[ ⏰ Application Deadline: 15th of March ]

European Spinoff Summit
2026

Q: How does the application process work?

When the deadline passes, we evaluate all applications and invite the selected ones to purchase their tickets. As this is an intimate event, we curate the perfect mix of people. Application deadline: 15th of March.

Q: Is parking available on site?

Yes, free parking is available at ESO Supernova in Garching.

Supporting scientists on their journey from lab to successful spinoff ventures.

When?

12 May 2026
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Where?

Garching / Munich, Germany
ESO supernova

For Who?

(Aspiring) Scientist founders

[About]

what to expect

get supported and inspired

Listen to founders who've done it and pitch your challenge at the Scientist Help Desk to receive personalized guidance from experts who understand your journey from research to marketable product.

Speaker Ingmar Hoerr is delivering an inspiring keynote at SPINOFF SUMMIT 2024.

Engage in hands-on workshops

Master fundraising, IP transfer, and go-to-market strategies through interactive sessions led by DeepTech VCs and industry experts. Learn what investors really look for and how to position your spinoff for success.

Expand your network

Meet the people who matter for your spinoff journey: from fellow scientists and successful founders to investors, industry leaders and ecosystem players. Build your network in a curated, entrepreneurial environment.

Founders, scientists, industry experts, and investors mingling and chatting in a relaxed setting with a large planet model overhead.

SHOWCASE YOUR RESEARCH

Share your research through our poster competition and connect with attendees who can accelerate your project. The winner receives a ticket for the Falling Walls Science Summit, worth almost €3,000.
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Four people are viewing and discussing research posters displayed on stands.

[Speakers]

Meet the Visionaries

Explore our lineup of keynote speakers and industry leaders who will inspire and enlighten at the conference.

Georg Püschel

Co-Founder @ Wandelbots

Georg Püschel

Co-Founder @ Wandelbots

Georg earned his PhD at TU Dresden before co-founding Wandelbots, creating a no-code platform that has raised $120M+ from investors like Insight Partners and Microsoft. Wandelbots' software now powers robots at BMW and VW.

Jan Goetz

CEO & Co-FoUNder @ IQM Quantum Computers

Jan Goetz

CEO & Co-FoUNder @ IQM Quantum Computers

Jan earned his doctorate at TU Munich and worked as a Marie Curie Fellow at Aalto University before spinning out IQM Quantum Computers, raising $600M+ to date. Named Founder of the Year by Handelsblatt, he leads the world's most commercially successful quantum company.

Claire Hae-Min Gusko

Co-Founder @ One.Five

Claire Hae-Min Gusko

Co-Founder @ One.Five

Claire worked at vertical farming unicorn Infarm before co-founding one.five, which has raised $28M to revolutionize sustainable packaging with AI. Backed by investors like HARIBO, one.five replaces single-use plastics with circular biomaterials.

Irene Selvanathan

CEO & Co-Founder @ Neurospace

Irene Selvanathan

CEO & Co-Founder @ Neurospace

Before founding NEUROSPACE to develop modular lunar rovers, Irene worked at Exolaunch, one of the world's largest launch providers. Selected for NASA's Artemis II mission, NEUROSPACE becomes the first German NewSpace startup joining a crewed lunar mission.

Maximilian Ochs

Investor @ First Momentum Ventures

Maximilian Ochs

Investor @ First Momentum Ventures

Max entered the VC world after finishing his PhD in Physics. At First Momentum, he’s backing Europe's most ambitious DeepTech founders, especially in compute, techbio, and space tech. He also shaped the early incubation of Telura, a geothermal energy startup.

Alexander Kopp

CEO & Co-Founder @ Polaris Spaceplanes

Alexander Kopp

CEO & Co-Founder @ Polaris Spaceplanes

Alexander founded POLARIS Spaceplanes as a DLR spin-off after a decade researching reusable spacecrafts. POLARIS raised a total $14M+ to develop hypersonic, reusable spaceplanes that take-off and land on airports.

Bastian July

CEO & Founder @ GoodIP

Bastian July

CEO & Founder @ GoodIP

Bastian earned his J.D. and LL.M. before working as IP counsel at Intel and OSRAM, where he negotiated multimillion-dollar patent deals. He founded GoodIP to democratize IP protection and mentors founders at Intel Ignite and CDTM on IP strategy.

[Hosts]

Organizers

Meet the organizations fueling the event:

First Momentum Ventures and Germany's Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation team up to create an extraordinary experience.

[Moments]

Our Event Essentials

150+
researchers,  founders, TTOs, VCs, academics, and ecosystem players
70+
Connections facilitated by the help desk
8+
Workshops, panels, and keynotes

Key Features

GAIN VC-READY FUNDRAISING SKILLS

Take in transparent, practical insights from expert-led sessions on fundraising and IP transfer.

BUILD YOUR ECOSYSTEM NETWORK

Curated networking with fellow researchers, founders, VCs, and ecosystem players across Europe.

