Thank you for being part of Future Tech Fest 2026!
5,000
+
Attendees
300
+
EXPO Startups
120
+
Investors
90
+
Top Speakers
Celebrate the Future of Tech
More than 5,000 people come together to learn, share knowledge, exchange ideas and do business. Stars and hidden champions of the startup scene as well as heroes from all over NRW are waiting for you.
Speaker Lineup 2026
Biyon Kattilathu
Bestselling Author, Motivational Speaker & Podcaster
Martina Voss-Tecklenburg
Former German Women's National Team Head Coach & Leadership Expert
Michael Fritz
Co-Founder Viva con Agua
Amiaz Habtu
Presenter and Rapper (known from "Die Höhle der Löwen") | FTF24/25 Main Stage Host
Dr. Viktoria Schmittmann
COO bpc | Partner zuhorn
Ingo Hillen
CEO sino AG I 1st Investor Trade Republic
Philipp Heltewig
Co-Founder & Chief AI Officer NiCE Cognigy
Guido Weissbrich
Director Customer Operations & member of the Executive Committee at Vodafone Germany
Official Highlight of the Startup Week Düsseldorf
The Startup Week Düsseldorf is a key platform for founders, innovators and companies. From September 7 to 11 it celebrates entrepreneurship through inspiring keynotes, innovations and networking all over Düsseldorf. In 2026, the Future Tech Fest will be the Official Highlight of the Startup Week - Düsseldorf will become the center for innovation and technology!
Best of #FTF. Our Hall of Fame.
Tim Schumacher
Managing Partner World Fund | Co-Founder sedo.com | Co-Founder Eyeo.com | Co-Founder saas.group
Rolf Schroemgens
Co-Founder trivago | Co-Founder brafe.space | Co-Founder leadership.sprouts
Sebastian Dettmers
The Stepstone Group CEO
Joey Kelly
Endurance Athlete | Entrepreneur |
Musician
Tina Müller
CEO Weleda AG | Ex-CEO Douglas | Ex-CMO Opel | LinkedIn Top Voice
Tijen Onaran
Entrepereneur & Investor
Reinhold Messner
Mountaineer and Adventurer
Sara Nuru
Entrepreneur, Model & Co-Founder of the social business nuruCoffee and nuruWomen e.V.
Amiaz Habtu
Presenter and Rapper (known from "Die Höhle der Löwen") | Main Stage Host
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Ana Ivanović
Former Tennis World #1 & Founder of Ana Ivanović Natural Performance
Gunter Dueck
Mathematician, Ex-IBM, best-selling Author, Business Angel
Mona Neubaur
Minister for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action and Energy of the State of NRW
Tillman Schulz
CEO, Founder & "Die Höhle der Löwen" Investor
Mareike Awe
Co-founder & CEO of intumind, Forbes 30 under 30
Michael Groß
Swimming Legend, multiple Olympic Champion & Entrepreneur
Andreas Breitfeld
Germany’s best known biohacker
Hendrik Wüst
Prime Minister of NRW
Klaus-Dieter Maubach
CEO of Uniper
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Marie-Helene Ametsreiter
General Partner at Speedinvest
Dr. Klaus Hommels
Venture Capitalist
Charlotte Haunhorst
Member of the Editorial Board at Handelsblatt
Marc Sommer
VP Business Development of Meta
Dr. Anna Christmann
Member of the German Bundestag & Commissioner for the Digital Economy and Startups
Carsten Knobel
CEO of Henkel
Elisabeth Paehtz
Women's European Rapid & Vice European Blitz Chess Champion
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Frank Thelen
CEO Freigeist / Co-Founder 10xDNA Capital Partners Freigeist Capital GmbH
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Céline Flores Willers
Founder & CEO of The People Branding Company & LinkedIn Top Voice 2018 & 2019
Jonas Deichmann
Extreme Athlete & Word Record Holder
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Dr. Suzanna Randall
Astrophysicist and Researcher at ESO (European Southern Observatory)
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Ranga Yogeshwar
Science Journalist & Author
What attendees say
Sara Nuru
Entrepreneur, Model & Co-Founder
„You are with like-minded people, who are all passionate about what they do and yes, I am very happy to be here.“
Tillman Schulz
CEO, Founder & Investor MDS Holding
„Take a look to the main stage, all the people. It’s amazing.“
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Andrea Fernandez Fonseca
Head of Data Intelligence, trivago
„The event is inspiring through its authenticity.“
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Benjamin Dammertz
Founder/CEO at FoxBase GmbH
„We have been attending the event for years and have made many valueable contacts there. The best startup event ever!”
Jonas Deichmann
Extreme Athlete & Author
„My most important lesson is: Just do it. That’s exactly what startups do. From that point of view: Super cool atmosphere here!“
Marc Sommer
VP for International Business Development and Operator Partnership at Meta
„It’s a fantastic event that showcases the power of startups and empowers people to actually get together here in the heart of Europe.“
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Hendrik Wüst
Prime Minister NRW
„We in North Rhine-Westphalia with our strong industry are an incredibly good location for young innovators and startups, because together with big industry they find the solutions of the future. That is my firm conviction.“
Throwback Event 2025
Meet our Audience
At the Future Tech Fest, the brightest minds from across the technological innovation hub come together. Startups, corporates, researchers, investors, and key players from government and hubs connect to spark new ideas, drive partnerships, and accelerate the tech of tomorrow.
