September 10th - 11th 2026 · 2 Day Event
Jülich (Cologne), Germany

DEEP Startup Ecosystem Conference 2026

The DEEP Conference brings together the organisations shaping stronger startup ecosystems — startup support organisations, economic development agencies, universities and research institutions, corporates and industry clusters, and investment and funding bodies — for two days of practical exchange, international perspectives and partnership-building in Jülich.

Conference agenda

Explore the two-day DEEP Conference program in Jülich, from keynote sessions and DEEP Dives to matchmaking, Demo Day, and community-building activities.

Day 1

Thursday, 10 September 2026

Thursday venue: Startup Village Jülich, Marie-Curie-Straße 4, 52428 Jülich, Germany

DEEP Visions, DEEP Dives, matchmaking, accelerator sessions, and the evening reception.

Time Session Details
9:00 – 9:30

Registration

Arrival, check-in, and welcome coffee.

9:30 – 9:50

Welcome and introduction

  • Harald Eisenhauer, Co-Founder & Head of Acceleration at DEEP Ecosystems
  • Lilian Lindevall, Ecosystem Growth Consultant at DEEP Ecosystems
  • Sara Usinger, Head of Ecosystem & Programs at Startup Village Jülich
9:50 – 10:10

Keynote 1: DEEP Ecosystems’ Requests for Ecosystems

Outlining current investment needs to build the startup ecosystems of the future.

Speaker: Thomas Kösters, Co-Founder & CEO at DEEP Ecosystems

10:10 – 10:40

Keynote 2: Will AI revolutionise innovation? A nuanced view from the deep tech side

Speaker: Greg De Temmerman, Managing Director of Deeptech and Ecosystem at Techleap.

10:40 – 11:00

Coffee break

Networking and informal exchange.

11:00 – 11:20

Panel discussion: From Coal to GreenTech: Building a Thriving Startup Hub in a Small Town

  • Jonathan Natzel, Managing Director at Mediengründerzentrum NRW
  • Marc Kley, CEO at Gateway Excellence Startup Center
  • Thomas Kösters, Co-Founder & CEO at DEEP Ecosystems
  • Moderator: Sara Usinger, Head of Ecosystem & Programs at Startup Village Jülich
11:20 – 11:35

Keynote 3: Bridging the funding gaps for start-ups and scale-ups in Europe

Speaker: Huyen Tran, Economist at European Investment Bank.

11:35 – 12:15

Ecosystems Around the World – Global Perspectives on Building Thriving Startup Ecosystems

Best practices and collaboration opportunities from multiple ecosystems.

  • Austrian & Gulf Cooperation Council ecosystems: Naveed Syed, CEO/Founder at Network Development Hub GmbH
  • Sweden: Lilian Lindevall, Ecosystem Growth Consultant at DEEP Ecosystems
  • Wrocław: Yash Chawla, Entrepreneur & Researcher at CRAFT, Wrocław Tech, Poland & SustematiQ
  • Kuwait & Oman: Hamid Alibeiki, Innovation Programs Director at One Global Hub
  • North Macedonia: Aleksandar Stamboliev, EIT Community Officer & Consortium Partner at EIT & DigitMak - Macedonian Digital Innovation Hub
  • Cambridge (UK): Sam Goodall, CEO at Cambridge Cleantech
12:15 – 13:00

Lunch break

Lunch and peer exchange.

13:00 – 13:10

Introduction and expectations

Harald Eisenhauer, Co-Founder & Head of Acceleration at DEEP Ecosystems.

13:10 – 15:10

DEEP Dives

DEEP Dive 1

From Research to Venture: Building Scalable University Spin-off Ecosystems

Co-hosts: Thijmen Meijer, Co-Founder & COO at University Venture Capital Coalition; Károly Szántó, CEO & Founder at University Venture Capital Coalition; Imre Hild, Venture Capital & Head of Startup Division at OUVC & Hungarian Venture Capital Association. Input: Bertalan Jászkuti, Founder at Lab2Care.

