Once a year 500+ rockstar startup founders, 150+ leading investors and a bunch of media- and corporate executives gather in a scrapyard-turned-outdoor-art-gallery in one of Europe’s most underrated cities – Cologne, Germany. In it’s fifth year, Pirate Summit stays true to its core principles and values: no bullshit and startup superficiality, a hand-picked crowd (the event is invite/application only) and solely interactive formats. The mission: to foster meaningful connections across the world’s startup ecosystems and celebrate true entrepreneurship. One of the core elements of the un-conference: The infamous “Walk The Plank”-pitch competition, where 70+ early stage startup battle for Pirate glory. To seek out the EMEA region’s most exciting young startups, the Pirate Crew visited 50+ cities in 2015 with its “Pirates on Shore Tour”. From Tehran to Stockholm, from Chisinau to Baku, the most promising contestants were picked from among 250+ startups that presented to varying juries consisting of renowned investors and startup mentors.
Check out some photos from last year:
Having been called “Europe’s Burning Man”, the event combines a passionate tech-savvy crowd in an unlikely atmosphere – and yes, also in 2015 there will be a “Pirate Burning”. A 7meter wooden statue, based on an old Cologne Carnival tradition called “Nubbelverbrennung”, will be lit on fire on the first night. Founded by true startup community heroes, Pirate Summit is an event from the startup community for the startup community with reasonable prices for all attendees. Don’t miss your chance to attend this year’s edition.
This year the event is hosting 120+ top investors, all of them are willing to fund: Point Nine Capital, Connect Ventures, 500startups and of course big funds like Index Ventures, Accel Partners, Balderton Capital and many more. Check out more details at http://piratesummit.com/