Summary
The core message of the session was that Germany’s next startup agenda is to turn its existing strengths—research, industry, Mittelstand companies, investors, and ambitious founders—into more scalable companies that grow in Germany, Europe, and international markets. Janina Jeng, who heads the Directorate General for SMEs, Future Technologies and Startups in the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, framed the Startup Germany stage at Bits and Pretzels 2026 around a practical question: after recent progress, what must happen next? She pointed to the Deutschland Fund, the rollout of EXIST startup factories, and the federal government’s July adoption of the new Startup and Scaleup strategy as recent milestones.
Key Topics
5 key topics from Janina Jänsch and Zackes Brustik at Bits & Pretzels 2026 | Founders Festival in Munich. Thicker branches were mentioned more often in the talk.
Key Takeaways
- Mobilize private and institutional capital for scaleup financing.
- Turn university research into market-ready startup companies.
- Use venture clienting to connect startups with first customers.
- Bring AI into factories, energy systems, and Mittelstand companies.
- Scale German startups internationally beyond the domestic market.
“Government funding alone will never be enough. Nor should it be.”
Up Next
Next in agenda
Golden Pretzel Award - Pre-Round I
Also on startup germany
Welcome to Startup Germany Stage
Also on scaleups