TUM Entrepreneurship Day

Seize the Day: Kicking Off Your Entrepreneurial Leap! Our opening sets the stage for a day of groundbreaking insights, invaluable connections, and the inspiration you need to transform your boldest ideas into reality. Get ready to build, disrupt, and thrive!

Impuls | Philip Prestele, Principal Program Manager GovTech, Digital Product School

Since 2023, our Entrepreneurial Impact Study has analyzed the startup ecosystems and impact of German universities. The goal is to quantify and compare the entrepreneurial contribution of universities and research institutions as part of their "third mission" beyond teaching and research. The study provides a 10-year view of institutional impact to inform university leaders, policymakers, and founders. In 2025, we will release an updated ranking and expand the study to cover the entire DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). Through data-driven insights into performance, founder demographics, industries, and DeepTech, we highlight key trends shaping the entrepreneurial landscape.

Impuls | Dr. Theresa Treffers, Professor and Behavioral Scientist
presented by Chair of Strategy and Organization at TUM School of Management

At this competition, TUM founders are called upon to prove their pitch qualities and to convince the jury and the audience of themselves and their own product. Pitch Perfect is aimed at technology and knowledge-based start-ups at TUM between the seed and expansion phases. The finalists pitch live for the chance to win prize money of €5,000.

Pitch-Wettbewerb
presented by TUM Entrepreneurship

This research investigates the development and performance of entrepreneurial teams during the critical first two years of their venture journey. Supported by venture capital partners and grounded in unique empirical research, the research project combines intensive on-site sessions with continuous behavioral analytics to explore how team dynamics influence outcomes such as exit intentions, team satisfaction, and venture success. Drawing on one of the most comprehensive primary datasets on early-stage startup teams, the study integrates insights from psychology and entrepreneurship to identify predictors of team performance and long-term viability.

Impuls | Felix Kuhn, PhD Candidate
presented by Chair of Strategy and Organization at TUM School of Management

Pitch Competition Preisverleihung
presented by TUM Entrepreneurship

Impuls | Bastian Burger & Jan Mittendorf - Operational Director at TUM Venture Lab Software/AI
presented by TUM Venture Lab Software/AI (Munich/Heilbronn)

In dialogue: Prof. Hana Milanov, TUM Entrepreneurship Research Institute, and Zied Bahrouni, TUM alumnus, CEO and founder of Motius and Spacewalk VC will discuss the AI and R&D landscape and what entrepreneurial opportunities it brings.

Fireside Chat | Prof. Dr. Hana Milanov, Professor of Entrepreneurship & Zied Bahrouni, TUM alumnus, CEO and founder of Motius and Spacewalk VC
presented by TUM Entrepreneurship Research Institute

Roland Berger and Zied Bahrouni reflect about what it means to sustain entrepreneurial momentum in building a resilient leader and a thriving business.

Fireside Chat | Roland Berger, business and political consultant, founder of the​ management consultancy and foundation Roland Berger​ & Zied Bahrouni, TUM Alumnus, CEO and founder of Motius and Spacewalk VC
presented by TUM Entrepreneurship Research Institute

As part of the UnternehmerTUM Innovation Sprint, selected student teams present their solutions to real-world challenges provided by partner organizations. After 5 days of working intensively in interdisciplinary teams, the best pitches are showcased on stage, followed by an award ceremony to celebrate outstanding ideas, impact and successes.

Pitches
presented by UnternehmerTUM

NewSpace is moving the needle for commercial viability and opens up new application fields. At the same time, space remains largely unregulated and recent conflicts require a re-assessment of geopolitical partnerships. Space is an increasingly important infrastructure and some consider it also the next warfighting domain. Both are important factors for european countries to consider.

Impuls | Dr. Florian Dötzer, Managing Director Venture Lab Aerospace
presented by Venture Lab Aerospace

Satellites play a crucial role in ensuring Europe's independence—whether in communication, navigation, or Earth observation. At the same time, they are key to protecting democratic processes and driving technological progress that enhances our daily lives. Our high-profile panel discussion will explore:

• Europe’s independence through satellites – How European space technologies can reduce geopolitical dependencies.
• Democracy and security – The role of satellites in countering disinformation, monitoring climate change, and securing critical infrastructure.
• Innovation for everyday life – How space technology drives advancements in mobility, agriculture, healthcare, and digitalization.

Panel | Prof. Chiara Manfletti, CEO Neuraspace and Professor in Space Mobility and Propulsion at TUM; Kristina Nikolaus, CEO and Co-founder of OKAPI:Orbits; Dr. Caroline Albert, CEO and Co-Founder nebumind & Dr. Koen Geurts, Investment Manager at HTGF, formerly involved in the Rosetta landing as Technical Manager
presented by TUM Female Founders & UTUM Women Startup &  HTGF

As a founder, your people decisions are everything. From finding the right co-founder, to making those crucial first hires, to creating a culture that supports both high performance and mental wellbeing – these choices can make or break your startup. Join us for a candid conversation with founders and people-focused experts on: - How to find (and vet) the right co-founder - Hiring your first team members - What to look for and what to avoid - Navigating early team dynamics and handling conflict - How investors look at team dynamics and structures - Mental health, burnout, and building a sustainable work culture and organizational structure Expect real talk, honest experiences, and actionable tips to help you build a team that lasts through the rollercoaster of startup life.

Panel | Sarah Theinert, Director Value Creation, UVC Partners​; Stephanie Pätsch, Head of People and Culture at Orbem​; Florian Huber, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Digital Business; 
Dr. Barbara Mehner, Managing Partner, Xpreneurs by UnternehmerTUM​ & Florian Becke, Head of Start-up Development, Xplore by UnternehmerTUM
presented by Xplore, Xpreneurs and UVC by UnternehmerTUM 

Nacheinander werden folgende Awards überreicht:

• Changemaker Award

  The TUM Management Alumni e.V. awards the Changemaker Award annually to the top three students (or student teams) who tackle a social problem in their project study, bachelor or master thesis and present the respective solution. The level of social impact is defined by the following values and their impact on the selected target group:
  + Social Impact
  + Entrepreneurial spirit
  + Feasibility
  + Creativity
  The winner will receive €2000, the first runner-up will receive €1000 and the second runner-up will receive €500 in prize money.

• TUM Mentor of Excellence Award
• TUM Presidential Entrepreneurship Award

Award
presented by TUM Entrepreneurship