Bits & Pretzels 2024: Insights from Exaud's GM, Georg Tubalev

Highlights from Bits & Pretzels 2024

Bits & Pretzels, held at the ICM in Messe München, is an important event in the startup world. From September 29 to October 2, it brought together creative startups, investors, and well-known figures. We talked with Exaud's General Manager, Georg Tubalev, to get the main highlights from this exciting event.

Key Trends and Innovations

What were the main trends or innovations you noticed at Bits & Pretzels this year?

There’s a lot happening in the startup ecosystem right now, with AI continuing to be the main trend. However, there are also some interesting projects emerging in other areas, particularly in HR-tech and EdTech solutions, which are gaining traction and showcasing innovative approaches to traditional challenges.

Did any particular speaker or session stand out to you? If so, what were the key takeaways?

There were many great sessions, but I particularly enjoyed the presentation by Frank Thelen, CEO of Freigeist Capital, regarding his predictions for future innovations over the next five years. Essentially, he stated that the future is closer than we think, and many long-standing goals in technology and applied science - ranging from fully self-driving cars to extraterrestrial settlements - are on the verge of becoming reality, according to him.

Networking Opportunities 

How do you think the networking opportunities at Bits & Pretzels can benefit our company’s growth or strategy?

I believe that face-to-face networking is often undervalued, especially in the sales field. Meeting industry peers with similar interests not only allows us to strengthen our connections but also opens doors for potential collaborations in the future. With our extensive experience working with startups, we find it particularly exciting to engage with the next generation of founders and learn about the latest trends. This engagement helps us stay relevant and enhances our expertise in emerging technologies, which we can then offer to our clients.

Were there any surprising insights that changed your perspective?

It was quite interesting to hear the venture capitalists’ perspectives on the market over the last two years and their predictions for the future. They expect even more changes and dynamism. While things are starting to get better, the past two years have been tough, and we’re likely to see more fluctuations - like a roller coaster - rather than a return to the rapid growth we saw after COVID. All the numbers are much lower than in 2022. This dynamic impacts venture capital funding, initial public offerings (IPOs), and mergers and acquisitions (M&A).

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