DEEP Dive 2

Small Town Innovation: Building World-Class Startup Ecosystems Beyond Capital Cities

Co-host: Thais Glod, CEO at Innobound & EU Climate Pact Ambassador. Inputs: Moritz Glettenberg, Senior Project Manager at Prognos AG, and Dr. Johannes Brunner, Strategic Projects & Partnerships at NOI Techpark Südtirol.

DEEP Dive 3

Creative Industries & Innovation: Creative Ecosystems as Catalysts for Entrepreneurship and Community Building

Co-hosts: Timofey Golovin, Director at Winno; Gerrit-Jan van 't Veen, Fellow at We Are Changemakers; and Shivam Dhawan, Founder at GetBoarded & ALT+F.

15:10 – 15:25

Coffee break

Refreshments and transition to the networking block.

15:25 – 15:55

Open networking

Speed-dating plus 1:1 and small-group meetings.

15:55 – 16:10

The Toolkit of an Ecosystem Builder

Speaker: Thomas Kösters, Co-Founder & CEO at DEEP Ecosystems.

16:10 – 16:30

Marketplace for networking & hands-on ecosystem building

  • Networking & community engagement: Anna Salvagio, Ecosystem Growth Consultant at DEEP Ecosystems
  • Public funding: Lorena Franceschetti, Senior Ecosystem Funding Consultant at DEEP Ecosystems
  • Startup scouting: Amit Mondol, Ecosystem Growth Consultant at DEEP Ecosystems
  • Tech events & ecosystem delegations: Lilian Lindevall, Ecosystem Growth Consultant at DEEP Ecosystems
  • Inspiration & blueprints: Jimmy Jaspers, Ecosystem Outreach & Partnerships Lead at DEEP Ecosystems
  • Ecosystem analysis: Thomas Kösters, Managing Director at DEEP Ecosystems
  • Ecosystem impact model design: Harald Eisenhauer, Head of Accelerator at DEEP Ecosystems
16:40 – 17:00

The DEEP Startup Ecosystem Accelerator

Speaker: Harald Eisenhauer, Co-Founder & Head of Accelerator at DEEP Ecosystems.

17:00 – 17:40

DEEPSEA Demo Day

Selected initiatives pitch their ecosystem projects, followed by awards.

  • Klimatic Cities (DE) – Aneri Pradhan, Partner at Klimatic Group
  • Ethiopian Youth Entrepreneurs Association (ET) – Samiya Godu, President at EYEA & Godu Group
  • GOV4ALL by Academy of Entrepreneurship (GR) – Andreas Stefanidis, Founder & CEO at Academy of Entrepreneurship
  • Klaipėda FEZ Green Innovation Ecosystem (LT) – Tadas Kubilius, Project Manager at Klaipeda Free Economic Zone
  • Olivestone Living Lab (GR) – Fotios Konstantinidis, Living Lab Coordinator at Olivestone Living Lab
  • Ukrainian Hub (UA / PT) – Olesia Malovana, President at Ukrainian Hub
  • Jury member confirmed: Sara Usinger, Head of Ecosystem & Programs at Startup Village Jülich
17:40 – 17:50

Closing remarks

Harald Eisenhauer, Co-Founder & Head of Accelerator at DEEP Ecosystems.

17:50 – 21:00

Cocktail dinner reception

Featuring the DEEPSEA Demo Day award ceremony.

Day 2

Friday, 11 September 2026

Community-building experiences, site visits, and a networking lunch.

Time Session Details
9:00 – 11:30

DEEP Community Building Activity

Site visits focused on research, economic development, and ecosystem building in action.

Option 1

Forschungszentrum Jülich — one of Europe’s largest interdisciplinary research centres, with focus areas including information, energy & climate, and bioeconomy.

