Entering Germany: Lessons, Pitfalls & Winning Playbooks

Germany is Europe’s largest market.
An expansion into Germany defines more than revenue. It shapes your sales motion, pricing, and future investor story.
This session is for founders and operators who want to approach that step deliberately: with the right setup, the right people, and a go-to-market that actually works in Germany.
AI.FUND and Microsoft are bringing together founders who’ve done it, operators in the trenches, and partners who see the patterns across hundreds of expansions.
If Germany is on your roadmap, join us!

Who this is for
Founders, execs and investors of Nordic startups and scale-ups
Interest in a German market entry or expansion
Especially relevant for B2B, SaaS, AI, and deep-tech

What you’ll get
Clear perspectives on what works - and what doesn’t - in Germany
Access to investors, founders and operators with firsthand experience
Practical expert guidance on hiring, legal setup, and GTM
A curated group of peers planning the same move

Agenda
15:00 – Doors open
15:15 – Welcome
AI.FUND, Microsoft, Germany Trade & Invest
15:30 – 16:15 – Panel
With companies currently expanding into Germany, such as Sana Labs and IPercept
16:15 – 17:00 – Breakout sessions
Small-group conversations with experts behind closed doors
17:00 – 19:00 – Networking, drinks & pizza

Breakout Sessions
Pick the conversation most relevant to your expansion plans:

1. Hiring in Germany: Local team or remote control?
   When do you need boots on the ground - and when don’t you?
2. Legal & Company Setup
   Legal forms, establishment steps, and what to consider early on.
3. Sales & Go-to-Market
   What works in Germany - and what tends to fail despite working elsewhere.
4. The German Funding Landscape
   Local VCs, public funding, and how these mechanisms work in practice.

Apply to join.
This is a curated session. We prioritise relevance over volume.

About
AI.FUND – A German-Swedish VC backing the next generation of AI champions in Europe.
Microsoft – Supporting startups building and scaling with AI and cloud.
Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) – Official investment agency, supporting international companies entering and growing in Germany.