THURSDAY GATHERING #35 Pitch2Tokyo
Join us every week for Thursday Gathering, a vibrant after-work event series designed to spark innovation, connection, and collaboration across Berlin’s diverse entrepreneurial and creative communities.
Whether you’re a founder, investor, student, researcher, corporate innovator, or simply curious about the future, Thursday Gathering is your open door to explore fresh ideas, meet inspiring people, and plug into Berlin’s innovation ecosystem.
And this week, something special is happening…
🌍 Pitch2Tokyo is coming to Berlin! We’re hosting the regional round of Pitch2Tokyo, where YOU (together with our judges) will help select the local innovator who’ll represent Berlin at the Venture Café Global Gathering 2026 in Tokyo!
From October to November, 15+ cities across the world will pick their champions. The winners will meet in Tokyo on February 19, 2026, to pitch bold solutions across health, climate, education, business, tech, and more.
💡 What makes it exciting? • The audience helps choose the winner 🎤 • Startups pitch for a chance to take their ideas global 🌏 • It’s more than a competition—it’s about collaboration, creativity, and celebrating innovation!
✨ What to Expect:
• Inspiring conversations and curated programming • A welcoming, drop-in environment—come for 30 minutes or stay for the night • A mix of local and international changemakers
• Breakout Sessions to Deepen Your Learning: Alongside the main program, this week’s Thursday Gathering features three focused breakout sessions that offer practical tools, expert insights, and real-world strategies for founders, innovators, and leaders:
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🔹 1. Self-Awareness & Empathy: Leadership with EQ During Startup Expansion
Rapid growth brings complexity—not just for your product, but for you as a leader. This session explores the often-overlooked soft skills that shape healthy leadership cultures: self-awareness, empathy, and emotional intelligence.
You’ll learn how to shift from a critical mindset to solution-oriented thinking, gain clarity on your own internal processes, and understand why self-empathy is essential when navigating pressure.
A practical self-awareness exercise and group reflection will help translate insights into actionable leadership strategies you can apply immediately.
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🔹 2. How to Launch New Products in Weeks
With João Fernandes, Venture Development Manager, Lufthansa Innovation Hub
What does it take to turn an idea into a real product—fast? Get an inside look at the venture development process behind Cabinblu, the app helping travelers manage flight anxiety. You’ll discover a practical playbook for validating, building, and launching products at speed, even without a technical background. Expect concrete frameworks for rapid experimentation, insights into using low-code tools, and battle-tested tactics for overcoming the realities of fast-paced product development.
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🔹 3. The CISO Shift: Strategy, Trust & Influence for Emerging Leaders
Part of the Berlin Cybersecurity Social community meetup
Stepping into leadership—whether of a team or an entire security program—requires a shift from hands-on execution to strategic influence. This session shares lessons from the CISO vantage point: navigating board expectations, scaling security with limited resources, and establishing trust across the organization. Designed for security professionals and aspiring leaders alike, it offers guidance on how to grow your influence, shape strategy, and thrive in high-stakes environments.
🎟️ Free entry | Open to all
Full agenda & applications available on venturecafeberlin.org