Deep Tech Momentum

What Deep Tech Momentum does

Deep Tech Momentum (legal entity: Tech Momentum GmbH, Berlin, Germany) operates Europe's largest deep tech and AI innovation marketplace, organizing the annual Deep Tech Momentum Festival (DTM26 on 20-21 May 2026, DTM27 in May 2027 at Wilhelm Studios Berlin) alongside vertical-specific sub-brands including the SPARTA Defence Innovation Summit (co-organized with TUM Venture Labs at the Munich Security Conference), DTM.Materials, DTM.Space, the AI Productivity Summit, and the Growth Capital Salon. The company is privately held, was founded in 2015 (originally around the Berlin Deep Tech Awards presented by the Berlin Senate), and operates with an 11-50 employee headcount.

The platform brings together three constituencies in a single curated event format: senior corporate innovation leaders ("Guardians," numbering approximately 300) with active Deep Tech and AI budgets, deep tech founders across six verticals (Energy, Defence, Manufacturing & Robotics, Space, High-Performance Computing, and Advanced Materials), and institutional investors (Tier-1 European VCs, corporate VCs, and family offices). Core products include the Guardian Connect program, DTM100 Pitch Competition, Investor Connect, CXO Sovereignty Summit, LP-GP Marketplace, Signals from the Frontline, CVC & Venture Clienting Summit, and the DTM Watchlist curated startup database. The underlying technology layer is the Momentum Match AI (Maeve) recommendation engine, which powers double opt-in 15-minute one-on-one meetings and has facilitated 20,000+ curated meetings.

Revenue is generated primarily through tiered event ticket sales (corporate leader passes, startup/SME passes, investor passes, with early-bird pricing offering up to €500 savings) and multi-tier sponsorship and partnership packages (Corporate Innovators, Deep Tech Titans, Anchor Investors, Investment Partners, Momentum Partners, Ecosystem Partners, Knowledge Partners). The company reports €500M in accumulated platform-triggered investments, 500+ POCs and partnerships, and 3,000+ attendees across DTM events. A single funding round of $1,168,551 from Events Venture Group was disclosed on 2025-08-29. Co-founders Martin Schilling (CEO) and Isabelle Simon (COO) lead the company.

Name

Deep Tech Momentum

Legal name

Tech Momentum GmbH

Website

https://deeptech.build

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Deep Tech Momentum is a Berlin-based event-driven marketplace that organizes Europe's largest deep tech and AI conferences, connecting senior corporate innovation buyers, deep tech founders, and institutional investors through curated one-on-one matchmaking and vertical-specific summits.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Innovation Events and Matchmaking Marketplace

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Finance & Investment Conferences (MPAGAGAG)

Keywords

• Deep tech marketplace
• Innovation conferences
• Startup investor matchmaking
• Defence innovation summit
• Venture capital events

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Event Tickets: Deep Tech Momentum generates revenue through ticket sales for its annual conferences. Tickets are sold in tiers including corporate leader passes, startup/SME passes, and investor passes. Early-bird pricing is available for limited time periods with potential savings of €500. Ticket prices vary by tier and attendee type.
2. Sponsorship and Partnership Packages: Companies can become sponsors or partners at various levels (Corporate Innovators, Deep Tech Titans, Anchor Investors, Investment Partners, Momentum Partners, Ecosystem Partners, Knowledge Partners). These partnerships provide visibility, exhibition opportunities, and networking access.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Deep Tech Momentum operates Europe's #1 Deep Tech & AI Innovation Marketplace, hosting annual conferences (DTM26, DTM27) and specialized summits such as the SPARTA Defence Innovation Summit. The platform connects deep tech founders with corporate innovation leaders (Guardians) and institutional investors through structured deal-making programs, AI-powered matchmaking (Maeve), pitch competitions, and curated one-on-one meetings.

