cyberforum, European Digital Innovation Hub Karlsruhe, Energy Accelerator AXEL, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, networking lunch and dinner)
• Freiburg and environs (BadenCampus, Arise Accelerator, Grünhof&Lokhalle)
• Böblingen (AI Express)

Both tours start and finish in Stuttgart. On 10 July, at the end of the tours, you can attend the closing drinks and dinner gathering for participants in Stuttgart.

Why take part?

Through this trade mission, you will gain access to the German market. It will also allow you to showcase your innovative technology to potential investors, business partners, and customers.

Our mission supports promising Dutch tech startups that want to do business abroad or are already active internationally.

Top 5 opportunities that the Startup BW Summit offers

1. Present your product or service to a large German audience.
2. Validate or test your product or service.
3. Expand your international network.
4. Meet potential investors.
5. Gain knowledge about the German market and create partnerships.

Also, meeting up with counterparts is extremely valuable. During the mission, there will be plenty of opportunities to exchange knowledge and experience about the German market with other Dutch and international participants.

For whom?

We invite startup companies that are active in the following areas:

• Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, Software and IT Security
• Life Sciences & Health (LSH)
• GreenTech and ImpactTech 
• Smart Mobility

Your startup must meet the following requirements:

• You have a high-tech, innovative and potentially disruptive product or service.
• You have started or are ready for international scale-up.
• Your startup is registered at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce.

Does your company not completely fit this profile, but would you still like to join this trade mission? Please explain why you should be part of the Dutch delegation to the Startup BW Summit in your application.

Full attendance required

Trade missions are a significant tool for successfully growing and developing a startup. So, preparing and participating in every part of this mission is essential. With that in mind, we kindly request you to attend the compulsory preparatory meeting and participate in every aspect of the programme. Please consider sending a colleague or rethink your application if you cannot attend.

Registration and fees

Register for this mission. Please do so before 21 May. Each attendee needs to sign up separately.

We will notify you whether you are selected for this mission one week after the registration deadline.

A limited number of 20 startups can join this trade mission. Companies that join the mission must fall within this mission's scope and focus. Therefore, registration does not guarantee your place in this mission.

Women's entrepreneurship

We encourage women's entrepreneurship. We do not select participants based on gender. But we challenge you to look for women participants within your organisation to take part in this mission.

• Register

Fees

The participation fee is €500 (excluding VAT) per company. Only 2 participants per company can take part. This fee gives you the following:

• Access to the Startup BW Summit for 2 participants.
• Access for one person per participating startup to one of the Discovery Tours BW tours. Including 1 overnight stay and meals.
• Access to the compulsory online preparatory meeting.
• Use of the NL Lounge as a meeting point at the Startup BW Summit.
• Access to side events and networking events.
• Networking opportunities with potential investors.
• Support from the Startup Liaison Officer, Netherlands Business Support Office (NBSO) and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency.

Travel and accommodation

Travel and accommodation are at your own expense. It also applies to meals and drinks unless stated otherwise in the programme.

Responsible Business Conduct

The Dutch government emphasises responsible business conduct (RBC) and endorses the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, which state the RBC standards for internationally active entrepreneurs. Following the OECD guidelines is one condition for participation in this mission.

More information

For more information about this startup trade mission, please contact:

Marie-Jeannine Citroen
Project manager BW Summit 2024, Netherlands Enterprise Agency
E: marie.citroen@rvo.nl