Option 2

Hambach Open Coal Mine — a transformation case turning the area into a diverse economic, nature, and recreation destination by 2030.

12:30 – 14:00

Networking lunch

Informal exchange after the site visits.

Confirmed contributors

The confirmed invited speakers bring perspectives from the cultural and creative industries, deep tech, blue economy, ecosystem building, sustainability, and corporate venturing.

Community spotlight

Ecosystem leaders and initiatives to meet

DEEP community members who will contribute perspectives from startup support, venture building, public innovation and regional leaders.

Academy of Entrepreneurship logo

Academy of Entrepreneurship

Africa International Policy Research Center (AIPRC) logo

Africa International Policy Research Center (AIPRC)

Capital Catalyst Ecosystems logo

Capital Catalyst Ecosystems

Cobana logo

Cobana

Data Immigrant logo

Data Immigrant

Digital Innovation Zone logo

Digital Innovation Zone

Divasity Development Services logo

Divasity Development Services

EIT logo

EIT

Enable Good logo

Enable Good

ESun Center of Change & Ministry of Labor and Skill (EYEA) logo

ESun Center of Change & Ministry of Labor and Skill (EYEA)

Fundraise.vc logo

Fundraise.vc

Getboarded logo

Getboarded

Good Tech Living Lab logo

Good Tech Living Lab

Here Partners logo

Here Partners

Innobound logo

Innobound

Klaipeda Free Economic Zone logo

Klaipeda Free Economic Zone

Klimatic Inno logo

Klimatic Inno

Obuda Uni Venture Capital logo

Obuda Uni Venture Capital

Olivestone AgriFood Living Labs logo

Olivestone AgriFood Living Labs

Sankofa Lab logo

Sankofa Lab

Syreon Research Institute logo

Syreon Research Institute

TUM Venture Labs logo

TUM Venture Labs

Ukrainian Hub logo

Ukrainian Hub

University of Debrecen - Technology Transfer Center logo

University of Debrecen - Technology Transfer Center

University Venture Capital Coalition logo

University Venture Capital Coalition

We are changemakers logo

We are changemakers

Winno logo

Winno

Partners

Partner organisations

The conference is co-hosted with ecosystem builders and supported by organisations represented through confirmed contributors.

Travel

How to get to Jülich

Thursday’s conference venue is Startup Village Jülich, Marie-Curie-Straße 4, 52428 Jülich, Germany. Friday includes off-site community-building visits followed by a networking lunch. The program begins on 10 September at 9:00 AM and concludes on 11 September at approximately 2:00 PM.

Travel information

Open “Plan your Trip” for flights, trains, accommodation and Thursday venue directions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the most common questions. Open only the items you need.

General information

Where is the DEEP Conference taking place?

Thursday’s conference venue is Startup Village Jülich, Marie-Curie-Straße 4, 52428 Jülich, Germany. Friday includes off-site community-building visits.

What language will the conference be held in?

The official language of the conference is English.

What is the expected arrival and departure schedule?

The DEEP Conference begins on 10 September at 9:00 AM and concludes on 11 September at approximately 2:00 PM, following the networking lunch.

What is the event for?

This conference is not focused on fundraising or ticket sales. Its main purpose is to provide an open platform for DEEP members to connect, exchange knowledge, share experiences, and discuss relevant topics within the community.

Registration

How do I register for the conference?

Please register through the online registration system on the DEEP Conference website. You will receive a confirmation email once your registration has been completed.

Can I modify or cancel my registration?

Please refer to the registration terms and conditions on the DEEP Conference website or contact the conference organizers for assistance at [email protected].

What is the deadline to apply for the DEEP Conference?

We would appreciate receiving your confirmation by mid-August so that we can finalize your participation as a guest or speaker and proceed with the conference preparations.

Can I receive a certificate of attendance?

Yes, certificates of attendance will be provided to registered participants upon request after the conference. Please contact the organizers for details on how and when to obtain your certificate.

