Bits & Pretzels Berlin Community Event #6: Customers. Contracts. Revenue.

Join founders, corporate leaders, family business owners, public sector decision-makers and innovation experts for an evening focused on one question: What would it take for you to buy from a startup tomorrow?
Through a short keynote, a moderated discussion and interactive Chief Table Officer rounds, we will explore how startups can win more contracts from the public sector, family businesses and established companies.
Our ambition is to create conversations and connections that continue well beyond the event and grow into lasting professional relationships.
Thanks to the generous support of CHIC and Würth Elektronik, participation is free of charge while the guest list is carefully curated to ensure depth, relevance and genuine exchange.
🗓 Agenda
18:00 - 18:30: Arrival & Welcome Drink
18:30 - 18:45: Welcome & Opening Conversation
18:45 - 19:00: Meet the Chief Table Officers
19:00 - 19:30: Finger Food & Networking
19:30 - 20:30: Two Chief Table Officer Rounds: small groups, honest conversations, practical insights
From 20:30: Open Networking
🎙️ Chief Table Officers
Cindy Adrienne Beckel
Early-Stage VC, IBB Ventures
Cindy works with early-stage startups every day, supporting founders as they grow their businesses and prepare for long-term success. Her table will explore what investors look for beyond a great product, how startups build credibility with partners and customers, and which foundations enable sustainable growth.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindy-adrienne-beckel/
Saskia Ehlen
Innovation Management, HTI Group
Saskia brings the perspective of a family-owned company with a strong focus on long-term partnerships and practical implementation. Join her table to discuss how family businesses evaluate innovation and what builds lasting trust between startups and established companies.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/saskia-ehlen-88717b48/
Matthias Friese
Managing Director, FRIESE & FRIENDS
Matthias works with founders, investors and established companies to build new ventures and scale innovation. His table will explore how startups and corporates can develop successful partnerships, what both sides expect from each other and how collaboration creates lasting business value.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthiasfriese/
Fridtjof Gustavs
Co-Founder & Managing Director, MotionLab.Berlin
Fridtjof works with deep tech startups every day, helping them turn promising technologies into successful businesses. Join his table to discuss what it takes to build customer relationships, scale industrial partnerships and grow beyond the prototype stage.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/fridtjof-gustavs/

Christian Hahn
CEO, Hubject
Christian has spent many years building partnerships between international companies and innovative technology providers. He will share what makes collaborations succeed, where they fail and how trust develops over time.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-hahn-4069b0ba/
Emanuel Heil
Physician, Research & Innovation, Charité
Emanuel works at the intersection of clinical practice, medical research and innovation. He collaborates with established MedTech companies as well as AI startups and brings first-hand experience of how new technologies find their way into healthcare. Join his table to discuss innovation partnerships, clinical validation and what it takes for startups to work successfully with the healthcare sector.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emanuel-heil-bbb906267/
Norbert Hermann
Head of Startup Affairs, Berlin Senate Administration
Norbert works at the interface of innovation and public administration and is committed to making public procurement more startup-friendly. In his short keynote, he will share practical insights into how startups can successfully work with the public sector and navigate public procurement.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/norberthe/
Björn-Ove Krahn
Director, Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI)
Björn-Ove supports international companies investing and growing in Germany. His table will explore international market opportunities, innovation ecosystems and the role Germany can play as a business location.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bj%C3%B6rn-ove-krahn-ll-m-719228176/
Simon Nagelkrämer
Corporate Innovation & Venture Clienting, Berliner Volksbank
Simon works at the intersection of startups and established organizations, helping both sides develop successful partnerships. Join his table to discuss venture clienting, pilot projects and collaboration in practice.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-nagelkr%C3%A4mer-24930515b/
Thomas Waldmann
Start-up & Venture Manager, Würth Elektronik
Thomas connects startups with one of Germany's leading technology companies and has extensive experience building partnerships between founders and industry. His table will focus on what companies look for when deciding to work with startups.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaswaldmann/
👤 Community Leads Bits & Pretzels Berlin

Hergen Wöbken - Founder, IFSE
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hergenwoebken/

Silko Barth - Exploring physical AI | Sales Manager @1KOMMA5°
https://www.linkedin.com/in/silkobarth/
Join the community and stay up to date:
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbCFUaHBadmS1pz35W1v
🎟 Tickets
Free
Seats are limited. Registration includes a few short questions to help us curate a diverse and relevant group of participants.
📍 Location
WISTA - Innovations-Centrum CHIC
Bismarckstraße 10-12
10625 Berlin
📸 Note
Photos will be taken during the event. By attending, you consent to their use for documentation and communication within the Bits & Pretzels community.