Product overview

Deep Tech Momentum operates as Europe's No. 1 Deep Tech & AI Innovation Marketplace, functioning as a platform-plus-events model. The core offering is the annual Deep Tech Momentum Festival (DTM26 in 2026, DTM27 in 2027), supplemented by specialized sub-brands including the SPARTA Defence Innovation Summit and Deep Tech Now newsletter. The platform offers structured deal-making programs including the Guardian Connect Program, DTM100 Pitch Competition, AI Productivity Summit, Growth Capital Salon, Investor Connect Program, CXO Sovereignty Summit, LP-GP Marketplace, Titans of Europe, Deep Tech Awards, Signals from the Frontline, and CVC & Venture Clienting Summit. Key technology features include Momentum Match AI (Maeve) for AI-powered matchmaking. The company also publishes the Deep Tech Now newsletter and maintains the DTM Watchlist database of curated early-stage deep tech startups. The events are held at Wilhelm Studios Berlin, with DTM26 taking place 20-21 May 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SPARTA: Europe's No. 1 Defence Innovation Summit, an exclusive matchmaking event co-hosted with TUM Venture Labs at the Munich Security Conference.
• DTM.Materials
• DTM.Space

Products and services

• Deep Tech Momentum Festival (DTM) Annual flagship conference connecting corporate decision makers, deep tech founders, and investors to accelerate deep tech innovation cycles in Europe.
• SPARTA - Defence Innovation Summit Defence innovation summit held alongside the Munich Security Conference, co-organized with TUM Venture Labs, bringing together defence primes, SMEs, startups, armed forces, and procurement officials for matchmaking and capability development.
• Guardian Connect Program