Travel, accommodation and visa

Does the conference provide accommodation or cover travel expenses?

No. The DEEP Conference does not provide accommodation, and unfortunately we are also unable to cover travel expenses. Participants are responsible for arranging and paying for their own travel and accommodation.

Do I need a visa to travel to Germany?

Visa requirements depend on your nationality. Germany is part of the Schengen Area, and many participants may require a Schengen visa. We can prepare an invitation letter upon request.

Please check the requirements with the German Embassy or Consulate in your country well in advance, as visa processing may take several weeks.

Can I obtain an invitation letter for my visa application?

Sure. If you require an invitation letter to support your visa application, please contact the DEEP Conference organizers after completing your registration.

You may be asked to provide:

  • Your full name as shown in your passport
  • Date of birth
  • Nationality
  • Name of your institution or workplace
  • Arrival and departure dates in Germany
  • Name and address of your accommodation in Germany

Please note that an invitation letter is issued solely for visa purposes and does not guarantee that a visa will be granted. Final decisions are made by the German diplomatic authorities.

During your stay

What is the currency in Germany?

The currency is the Euro (€). Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, although carrying some cash is recommended for smaller purchases.

What electrical plugs are used in Germany?

Germany uses Type C and Type F plugs with a standard voltage of 230 V / 50 Hz.

What is the weather like in Jülich in September?

Weather in Jülich during September is usually mild and comfortable, with average daytime temperatures around 15–20°C and cooler evenings. Rain showers are possible, so we recommend checking the forecast before travelling and bringing a light jacket and rain protection.

Will Wi-Fi, meals and presentation materials be available?

Yes, complimentary Wi-Fi will be available at the conference venue.

Please refer to the conference programme for information about coffee breaks, lunches, receptions, or conference dinners included with your registration. If you have dietary requirements, allergies, or food restrictions, please indicate them during registration or contact the organizers in advance.

If speakers agree to share their presentation materials, they will be made available to registered participants after the conference.

Participation and logistics

Is the venue accessible?

The conference venue aims to be accessible to all participants. If you have specific accessibility requirements, please contact the organizers in advance so appropriate arrangements can be made.

Are remote presentation options available?

Remote presentation options may be available for participants who are unable to attend in person. Please contact the organizers for information about remote participation options, technical requirements, and eligibility.

What is the dress code for the conference?

There is no formal dress code for the DEEP Conference. Most participants wear business casual or smart casual attire during the conference sessions. Comfortable footwear is recommended, especially if you plan to explore the venue or participate in networking events.

We may also include optional excursions and outdoor activities, so comfortable walking shoes, light clothing, and a light rain jacket or umbrella are recommended.

Will there be opportunities for networking at the conference?

Absolutely. The DEEP Conference offers numerous opportunities to network with fellow participants throughout the event, including coffee breaks, lunch sessions, network speed dating, poster sessions, and social events.

I have another question. Who should I contact?

If your question is not answered here, please contact the DEEP Conference organizing team at [email protected].

DEEPSEA Demo Day

Meet the ecosystem leaders.

The DEEPSEA Demo Day showcases 100 ecosystem leaders who participated in our DEEP Startup Ecosystem Accelerator, sharing what they are building, what they are learning and where partners can get involved.

Get updates
100 Ecosystem leaders

Register now:

The DEEP Conference is designed for ecosystem builders and partner organisations — from incubators and accelerators to economic development agencies, universities, corporates, clusters and funding bodies. Please fill out the form if you would like to join, and we will get back to you soon to confirm.

If you have any issues submitting, email [email protected] and we will register your interest manually.

Previous editions

Outcomes of previous editions

Explore selected outcomes and white papers created with the DEEP Conference community in previous years.

Get in touch

Contact us

Reach out for partnerships, conference updates, travel questions or newsletter registration.

[email protected]

DEEP Ecosystems 500 UG
Westendstr. 125
80339 Munich, Germany