450 million consumers. Four fundamental freedoms. One single market. And your idea right in the middle of it.
At Start:EUp, founders, innovators, and European visionaries meet curious minds from business, politics, and civil society. Come along, ask your questions, connect – and discover how startup ideas become European success stories!
As part of Startup Week Düsseldorf, we’re taking startup culture to a European level: Fresh, direct, honest – and in good spirits for Europe!
Europe – we need to talk!
With each other, not about each other. The EU Single Market is the world’s largest shared economic area – an engine for innovation and growth where people, goods, capital, and services circulate freely. The European Green Deal and digital transformation are creating new opportunities for founders who think big. And European standards – from the GDPR to the AI Act – are no longer obstacles but a global trust advantage. Start:EUp makes exactly this tangible: Europe as a launchpad for startups that want to shape the future.
Structure of the evening:
The evening features three times:
🎤 27-minute session – presentation & Q&A, split at the speaker’s discretion
🤝 10 minutes of networking – connect in person, exchange ideas, experience Europe
Our speakers decide for themselves how to divide their 27 minutes between presentation and Q&A. Whether 20 minutes of input and 7 minutes of discussion, or 15 minutes of impulse and 12 minutes of exchange – each session is as individual as the topic itself.
How does it work?
Our events feature three informative, entertaining, and honest presentations. The twist: Each speaker has exactly 27 minutes to tell their story, share insights, and engage with you – eye to eye. The split between presentation and Q&A is in their hands. The clock runs… not a second longer! Then 12 minutes of networking follow, so you can connect personally, refresh, and be ready for the next session.
No lecturing – dialogue at eye level.
It’s not just our job to offer you inspiration and knowledge in a unique networking environment. We love bringing together people from the most diverse backgrounds – founders and European politicians, investors and activists, Old Economy and New Economy. Because Europe thrives on honest dialogue and mutual understanding. We provide a stage for engaged voices, sustainable projects, and bold European ideas.
Organised by Europa-Union Düsseldorf-Neuss.
As a networking platform, we support the exchange of ideas, the opportunity to expand your contacts, and – most importantly – the shared enthusiasm for a strong, democratic Europe.
Find us on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/europa-union-duesseldorf-neuss/
Your team from Europa-Union Düsseldorf-Neuss Active for Europe.
P.S.: Many thanks to our partners Beehive Workspace, neuroTime GmbH, Wirtschaftsförderung der Stadt Düsseldorf, digihub.nrw, and FUT – FutureTechFest!
P.P.S.: Getting involved with the Europa-Union is possible too! Would you like to volunteer for Europe? Get in touch or find out more at europa-union.de!
Would you or your company like to become a partner? Reach out to duesseldorf@europa-union.de or connect with Janosch directly, please click here! → https://www.linkedin.com/in/janoschboesche/
General information – please also check the FAQs!
Media rights (photo and video recordings): Participants agree that photos and film recordings made during the event may be used without compensation, without time or geographic limitations. Rights to image and video material transfer exclusively, without limitation of time or place, to the organiser or to representatives of the press or other media companies present at the venue.