Quantifiable outcome

• €500M in investments triggered across deep tech ventures
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• TUM Venture LabscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of SPARTA, Europe's No. 1 Defence Innovation Summit held alongside Munich Security Conference. TUM Venture Labs is Europe's leading force for Deep Tech & Life Sciences innovation, a joint initiative of Technical University of Munich and UnternehmerTUM. Together with DTM, they turn frontier research into scalable ventures.
• European Space Agency (ESA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerESA participates in DTM events with speakers and masterclasses. Dr. Gianluigi Baldesi, Head of ESA's Ventures and Financing Office, presents on ESA's commercialisation agenda and programs supporting deep tech innovation from research to sustainable business growth.
• BCG (Boston Consulting Group)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBCG co-hosts the CXO Sovereignty Summit at DTM, bringing 50 senior policymakers, founders, and CXOs together to shape regulation for faster deep tech commercialisation in Europe. Dr. Tilman Buchner, Partner & Director, and Michael Brigl, Managing Director and Senior Partner, participate as speakers.
• McKinsey & CompanymajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStrategic partner participating in SPARTA and DTM events. Rafael Ocejo and Tobias Henz, Partners, along with David Champagne, Senior Partner, and Chris Badia, CEO and Former Deputy Supreme Commander, contribute to defence innovation discussions.
• SiemenscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Innovators partner. Siemens innovation leaders including Katharina Peterwerth (VP Business Strategy for Grid Technologies) participate as Guardians at DTM events.
• AirbuscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Innovators partner. Greg Ombach, Group Head of Disruptive Research & Technology, participates as Guardian and speaker at DTM events.
• BoschcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Innovators partner. Daniel Hug, Senior Vice President Advance Engineering, and Mathias Pillin, CTO, participate as Guardians and speakers.
• Deutsche TelekomcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Innovators partner. Shirley Beul-Leusmann, VP Business Development T Cloud, and Frank Appel, Chairman of Supervisory Board, participate in DTM events.
• RheinmetallcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Innovators partner. Klaus Kappen, CTO, participates as Guardian at DTM events.
• Schneider ElectriccoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Innovators partner. Matthieu Bureau, Global Vice President Digital Power Business, participates as Guardian.
• OHB SEcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Innovators partner. Dr. Kristina Wagner, CTO & CDO, and Sabine von der Recke, Member of the Board, participate as speakers.
• Lufthansa Innovation HubmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Innovators partner. Daniel Weber, Director Venture Clienting, participates as Guardian.
• SAPcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Innovators partner. Mario Brandenburg, Senior Director Research & Innovation Strategy, participates as Guardian.
• Procter & GamblecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Innovators partner. Wolfgang Hubel, Senior Director Global Business Development / M&A, participates as Guardian.
• SaabmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Innovators partner. Jonas Lundeberg, Board of Saab Ventures, participates as Guardian.
• SchaefflermajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Innovators partner. Klaus Ludwig, Strategic Partnering & Technology Scouting, participates as Guardian.
• Infineon TechnologiesmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Innovators partner. Andreas Härtl, VP R&D, participates as Guardian.
• Telefonica GermanymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Innovators partner. Mallikarjun Rao, Chief Technology & Enterprise Business Officer, and Mallik Rao, CTEO, participate as Guardians.
• 27pilotsmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCo-host of CVC & Venture Clienting Summit at DTM. 27pilots is a corporate innovation consultancy.
• MerantixmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCo-host of AI Productivity Summit with HarmonicAI. Merantix is a Berlin-based AI venture studio.
• HarmonicAImajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCo-host of AI Productivity Summit with Merantix. The summit aims to launch 100 new AI & Deep Tech collaborations.
• Berlin SenatecoreOthersPresents the Berlin Deep Tech Award recognizing the city's most innovative startups. The award ceremony is held at DTM events.
• HandelsblattmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner. Larissa Holzki, Editorial Head of TECH at Handelsblatt, speaks at DTM events.
• Startup-Verband (German Startup Association)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerStrategic partner. Verena Pausder, Chairwoman of the Board, speaks at DTM events.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hello Tomorrow: Paris-based global deep tech summit and startup competition (Hello Tomorrow Global Summit). Most direct peer — exclusively focused on deep tech founders, investors, and corporate buyers with curated matchmaking and pitch competitions, similar in mission to Deep Tech Momentum.
• Slush: Helsinki-based major startup and tech conference organised by the Slush Foundation. Comparable annual flagship format, deep tech founder focus, investor matchmaking (Slush 100 pitching competition), and strong European Tier-1 VC partner ecosystem — closely mirrors DTM's GTM and audience.
• Bits & Pretzels: Munich-based founders' conference with strong European startup and investor attendance. Same DACH ecosystem overlap as DTM, comparable founder-investor-corporate matchmaking format, and similar reliance on a flagship annual event plus satellite programmes.
• Pioneers: Vienna-based deep tech innovation platform (Pioneers Festival and Pioneers'19-era programming). Directly comparable mission around European deep tech founders, investors, and corporates with curated matchmaking — an overlapping but smaller-scale competitor.
• Norship / North Star: Dubai-born tech conference organiser with a curated deep tech and AI track; comparable curated matchmaking and sponsor-driven model targeting investors, founders and corporate buyers — emerging competitor in adjacent geographies.

Broad incumbents

• Web Summit: Largest global tech conference (Lisbon, plus regional events). Broader than deep tech but overlaps heavily on corporate innovation leaders, startup founders, and investor attendance; a scaled incumbent that could choose to deepen its deep tech vertical if it sees category ROI.
• VivaTech: Paris-based large-scale European tech conference co-organised by Publicis Groupe and Les Echos. Comparable audience (corporates, startups, investors) and scale, with deep tech and AI themes increasingly prominent; competes for the same European budget.
• TechCrunch Disrupt: Flagship global tech conference with Startup Battlefield pitch competition, attracting investors, founders, and corporates. Broader than DTM but materially competes for the same founder-investor attention and sponsor budgets in the deep tech/AI categories.
• Founders Forum: Invite-only, ultra-high-end gatherings of tech founders, investors, and corporate executives. Comparable audience profile to DTM's Guardian program — senior, budget-holding — and similar focus on curated 1:1 networking over mass attendance.

Emerging players

• Frontiers Health: Global healthtech and biotech innovation conference. Adjacent rather than direct, but operates the same playbook (curated matchmaking, sponsor tiers, investor-founder-corporate integration) DTM applies across deep tech verticals; useful peer for benchmarking monetisation.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/deep-tech-momentum/posts/?feedView=all

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Deep Tech Momentum