Startups
Raise capital. Secure partners. Enter Asia and Europe faster.
AsiaBerlin Summit is where startups turn cross-border exposure into real meetings and actionable next steps.
Who this is for?
AsiaBerlin Summit 2026 is looking for startups from Asia and Berlin who are ready to expand cross-border:
- Asia-based startups aiming to enter the European markets through Berlin
- Berlin based startups aiming to enter Asian markets
If that’s you, apply to pitch on the Startup Stage in front of the people who can actually open that market for you.
Why pitch at AsiaBerlin Summit?
- Curated audience, not a crowd. Startups are grouped and judged by relevant vertical, so the people watching your pitch are the ones who actually matter for your business.
- High-level stakeholders in the room. Past summits have hosted Berlin’s Governing Mayor, federal state secretaries, and executives from companies like SAP — alongside Asian delegations, corporates, and investors.
- Direct networking, not just a stage. Jury members commit to a minimum number of follow-up meetings with the startups they judge, and dedicated matchmaking connects you to corporates and investors beyond your pitch slot.
- A real cross-border funnel. From pitch to jury meetings to investor and corporate matchmaking, the program is built to turn a 5-minute pitch into concrete next steps in a new market.
ABS2025 RESULTS
93 speakers, 123 exhibitors, 31 satellite events
278 business meetings arranged via matchmaking;
1,700 active users,
4.75/5 rating
15 Asian delegations across 11 countries
30 startup juries
6 locations, 80+ attendees,
4.03/5 satisfaction
How it works?
- Apply. Submit your company info and pitch deck (max. 15 slides).
- Get selected. Confirm your attendance by 15 September 2026.
- Get clustered. Startups are grouped into clusters by vertical and/or product type — see our priority directions below (final clusters confirmed after applications close).
- Meet your jury. Each cluster has its own dedicated jury — a mix of Asian and European investors, corporates, and industry leaders.
- Pitch. Selected startups pitch on the dedicated Startup Stage on Day 2 and Day 3 of the summit. Some pitches run on the Blind Stage — no slides, no faces, jury wear eyeshades — a format designed to reduce bias and put the substance of your pitch first.
- Win. Cluster winners are recognized on the Main Stage and take home cluster-specific prizes.
Priority verticals for 2026
We are prioritizing outreach and cluster-building around these directions but applications are not limited to them:
- 🛡️ Security, Defense & Aerospace
- 🤖 Agentic Workforce
- 🌱 Sustainability & ClimateTech
- 🧬 HealthTech & LifeScience
- 🏗️ Mobility, Energy and ConstructionTech
- 🎨 Creative Industry
Working on something outside these areas? Apply anyway, clusters are shaped by who applies.
Who is the jury?
- Each cluster jury is carefully selected for that cluster’s focus — a mix of investors, industry stakeholders, and consulting companies or program providers. It’s a group that can give you the right feedback and insight, and, if it clicks, help you get to your next stage.
Prizes, per cluster
Each cluster jury awards its own prize package, which can include:
Access to accelerator or growth programs
Coworking space memberships
In-kind services (legal, PR, cloud, and more)
Access to advisors and mentors
Investor club membership / access
Beyond the pitch
The Startup Stage is one way in — not the only one. The summit is built so you can tailor your presence to what your startup actually needs: visibility, partners, or meetings that turn into pipeline. In the same application form, you can also:
- Choose to have a booth in the Marketplace and put your product in front of walk-by traffic all summit long.
- Co-host a workshop and run a session on your own terms.
- Use our matchmaking tool to set up your own 1:1 meetings with investors, corporates, and partners.
- Host a Satellite Event and bring your own audience into the summit’s orbit.
- Take a seat on a panel or debate and build visibility as a voice in your space.
No separate forms — just submit the pitch application and specify what else you want to add. Combine what fits: booth plus matchmaking, workshop plus panel, whatever gets you the right room and the right meetings.
Interested in partnering with us?
If you are interested in partnering or collaborating at the AsiaBerlin Summit 2026 or simply want to learn more, fill out our quick form and a member of our team will get back to you shortly.