DMEXCO 2025: Start-ups in the Spotlight
The Start-up Area at DMEXCO 2025 puts founders in the spotlight. Top newcomers with high growth potential create the ideal platform for showcasing ideas.
The Start-up Area in Hall 7 at DMEXCO 2025
The Start-up Area is the gathering place for fresh ideas and new business models. This is where visitors and founders from across the world meet. From marketing tools to data-driven services to disruptive technologies, Hall 7 is the place to experience products firsthand, hold discussions, and pave the way for cooperations. Filled with the spirit of the next generation of digital businesses, the Start-up Area is a hot spot for trends and innovations.
The prestigious exhibitors in this section include names such as BRAME, WebinarGeek, Refluenced, HASE & IGEL, YOURSOCKS, Camphouse, and Baqend. A further highlight at the event is the Jung von Matt START Area, which provides a prominent platform for creative concepts and unconventional approaches.
Pitch your future: the big opportunity for founders
One of the crowd-pullers at DMEXCO 2025 is set to be the Start-up of the Year Award – powered by StartupValley. A lineup of 15 young companies will gather to present their concepts live on the Innovation Stage at DMEXCO 2025 on Wednesday, 17 September, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The contest is not just about having innovative business ideas – it’s about being able to convince investors, industry experts, and the audience in just a few minutes. Contestants will have the chance to present their solutions to a highly distinguished jury and hundreds of trade visitors. An audience live vote will decide which start-ups go through to the final.
After honing their pitches even further, the best teams will take to the stage again and present their ideas from 11:00 a.m. to noon on Thursday, 18 September. The jury will assess the scalability and relevance of their business models in addition to their innovativeness.
Exclusive prizes are lined up for the three winners:
1st place: SPORT1 mentorship with strategy workshop, studio tour, and media support
2nd place: Strategy lab and innovation events with GS1 Germany
3rd place: Individual mentoring from the experts at Vector Informatik
Winning one of these prizes could be the moment that a founder’s bright idea becomes a serious business.
From insights to impact
To help emerging enterprises position themselves strategically in the hubbub of activity at the trade fair, the German Association for the Digital Economy (BVDW) is offering guided tours and master classes. These sessions will be packed with hands-on knowledge on topics such as growth strategies and the latest technology trends.
As a special extra for young companies, we’ve put together a whitepaper on business development for start-ups. It presents 18 tangible strategies in a condensed overview – from market analyses to investor communication and pitch deck optimization. To accompany the program at DMEXCO 2025, speakers from the European start-up scene will appear, including ClimateTech investors and the founders of successful unicorns. Their firsthand insights will further enhance the content at DMEXCO, making it an all-round must-attend event.
DMEXCO 2025: Start-ups are shaping the future
DMEXCO 2025 is the perfect platform for growth and visibility for start-ups. In addition to giving presentations and making pitches, emerging companies can make direct contact with investors, partners, and customers. With “Be bold. Move forward.” as its motto, DMEXCO is an event that goes beyond simply showcasing innovations and transforms them into real future opportunities.
