Startup Safari
Our signature experience

Real conversations. No innovation theatre

For companies exploring a question about innovation or new technology: visit three to five carefully selected startups in one day, speak directly with founders and reflect on what you observed for your next step.

The challenge

You cannot learn to swim from a book.

Innovation is not a slide deck. It is people in a room, fixing a prototype at midnight, disagreeing, failing and starting again.

To understand that work, you have to be in the room.

What you get

More than information. A shift in perspective.

01

Access built over time

We connect you with founders and practitioners from a network built over more than 15 years. Curated conversations, not a cold sales pitch.

02

Candid conversations

No innovation theatre. You speak directly with founders about their work and experience, beyond the investor presentation.

03

Ideas for a next step

Past teams have developed partnerships, changed procurement approaches or invested in startups after a Safari. What follows depends on each company’s decisions and next steps.

The process

From your questions to the right introductions

1. We listen

In a 30-minute introductory call, we clarify what you want to understand or decide after the Safari, and which questions matter, whether around AI, sustainability or workplace culture.

2. We curate

We select three to five startups around your priorities and the city’s strengths: the most relevant, not simply the loudest.

3. You go behind the scenes

Spend a day visiting three to five startups. Meet founders, see how agile teams work and talk directly about the work, without a stage or slide deck. Reflect on what applies to your question and what remains open.

4. We make room to connect

On request, a shared dinner can extend the conversations and leave more room to explore possible connections.

Selected clients
Deutsche BörseTelekomKPMG

Selected clients

Who it’s for

A good fit for

Board members and senior executives
Innovation and strategy leaders
Department and business-unit heads
Corporate venture and M&A teams
Agenda

A typical session

09:00

Kickoff and context

A short introduction to the day and the topics you have brought with you.

10:00

Startups 1 and 2

On-site visits. Speak directly with the founders: no stage and no slide deck.

12:30

Lunch with founders

Continue the conversation over a relaxed lunch.

14:00

Startups 3 to 5

Visit more startups, selected around your priorities and the city's strengths.

17:00

Reflection

What does this mean for your organization? We make sense of the day's takeaways together.

19:00

Optional group dinner

An optional evening finish with more time for conversation, if a group dinner fits your programme.

What you take away

Tangible outcomes

✓ A grounded picture of your industry in the ecosystem
✓ Three to five relevant startup connections
✓ Concrete starting points for pilots, procurement or investment
✓ A shared language for the topic across your team
Format and logistics

At a glance

Group sizeBest for 6 to 15 participants
DurationOne day, with an evening dinner on request
FormatOn-site visits to 3 to 5 startups, curated around your topics
CitiesBerlin, Munich, Cologne, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf and other cities
Lead time3 to 4 weeks for curation
LanguageGerman or English

Each Safari is curated individually. After a short briefing on the topic, city and group size, we will send you a tailored quote.

Frequently asked questions

Good to know

How many startups will we visit? +

Usually three to five in a day, selected around your topics and the city's strengths. We focus on the startups most relevant to your team, not simply the loudest names.

Who chooses which startups we visit? +

You set the topics and questions. We curate the right founders from our network, built over many years.

Which cities can host a Safari? +

We organize Safaris across Germany, including Berlin, Munich, Cologne, Hamburg, Frankfurt and Düsseldorf.

How many people can take part? +

Small groups of 6 to 15 work best, leaving room for real conversation.

How much does a Startup Safari cost? +

Each Safari is put together individually. Tell us the topic, city and group size, and we will prepare a tailored quote.

What participants say
“Excellent organisation. Everyone enjoyed the tour and came away inspired.”
David FurtwänglerCEO, BNP Cardif
“We learned more about the AI ecosystem in one day than in six months of internal research. The contacts we made have led to real projects.”
Choose a city

Where would you like to explore?

Each startup ecosystem has its own strengths. We shape the route around your questions and the people building there.

Combine formats

Make a day of it

Start with a Safari. Add a workshop in the morning or an Innovation Dinner in the evening.

Ready to take the first step?

Tell us what your team is working through. We will discuss which startup visits fit your question, with no obligation. We’ll reply within 48 hours.

Talk to us