Main StageOpening
Franken Hello!EN
Host: Jenny Schober · Welcome by START Nuremberg
Innovation Festival 2026
Connect. Inspire. Build the Future.
Franconia's largest gathering for founders, students, investors and innovators. One day. Endless opportunities.
July 15, 2026
Stadthalle Fürth
500+ Attendees
Countdown completeThats a wrap for INNOFEST 2026Thank You to all attendees
Festival highlights
01 / 04
Innovation FestivalInnovation FestivalConnecting Franconia’s brightest founders, investors and creators under one roof.View section→
Community NightClaude Community NightBuild with Claude, meet the community, and explore frontier AI in practice.View section→
Live AwardDon’t Miss: Franconian Founders AwardCelebrate the region’s standout startups live on stage.View section→
Live PodcastBest-Life Studios Live PodcastFounder stories recorded live from the festival floor.View section→
500Innovators
30Startups
∞Synergies
25Partners
1Strong Ecosystem
Innovation Festival 2026
Connect. Inspire. Build the Future.
Franconia's largest gathering for founders, students, investors and innovators. One day. Endless opportunities.
July 15, 2026
Stadthalle Fürth
500+ Attendees
Countdown completeThats a wrap for INNOFEST 2026Thank You to all attendees
Festival highlights
01 / 04
Innovation FestivalInnovation FestivalConnecting Franconia’s brightest founders, investors and creators under one roof.View section→
Community NightClaude Community NightBuild with Claude, meet the community, and explore frontier AI in practice.View section→
Live AwardDon’t Miss: Franconian Founders AwardCelebrate the region’s standout startups live on stage.View section→
Live PodcastBest-Life Studios Live PodcastFounder stories recorded live from the festival floor.View section→
500Innovators
30Startups
∞Synergies
25Partners
1Strong Ecosystem
Powered by Franconia's best.
INNOFEST26 is built together with the institutions, universities and companies that shape the region's innovation ecosystem.
By the numbers
One day. One room.
The whole region.
3 reasons. Zero excuses.
Founders, investors, corporates — all in one room. If you build, fund or shape the future in Franconia, this is your day.
01
Startup FairExplore ambitious startups, product demos, and founders building what’s next.
02
Investor & Founder NetworkingMeet investors, partners, and founders in focused sessions designed for real connections.
03
The whole region in one placeFrom startups to corporates, the Franconian innovation ecosystem comes together in one venue.
Agenda
One day, packed.
15 July 2026 - Stadthalle Furth. Finalized Programme.
Main StagePolitics & Region
Greetings: Stadt FürthDE
Horst Müller (Economic Director, Fürth)Main StageÖkosystem & Vision
Panel: Vision & Chancen für die MetropolregionDE
Moderation: Constantin Kaindl (Founder, wirdenkenlokal) · Benjamin Bauer (CEO Zollhof) · Julia Kahle (German Startup Association) · Dr. Carsten Rudolph (MD BayStartUP) · Dr. Armin Zitzmann (President, IHK Nürnberg for Mittelfranken)14:20 – 14:35Pause
WorkshopFrühfinanzierung
HTGF × VR BankDE
Viola Paszkiewicz · Sven Kallert · Dimitri Archatow (CEO at Green Banana Group)Main StageUp-Scaling
Keynote: Jan KünneEN
Jan Künne (CEO Grundig Akademie) · Do not scale what works – create what works at scaleMain StageSustainability
Keynote: Dr. Dina BarbianDE
Dr. Dina Barbian (CEO, eco2050 Institute for Sustainability) · Innovation braucht NachhaltigkeitWorkshopEnergy Management
Techniker KrankenkasseEN
Rebekka Mander · Energy Management for FoundersMain StageDeepTech & Edge AI
Keynote: Saber KaygusuzDE
Saber Kaygusuz (CEO PCB Arts) · Startup ohne VC – Wie Bootstrapping in der Praxis funktioniert15:30 – 15:45Pause
WorkshopE-Commerce & Fulfillment
MADER LogistikDE
Jürgen Mücke (E-Commerce Fulfillment Expert)Main StageGründerökosystem
Panel: Regional EcosystemEN
Moderation: Dr. Supriya Singh (Head FAU Factory Lab) · Andrea Sieglitz-Hoepffner (Business Coach & Consultant) · Niklas Hein (OHM Potenziale) · Marco Wendel (Executive Board Member, Medical Valley)WorkshopValuation
PWCDE
Daniel Pflaum (Deals Director, PwC)Venue
Stadthalle Furth.
Stadthalle Furth.
At the centre of a region that doesn’t just talk about innovation — it builds it.
At the centre of a region that doesn’t just talk about innovation — it builds it.
Central, easy to reach — a short walk from Fürth main station, connected from Nuremberg by S-Bahn and U-Bahn.
Central, easy to reach — a short walk from Fürth main station, connected from Nuremberg by S-Bahn and U-Bahn.
A landmark venue built for encounter, exchange and ideas.
A landmark venue built for encounter, exchange and ideas.
All under one roof — space for talks, the Startup Fair and networking.
