Dr. Falk Pharma Stage
Pitch. Scale. Repeat.
The stage for entrepreneurial spirit and growth.
Dr Falk Pharma Stage Programme
The best founders and start-ups from THE LÄND will compete against each other in the Start‑up BW Elevator Pitch – State Final 2026. The winners of the regional qualifying rounds and Special Cups have qualified.
The prize is the state title and prize money from L‑Bank. The top three places will receive €4,000, €3,000 and €2,000 respectively.
The judging panel consists of:
- Christina Nahr-Ettl, Heilbronn-Franken Chamber of Industry and Commerce
- Florian Reiners, Birdhill Ventures GmbH
- Dr Andre Gross, serial entrepreneur and Chairman of the Board at Black Forest Business Angels e.V.
- Christine Rittner, Encourage Ventures e.V.
- Eduard Sabelfeld, L-Bank
Duration: approx. 2 hours.
EU-Inc turns 27 legal jurisdictions into a launchpad: 48-hour start-up process, a central EU registry, uniform rules, fewer hurdles and more growth – Europe is stepping on the gas.
In the panel discussion, we’ll explore how the balance of power between start-ups and SMEs could shift – and which EU levers could make the next big leap possible.
Speakers
- Ina Schlie, investor and founder of encourageventures
- Fanny Giannou, founder and CEO of Alithea Biotechnology
- Christian Miele, General Partner at Headline
- Dr Andreas Schwarz, Head of Cabinet, European Commission
Moderator
- Andrea Bailey, Team Lead for Strategic Venturing, Smart Green, Grünhof
- Thomas Scheuerle, CEO, BadenCampus
20 start-ups will present their solutions in 3-minute pitches – tailored to real business challenges, with innovations that can be implemented straight away.
Start-ups meet SMEs – challenges.
- Challenge 1: Green technologies & sustainability
- Challenge 2: Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare
- Challenge 3: Security & Resilience
- Challenge 4: HR Tech & Talent Retention
- Challenge 5: Robotics & Automation
Is it a match?
Moderator
- Dr Anja Mader, Corporate Venturing, smart green/Grünhof
- Claudio Herrmann, Innovation Consultant for Partnerships and Start-ups, BadenCampus
Four start-ups will pitch to business angels and answer their questions. This will reveal whether their vision is strong enough to attract investors.
The judging panel consists of:
Moderator
- Dr Anja Mader, Corporate Venturing, smart green/Grünhof
- Claudio Herrmann, Innovation Consultant for Partnerships and Start-ups, BadenCampus
7.00 pm: Joint finale on the Haufe Group stage
Award ceremony for the Start-up BW Elevator Pitch State Final and opening of the networking party
At the Start-up BW Elevator Pitch State Final awards ceremony, the winners of the state-wide “Start-up BW Elevator Pitch” competition will be honoured. Immediately afterwards, the networking party will provide a space for discussion, talks with investors and new partnerships.
My favourite thing about the Käpsele Festival is seeing the Baden-Württemberg community come together, realising just how big innovation really is here, and watching the whole start-up world come to life.
Be an active part in shaping the future!
Secure your ticket now for the Käpsele Innovation Festival 2026 on 16th July 2026 at the SICK Arena in Freiburg. We have discounted tickets for start-ups.
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