RECEIVE HANDS-ON SUPPORT

Get personalized guidance through scientist help desks and dedicated Q&A sessions.

LEARN FROM REAL FOUNDERS

Hear pure stories from founders who've successfully navigated the path from lab to spinoff.

[Testimonials]

What People Are Saying

Hear from attendees and industry leaders about their experiences and takeaways from the event.

“Events like the Spinoff Summit play a really important role within the European ecosystem.”

Tom Nugent

Managing Editor @ Sifted

“You have to bring people together. You have to connect them and create teams. This is an event where you can find other people who are interested in the same topic {...} and you see some role models.”

Thomas Kirchner

Co-Founder @ ProGlove

[FAQ]

Questions Answered

Get clear answers to common queries and find the info you need for a smooth, enjoyable experience.

How does the application process work?

When the deadline passes, we will evaluate all applications and invite the selected ones to purchase their tickets. As this is an intimate event, we want to curate the perfect mix of people.

Application Deadline: 15th of March.

As a Scientist, how do I sign up for a workshop?

On the day of the event, you can register for the workshops during check-in. First come, first served. Please arrive on time.

Is parking available on site?

Yes, free parking is available.

Is the event worth the trip to Munich?

Yes, definitely! Previous attendees rated the summit 9 out of 10 stars on average. This year we're building on that success with our best edition yet and exciting sessions planned. And Munich as a research and tech hub offers plenty of reasons to extend your stay :)

Are there acommodations nearby?

Yes, several hotels are located near ESO Supernova, including Courtyard and Stellaris, both within a 10-minute walk. We recommend booking your accommodation as early as possible to ensure the best rates.

Will I receive an invoice?

Yes, after purchasing the ticket, you can download the invoice on your Luma profile.

[Resources]

Past Events and Speakers

Watch The After Movie
of 2024's Edition

speakers that have joined us

Josef Fleischmann

CTO & Co-Founder @ Isar Aerospace

Josef Fleischmann

CTO & Co-Founder @ Isar Aerospace

Josef is building rockets at Isar Aerospace to lower the entry barriers to space. The company has launched the first orbital rocket from continental Europe and raised more than €400m in funding.

Ingmar Hoerr

CEO & Founder @ CureVac

Ingmar Hoerr

CEO & Founder @ CureVac

Ingmar co-founded CureVac after discovering that naked mRNA can be expressed in vivo and generate strong immune responses, challenging existing scientific beliefs. He led the company to NASDAQ, raising ~$800M and contributing to 30+ patents.

Michiel Scheffer

President of the Board @ EIC

Michiel Scheffer

President of the Board @ EIC

Michiel has three decades of experience across business, academia, and politics, working with 20+ universities and 200+ EU partners on large R&D projects. At the EIC, he supports startups with up to €2.5M non-dilutive and €15M dilutive funding.

Michael Baumann

Co-CEO & Co-Founder @ TWAICE

Michael Baumann

Co-CEO & Co-Founder @ TWAICE

Michael co-founded TWAICE in 2018 after his doctoral research on lithium-ion battery health and lifetime, pioneering digital twin analytics software for batteries. TWAICE serves clients like BMW, Audi, and Daimler, and has raised $75M to date.

Philipp Engelkamp

CEO & Co-Founder Telura & INERATEC

Philipp Engelkamp

CEO & Co-Founder Telura & INERATEC

After studying Industrial Engineering at KIT, Philipp co-founded INERATEC, a pioneer in defossilization that raised €140 million. Together with First Momentum, he’s building Telura to rethink geothermal energy.

Robin Wauters

Founder @ Tech.eu

Robin Wauters

Founder @ Tech.eu

After stints at The Next Web and TechCrunch, Robin founded Tech.eu and turned it into one of Europe’s leading tech outlets. Tech.eu was acquired by Webrazzi in 2021.

Daniel Dippold

CEO & Founder @ EWOR

Daniel Dippold

CEO & Founder @ EWOR

Daniel founded EWOR, aspiring to become Europe's Y Combinator, investing €100-250K per founder and connecting them with unicorn founders and world-class investors. A mathematician who founded two ML companies, he also co-founded the Sigma Squared Society.

Ana Koller

Head of Research @ First Momentum Ventures

Ana Koller

Head of Research @ First Momentum Ventures

Ana holds two PhDs in plasma physics and nuclear fusion and has been researching at Max Planck and MIT. Before investing in climate tech and energy ventures at First Momentum, she was an Engineering Lead at Commonwealth Fusion Ssystems, the world's largest fusion startup.

Stephan Herrmann

CEO & Co-Founder @ Reverion

Stephan Herrmann

CEO & Co-Founder @ Reverion

Stephan invented Reverion's technology as a TUM research group leader and now serves as CEO of the spin-off, which has raised €70M+ in funding. Reverion is transforming biogas into 100% renewable, decarbonized energy.