All under one roof — space for talks, the Startup Fair and networking.
Hall Plan
Find your way around the venue
Who it's for
Built for everyone
shaping what's next.
Startups
Students
Enterprise
Investors
Startups gain access to investors, industry insights, and potential partners to scale their ideas.
Startups
Students
Enterprise
Investors
Startups gain access to investors, industry insights, and potential partners to scale their ideas.
Startups
Students
Enterprise
Investors
Startups gain access to investors, industry insights, and potential partners to scale their ideas.
Startup Fair
The startup fair at the heart of Franconia's ecosystem.
Vision
Show your startup in one room.
Present your product to founders, investors, enterprise buyers and talent — all in one focused afternoon.
Franconia has the universities, hidden champions, deep tech and founder ambition. The Startup Fair brings that energy into one room.
Questions?
Melis Akdogan
Startup Relations · Innovation Festival
Do not hesitate to reach out! Looking forward to connect...
What stays essential
01
Your Own Booth
Get a dedicated space on the Startup Fair to display, demo and connect.
02
Pitch Slots
Present your startup in front of the full audience.
03
Investors & Partners
Get curated access to people actively looking for what you build.
04
Student & Co-Founder Matchup
Find your next co-founder — or your first intern. We connect students and founders who are ready to build
Moderators
Meet our Moderators
Meet our Moderators
Guiding the conversations, unpacking insights, and driving the dialogue on stage
Guiding the conversations, unpacking insights, and driving the dialogue on stage
Speakers
The people on stage.
The people on stage.
Founders, investors and operators from across Franconia and beyond.
Founders, investors and operators from across Franconia and beyond.
Side Events
Three festival moments,
worth staying for.
Claude Community Side Event
Franconian Founders Award
Live Podcast
Claude Community Side Event
Claude Code Meetup
A practical AI evening at the Innovation Festival in Fürth.
15 July 2026 · 17:00 · Innovation Festival FürthHosted with Anthropic community support
Hosted ByClaude Communty
Join this session featuring two focused talks on evaluating AI agents and designing effective feedback loops—practical insights to build smarter, more reliable AI systems.
Talk 1Alex Key: How do you know if your AI agent is actually working? A practical session on using LangSmith to evaluate, debug and optimize AI agents.
Talk 2Franz Bettag: Start with a loop. What /loop actually is, how it differs from a goal, and how to design one that does not just spin.
Franconian Founders Award
Frankens Startup-Kärwa Award Finale
Sponsored by VR TeilhaberBank and decided live by the jury.
15 July 2026 · Festival programmeAn Award for the Best in the Region
Sponsored ByVR TeilhaberBank
The award spotlights strong startup teams from the region. Finalists pitch live, answer jury questions and compete for three prizes designed to give the next steps a real push.
1st place1.000€ prize money
2nd place500€ prize money
3rd place500€ prize money
FormatSelected startups pitch in front of the festival audience and jury, with room for questions, feedback and founder visibility.
Jury
Moderator
Live Podcast
BestLife Studios Live Recording
Founder conversations recorded directly from the festival floor.
15 July 2026 · Afternoon programmeLive from Frankens Startup-Kärwa
Hosted byBest Life Studios
BestLife Studios captures the energy of the day through live founder and ecosystem conversations. Drop by for interviews, stories from builders and a closer look at what is moving the regional startup scene.
FocusFounder stories, ecosystem voices and quick conversations from people building across Franconia.
AtmosphereAn open, conversational format woven into the festival floor instead of hidden away in a side room.
Why it mattersThe podcast turns the day into a record of who was there, what they are building and where the region is heading next.
Claude Community Side Event
Franconian Founders Award
Live Podcast
Claude Community Side Event
Claude Code Meetup
A practical AI evening at the Innovation Festival in Fürth.
15 July 2026 · 17:00 · Innovation Festival FürthHosted with Anthropic community support
Powered byEvent partner
Join this session featuring two focused talks on evaluating AI agents and designing effective feedback loops—practical insights to build smarter, more reliable AI systems.
Talk 1Alex Key: How do you know if your AI agent is actually working? A practical session on using LangSmith to evaluate, debug and optimize AI agents.
Talk 2Franz Bettag: Start with a loop. What /loop actually is, how it differs from a goal, and how to design one that does not just spin.
Franconian Founders Award
Frankens Startup-Kärwa Award Finale
Sponsored by VR TeilhaberBank and decided live by the jury.
15 July 2026 · Festival programmeAn Award for the Best in the Region
Sponsored ByVR TeilhaberBank
The award spotlights strong startup teams from the region. Finalists pitch live, answer jury questions and compete for three prizes designed to give the next steps a real push.
1st place1.000€ prize money
2nd place500€ prize money
3rd place500€ prize money
FormatSelected startups pitch in front of the festival audience and jury, with room for questions, feedback and founder visibility.
Jury
Moderator
Live Podcast
BestLife Studios Live Recording
Founder conversations recorded directly from the festival floor.
