Augsburg Starts Up! 2026: The Funkenwerk community is back!

Ideas. Courage. The Future. On November 18, 2026, “Augsburg gründet!” will celebrate its tenth anniversary. Starting at 3:00 p.m., the DZ.S Founders Factory will become the hub of the regional startup and innovation scene. Founders, startups, entrepreneurs, students, and representatives from academia, business, and politics will come together to discover new ideas, share experiences, and network.

“Augsburg gründet!” is the central platform for startups, innovation, and entrepreneurship in the Augsburg economic region. The event raises the profile of young companies, sparks ideas for new business models, and brings together people who want to actively shape the region’s future. The focus is on the spirit of entrepreneurship, networking, and knowledge transfer—from the initial business idea to collaboration between startups and established companies.

A special highlight in 2026 will once again be the Idea Slam: startup teams and young companies will present their business ideas to an audience and a jury. The goal is to gain visibility, receive valuable feedback, and have a chance to win attractive prizes. In addition, the event offers a wide range of opportunities to learn about innovative approaches from the region and to engage with people from the startup ecosystem.

Funkenwerk will once again bring the THA community to “Augsburg Gründet!” in 2026. This event is the perfect opportunity to get a taste of the startup scene, meet interesting people, and be inspired by ideas and projects from the region—whether you already have a business idea of your own or are simply curious about the startup world.

Our trademark: the pink THA_funkenwerk shirts! They show that you’re part of the THA community, make it easier to strike up a conversation, and help you stand out at the event. Together with your festival badge, you’ll be perfectly equipped to network with other aspiring entrepreneurs, startups, and companies.

Here’s how to join:

1. Sign up using the Funkenwerk form below. We’ll ask for your contact information and your interest in participating so we can coordinate the THA community.

2. Wait for our response and pick up your pink THA_Funkenwerk T-shirt. We’ll email you with information about the next steps and how to participate.

3. Secure your ticket. There’s a limited number of free tickets available for students. The official ticket request is made through the event website: veranstaltung.augsburg-gruendet.de/tickets-augsburg-gruendet-2026/

Please note: The number of free student tickets is limited. Registering with Funkenwerk is initially just an expression of interest and does not replace the official ticket request with the organizer.

Want to find out what ideas are shaping the region, make new connections, and get a glimpse into the world of startups? Then join us and become part of the THA_funkenwerk community at “Augsburg gründet!” 2026.

Augsburg Starts Up! 2026
Wednesday, November 18, 2026
, 3:00 p.m. to approx. 10:00 p.m.

DZ.S Founders Factory – Digital Center Swabia
Werner-von-Siemens-Str. 6, Hall 17, Entrance 18c
86159 Augsburg

For more information and tickets:
https://veranstaltung.augsburg-gruendet.de/

“Augsburg Gründet!” is the annual startup and innovation event for the Augsburg economic region. It brings together aspiring entrepreneurs, startups, companies, universities, and other stakeholders in the regional innovation ecosystem. The goal is to raise the profile of entrepreneurship, generate new momentum, and strengthen networking within the region.

“Augsburg gründet!” is organized by the Digital Center Swabia (DZ.S) in collaboration with aitiRaum e. V., the City of Augsburg, the districts of Augsburg and Aichach-Friedberg, the Swabian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK Schwaben), Technical University of Applied Sciences Augsburg (THA) with THA_funkenwerk, and the University of Augsburg with StartHub.