​GITEX EUROPE x North Star Nights – Cologne Edition

​​🚀 The GITEX EUROPE x North Star team is back in Germany! This November, we’re bringing the Startup Pitch & Networking Night to Cologne – a stage for bold ideas, breakthrough innovations and the chance to shine on the road to GITEX EUROPE 2026.

​​Calling all Cologne founders & innovators:
The North Star Europe Startup Pitch Night is landing on November 25th in Cologne and it’s your chance to take the spotlight. 10 startups will pitch live for a free pod at GITEX EUROPE 2026, a Supernova Semi-Finalist spot and the chance to win for up to €2M in equity investment.

Meet our Jury

• ​Lucia Brandt
  Accelerator Program Manager, xdeck
  Lucia Brandt supports early-stage founders at xdeck by helping them refine their business models, sharpen their growth strategies and access Cologne’s wider innovation ecosystem. With her hands-on approach to venture development, she empowers teams to turn strong ideas into scalable companies.

• ​Dr. Ingo Dahm
  Geschäftsführer, capacura
  As the Managing Director of capacura, Dr. Ingo Dahm empowers emerging startups through impact-driven investment - backing founders who build meaningful, scalable solutions.

• ​Mira Knauer
  VC Investorin, caesar
  Mira Knauer is an early-stage investor at caesar, focusing on bold founders and innovative technologies that shape the future of Europe’s startup landscape.

• ​Christopher Smolka
  Scale-Up NRW, Start2Group
  Christopher Smolka supports some of the most promising scale-ups in North Rhine-Westphalia, helping founders accelerate growth, navigate challenges and expand internationally.

• ​Oscar Escalante
  Startup Unit, KölnBusiness
  Oscar Escalante drives Cologne’s entrepreneurship ecosystem by connecting founders, investors and corporates - strengthening the city’s role as a rising innovation hub.

​​This is an evening you don’t want to miss:

• ​​Watch the pitches that could shape tomorrow

• ​​Meet Cologne's startup community, investors & ecosystem builders

• ​​Network and exchange ideas over pizza & beer

​​Who should apply

​​⚡ Game-changing solutions with real-world impact
⚡ Proven traction and market potential
⚡ Strong, ambitious founding teams
💡 Bonus: Female leadership representation

​​ Startup? Apply until November 14th 2025: https://forms.gle/EufptS862Z9RUmsq6

​​We’ll be there – make sure you are too.

​​📅 November 25th 2025 | 📍 smartvillage Köln, Schanzenstraße 6-20/Gebäude Nr 2.19/ Kupferwerk, 51063 Köln
✅ Register here