The German presence at Web Summit Vancouver 2025 was a subtle yet important thread woven into the vibrant tapestry of over 15,000 attendees, startups, partners, investors, and media from around the world. While there was no official German delegation this year, a handful of remarkable individuals and organizations from Germany managed to make their mark—discreetly but powerfully—through spontaneous encounters, exploration, and a brief meetup on Friday. Their stories and initiatives stood out among the many inspiring pioneers present.
One of the most active players was Baden-Württemberg International (BW_i), which dedicated three days to engaging with attendees and promoting Baden-Württemberg as a prime hub for innovation, business, and science. They were the only State of the 16 found in Germany and positioned themselves as the central marketing agency for Germany’s technological and scientific prowess within Baden-Württemberg. Their efforts to attract global talent and investment were evident and very encouraging to see, even when the overall German footprint was small.
Throughout the event, I also had the chance to meet a variety of passionate entrepreneurs and professionals. Achim Klor, President of Klor Consulting from Germany—now living in Vancouver—gave a candid assessment of the event: “Overall, I’m glad I went, mostly to get out of the office and for the networking opportunity. I met some amazing people and bumped into a few good pals. But this event felt chaotic, like someone with ADHD was in charge of logistics.” Achim highlighted one example that I agree with: Some 20-minute Meetup sessions were overly philosophical, lacked depth, and were randomly scattered across the venue’s three floors—making it difficult to catch anything meaningful without rushing across the venue.
On a more artistic note, I met Antonia Catharina Düwel, an accomplished singer, songwriter, and actress from Germany who plans to move to Vancouver this fall. She expressed her excitement about integrating into the local creative community. An actress and a singer songwriter from Germany, who has spent some time in Berlin, Costa Rica and Los Angeles. She has worked all around the world with many different teachers and learned different techniques – even in different languages: She speaks German, English, Spanish, French and a little bit of Italian.
Additionally, I bumped into Simon Thies, CEO at Greentech Alliance and co-founder of Eyyeon. Simon is dedicated to building sustainable ecosystems through innovative IoT solutions. With a background in business, entrepreneurship, data analytics, and social and environmental consulting, his purpose-driven work aims to tackle climate change, resource management, and social inclusion. His commitment to making a positive impact reiterated the multifaceted spirit of the German entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Among the standout stories was that of GlüxKind Technologies, co-founded by Anne Hunger, who was from Germany and is now based in Vancouver. Their flagship product, Ella—the award-winning AI-powered smart stroller—captivated audiences with its blend of innovation and heartfelt storytelling. GlüxKind, meaning “lucky child” in German, struck a chord with everyone. Not only did Anne reach the final stage of the pitch competition, helping secure $125,000 in funding and garnering media attention, but her story epitomized how German-inspired innovation can resonate globally and empower modern parents.
We also heard about Benedikt Scheungraber, co-founder and CEO of nebty GmbH, based in Munich. While I didn’t have the chance to connect with Benedikt at the event itself, his startup is positioned at the cutting edge of digital transformation, exemplifying the entrepreneurial drive that Germany is increasingly known for.
In addition, I heard about the team from datin GmbH, a German startup from Karlsruhe reimagining AI-driven R&D digitalization. Their journey from Karlsruhe to Vancouver to allow Nick Garabedian to pitch showcases the curiosity and ambition of German entrepreneurs eager to push technological boundaries and make a mark on the international stage.
Reflecting on this year’s summit, it was clear that discovering these talented individuals and organizations—despite the limited, rapid-fire nature of some interactions—added a richness and inspiration that far exceeded the small official presence of Germans in Vancouver. The informal, spontaneous “hide and seek” experience underscored how even a few passionate entrepreneurs and organizations can leave a lasting impression.
While the sense of discovery was playful—like playing hide and seek with the German presence—these chance meetings underscored the richness of the individual stories that made this year’s Vancouver experience memorable. As the Summit drew to a close, it was evident that despite the limited opportunities for deep conversations—especially during the short, 20-minute German Meetup—these chance encounters with passionate German founders and organizations served as powerful sources of inspiration. Even without an official German delegation, the impact of individuals and institutions like BW_i, Pascal, Benedikt, Margaretha, Anne, and the datin team demonstrated that even a small presence can leave a lasting impression.
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