PIRATE Summit is Europe’s largest application-only conference for early-stage startups, active investors, corporate execs and ecosystem builders (“movers & shakers”). Besides the well-selected mix of approx. 1.000 participants, we feature 60+ pitches, participants from 70+ countries, and more than 50 masterclasses, roundtables & workshops.

Ultimately, PIRATE Summit’s mission is to create meaningful connections and to celebrate authentic entrepreneurship.

This year’s PIRATE Summit will take place in Cologne from July 3rd-5th 2018.

PIRATE Summit will take place at Odonien in Cologne, Germany. The address is Hornstraße 85, 50823 Köln, Germany. The closest train station is Nippes. 

Early stage startups, investors, a few corporate executives, even fewer service providers and “movers & shakers” of digital ecosystems (by invitation). We are expecting about 1.000 participants for this edition. 

To ensure the high quality of participants, all attendees need to apply for a ticket. You can get your own here! 

The event’s official language is English and all sessions + activities are in English.

You should arrange and organize your travel and accommodation yourself. Here is a list of potential hotels/hostels: Click here.

Food and drinks are included with your PIRATE Summit ticket during Day 1, Day 2, and the breakfast at Day 3. All you can eat, all you can drink, all day long.

Will be updated soon.

The night of the July 4th we have the biggest party starting just after the official program (incl. the burning ceremony). This is in Odonien (where PIRATE Summit takes place) and you don’t need an additional ticket. You just need to get some drinks and enjoy. There is no dress code, just come as you ARRRe.

No ties. Whatever you want, but no ties!

You want to suggest a session/expert or you want to speak yourself? Follow this LINK. We will contact you in case your application is successful. 

If you have over 100 employees or your revenue growth rate is below 10% then probably you are a corporate.

Someone whose main activities is to invest in startups. E.g. someone from Google Ventures will be an investor while someone from Google will be a corporate. We also welcome angel investors, accelerators, incubators and similar in this field.

Executives from accounting & law-firms, consultancies, recruiting agencies, other agency models, freelancers and other service providers (incl. those who don’t fall under the startup, corporate & investor category).

To ensure the quality of participants that PIRATE Summit is known for, we check every participant’s application before releasing the ticket. Therefore, an application or invitation to register is obligatory. Participation is open for execs from corporations, startup founders, and senior staff as well as active investors (VCs, Accelerators, Business Angels).

PIRATE Summit is an application- & invitation-only conference. You can apply to participate here. You will only be billed once we accept your application. 

Check the ticket prices here.

PIRATE Summit offers convenient credit card payment for all tickets. After applying you will get redirected to our payment gateway to store your credit card details there. We will only charge your credit card when your application gets approved. Declined applications don’t result in a credit card payment.
If any problems occur, or credit card payment is not available in your country or company, you always have the chance to reach out to us after applying and we’ll find a way for you.

Tickets need to have a name but name changes within the same company can be done later. If you have any changes please contact felix@piratesummit.com 

No. Since the buyer will “consume” our service in Germany, we have to add the tax to the invoice according to the tax legislation in Germany.

Please send your full name, nationality, passport number, passport place of issue and expiry dates, as well as the date of birth to felix@piratesummit.com, so we can provide you with the invitation letter. Prior to this we have to check if you’re eligible for a ticket.

Please bring your ticket in printed form or digital form. We will scan your ticket at the entrance and then give you the badge immediately.

PIRATE Summit strives to connect early-stage founders and investors to create meaningful connections. All participants are handpicked from thousands of applications or personally invited to offer networking on the highest possible level of influence and quality. As a startup, you have the possibility to pitch in front of a great number of VCs or get to know them via our different networking opportunities. You will meet like-minded people and celebrate entrepreneurship with your next potential business partner, investor, or friend.

The applications will open on April 9th and run until end of May. As soon as the pitch application form goes live, we’ll send an update via our main channels (email, facebook, twitter) and update this section as well.

All pitches are taking place on PIRATE Summits’s second day, July 4th. You will be informed about your exact time and place by email a couple of weeks before PIRATE Summit.

You will receive an email from our team.

In the previous years each startup had three minutes to pitch and two minutes to answer Q&A from the judges. We’ll be changing the pitch format a bit and will update this section accordingly.

Will be announced soon.

Judges evaluate the startups based on the following categories: Business Model, Traction/Growth numbers, Innovativeness, Market, and Team.

Will be announced soon.

The booths are sized at 2×1 meters. They come with a table, lighting, and power supply. When planning your exhibition kiosk, we kindly ask you to avoid too much paper as we try to be as environmentally friendly as possible. You’re more than welcome to replace the papers with digital content.

Will be announced soon.