15 July 2026 · Afternoon programmeLive from Frankens Startup-Kärwa
Hosted byBest Life Studios
BestLife Studios captures the energy of the day through live founder and ecosystem conversations. Drop by for interviews, stories from builders and a closer look at what is moving the regional startup scene.
FocusFounder stories, ecosystem voices and quick conversations from people building across Franconia.
AtmosphereAn open, conversational format woven into the festival floor instead of hidden away in a side room.
Why it mattersThe podcast turns the day into a record of who was there, what they are building and where the region is heading next.
Our partners
Powered by Franconia's best.
Interested in partnering? Reach out below
Display Connect Accelerate
Tickets
Secure your spot at
Innovation Festival 2026.
Standard
Access to the main festival experience, including talks, exhibitions, and open networking throughout the event.
Keynotes, exhibitions & networking
Exhibition & activation areas
600 innovators, founders & tech leaders
Full Festival Access
€25.00
Single admission
Standard
Access to the main festival experience, including talks, exhibitions, and open networking throughout the event.
Keynotes, exhibitions & networking
Exhibition & activation areas
600 innovators, founders & tech leaders
Full Festival Access
€25.00
Single admission
Student
Discounted access for students to explore the regional startup ecosystem, attend sessions, and connect with founders, builders, and innovators.
Student-friendly networking spaces
Exhibition & activation areas
600 innovators, founders & tech leaders
Student Discount
€15.00
Single admission
Student
Discounted access for students to explore the regional startup ecosystem, attend sessions, and connect with founders, builders, and innovators.
Student-friendly networking spaces
Exhibition & activation areas
600 innovators, founders & tech leaders
Student Discount
€15.00
Single admission
Startup
Designed for founders and startup teams looking to connect with investors, partners, talent, and the broader innovation ecosystem.
Connect directly with investors & partners
50% off a co-founder ticket (save up to €60)
Dedicated exhibition booth at the festival
Startup
€30.00
Founders & Teams
Startup
Designed for founders and startup teams looking to connect with investors, partners, talent, and the broader innovation ecosystem.
Connect directly with investors & partners
50% off a co-founder ticket (save up to €60)
Dedicated exhibition booth at the festival
50% off a co-founder ticket (save up to €60)
Dedicated exhibition booth at the festival
Startup
€30.00
Founders & Teams
Startup
Designed for founders and startup teams looking to connect with investors, partners, talent, and the broader innovation ecosystem.
Connect directly with investors & partners
50% off a co-founder ticket (save up to €60)
Dedicated exhibition booth at the festival
Startup
€30.00
Founders & Teams
Investor
Built for investors seeking access to promising startups, high-quality networking, and meaningful connections across the regional innovation ecosystem.
Full-Venue All-Access Pass
Discover Franconia's top emerging startups
Investor-focused networking sessions
Investor
€50.00
Single admission
Investor
Built for investors seeking access to promising startups, high-quality networking, and meaningful connections across the regional innovation ecosystem.
Keynotes, exhibitions & networking
Curated networking with regional founders
Exclusive Investor Lounge access
Discover Franconia's top emerging startups
Investor-focused networking sessions
Investor
€50.00
Single admission
Investor
Built for investors seeking access to promising startups, high-quality networking, and meaningful connections across the regional innovation ecosystem.
Full-Venue All-Access Pass
Discover Franconia's top emerging startups
Investor-focused networking sessions
Investor
€50.00
Single admission
Testimonials
What People Say About the Innovation Festival
”Regional innovation festivals matter to increase density of networks as well as keep talent in the region which ultimately leads to more new companies and also current companies not having to relocate in their scale stage
”Innovation is a team sport. Franconia’s Startup Kärwa brings together the people, ideas, and opportunities that keep talent in the region, create new businesses, and shape the future of the metropolitan region
From last year
Inside Innovation Festival 2025.
About the Host
Building the Next
Generation of Entrepreneurs
Where Students Become Founders
Where Students
Become Founders
Where Students Become
Founders
START Nuremberg is part of START Network — a student-led entrepreneurship network spanning multiple countries and chapters across Europe and beyond. We bring that energy to Franconia by creating local touchpoints for students, founders, startup talent, and partners who want to build meaningful connections and real momentum.
START Nuremberg is part of START Network — a student-led entrepreneurship network spanning multiple countries and chapters across Europe and beyond. We bring that energy to Franconia by creating local touchpoints for students, founders, startup talent, and partners who want to build meaningful connections and real momentum.
FAQs
Everything you need before attending
How can I register for the Innovation Festival?
What is the dress code for the festival?
Can I submit my project or research for the Innovation Festival?
How can I become a sponsor or exhibitor at the festival?
Will there be opportunities for networking at the festival?
Contact Us
Questions?
Get in touch
Join Our Community
Join our vibrant community of AI enthusiasts, professionals, and innovators.
🔹 Connect with Like-minded Individuals.
🔹 Exclusive Access to Events.
🔹 Stay Updated with the Latest Trends.
Join Our Community
Join our vibrant community of AI enthusiasts, professionals, and innovators.
🔹 Connect with Like-minded Individuals.
🔹 Exclusive Access to Events.
🔹 Stay Updated with the Latest Trends.