🥨 FOMO Munich: €2.7B Says Munich Is Now Germany's Startup Capital | 04.08 - 10.08

Hey FOMO Munich 👋

Hey Munich,

I'll say this once and hopefully never again: you're winning! €2.7B in venture capital last year, 4,406 active startups and scaleups, 785 new foundings, and yes, I checked that math twice, hoping it was wrong. Munich just overtook Berlin as Germany's startup capital. As someone who runs a newsletter with "Berlin" in the name, that one stings a little. But credit where it's due.

This week explains why. alqem just closed an €8M pre seed from UVC Partners and Union Square Ventures, deep tech, founded this year, no time wasted getting to yes. The Gründerpreis application window closed days ago, so the next wave is already lining up behind it.

Globally, two things worth your attention. The AI price war just got personal: OpenAI cut GPT-5.6 Luna's price by 80% three weeks after launch because DeepSeek is eating its lunch on cost, and Alibaba answered days later with Qwen3.8 Max, 2.4 trillion parameters and a $2 per million token price tag aimed straight at the US labs. Meanwhile on the consumer side, German padel startup PadelCity closed a €12M round, proof that if you strap recurring revenue to a trending sport right now, investors will show up with a checkbook and a paddle.

Munich builds quietly and ships loudly. Berlin, take notes.

Learn more about us here: FOMO Media Kit.

Week of A — We’re here so you don’t have FOMO.

Find out more here: FOMO Media Kit.

Our upcoming FOMO Events 🚨

• Fri. Aug. 21: FOMO x BARRY'S 💗 | 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM: FOMO takes over Barry's Red Room for the first time. 50 people, one hour in the world's most iconic workout, then snacks, drinks, and the conversations that actually stick. Berlin

• Thu. Aug. 27: FOMO x Qonto: Back to School Boats Party 🚤 | 6 PM – 10 PM: Summer's over, the boat's back. FOMO's annual return to the water, teamed up with Qonto this year. Skyline, drinks, seventy founders who matter. Sunset does the rest. Berlin

See you soon, Munich.

Week of August 3 — We’re here so you don’t have FOMO.

FOMO Off-Market connects a small number of companies with exceptional people from our network — no noise, just curated intros. Apply if you want in. 

And if you’re the type who likes an unfair advantage, plan your event schedule smarter with FOMO Berlin Insider.

📨 Stay subscribed to FOMO247 and keep an eye out for more exciting events and opportunities we’ve got in the works. Trust me, you won’t want to miss what’s coming next! 😉

FOMO Sponsor 🤝 : Startups for Tomorrow

Tue. Sep. 15: SFT Festival 2026 🌱 | 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM: Three stages, one day, zero buzzword bingo. Fynn Kliemann, dm CPO Kerstin Erbe, Wildling founder Anna Yona, Viva con Agua founder Micha Fritz, where revenue and impact are forced to get along. Tickets from €199, use code FOMO15 for 15% off. smartvillage, Munich.

Want to be featured in FOMO Munich? 💰

• FOMO Berlin | Munich Sponsoring - Join Qonto, LIQID, Project A, and many more and be the next company to be featured to 20000+ weekly Berlin readers (VC-backed founders, VC, senior operators) - fill out this form.

What did you FOMO last week 📸 

FOMO Opportunity Spotlight & Carve Out 🔦 :

• One week left to apply to the most famous accelerator in tech. YC Fall 2026 batch closes July 27, 8 pm PT. Weekly dinners in San Francisco, a General Partner in your corner. Decision by August 28.

• Plant Club rents, designs and takes care of the plants in your office. 🪴plantclub.io — one membership, zero hassle. We used them for our own Super Aperitivo, and the office looks better for it. Want to learn more - intro call.

• Headline VC Maps the AI Europe 100 🗺️ | Headline VC sorts 100 European AI companies into six breeds. Lovable hit $400M ARR in two years, Cursor sold to SpaceX for $60B, Mistral remains Europe's last independent frontier lab if Cohere's Aleph Alpha deal clears.

Upload your event and reach 1500+ weekly Munich readers. Or simply link your event to our Lu.ma - FOMO Berlin Calendar. 

The FOMO Munich week 💙 (4.8 - 10.8):

FOMO top picks of the week 🔥

These are the events I would attend if I were in town:

• Made in Munich: Product Design Night - Tacto 🎨🤖 | Tuesday, 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM: Explore AI’s impact on product design through expert debates, audience voting, networking, and insights from leading Munich design professionals.

• Mobility Experts' After-Work Get-Together | UnternehmerTUM Mobility 🚗🍕 | Thursday, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM: Connect with Munich’s mobility community through startup updates, networking, pizza, drinks, and conversations with innovators,

• New Com Padel Cup München 🎾🤝 | Thursday, 6:00 PM: Connect with founders, executives, and e-commerce leaders through social padel matches, networking, DJ beats, drinks, and friendly competition.

Tuesday 4th

• Made in Munich: Product Design Night - Tacto 🎨🤖 | 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM: Explore AI’s impact on product design through expert debates, audience voting, networking, and insights from leading Munich design professionals.

• From Research to Startup Night - +Net Positive 🌍♻️ | 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM:

  Explore carbon economy innovations through expert talks, startup case studies, venture ideation, and networking with climate founders, researchers, investors, and students.

Wednesday 5th

• Social Reading Party 📚☕| 6:00 PM: Bring your current book, enjoy a relaxed reading session, meet fellow book lovers, and connect over meaningful conversations in a cozy café atmosphere.

• Meet Up for Some Gaming | Board Game Night Hosted By Uncle Phil & Anes🎲🧩 | 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM: Enjoy relaxed board games, meet new people, join curated gaming groups, sip a welcome drink, and spend an entertaining evening with fellow players.

• Bahnwörter Poetry Slam - Bahnwärter Thiel 🎤 | 6:30 PM – 10:45 PM: Munich’s monthly poetry slam welcomes performers and audiences for original five-minute spoken-word pieces, audience voting, lively competition, and creative community storytelling.

Thursday 6th

• GRAF.RUMFORD Sommerfest 🍋🎉 | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Celebrate summer with free drinks, DJ-powered summer beats, lively crowds, relaxed garden vibes, and an unforgettable evening in Munich’s vibrant Gärtnerplatz district.

• Mobility Experts' After-Work Get-Together | UnternehmerTUM Mobility 🚗🍕 | 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM: Connect with Munich’s mobility community through startup updates, networking, pizza, drinks, and conversations with innovators, founders, and industry professionals shaping future transportation.

• New Com Padel Cup München 🎾🤝 | 6:00 PM: Connect with founders, executives, and e-commerce leaders through social padel matches, networking, DJ beats, drinks, and friendly competition.

FOMO Upcoming Top Events & Opportunities 💯

• Wed. Aug. 12: Munich Claude Impact Lab 🤖 | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Collaborate with diverse professionals to explore AI’s workplace impact, build practical solutions, receive Claude API credits, and present ideas in mixed teams.

• Sat. Aug. 15: New York Bagel Bar Munich 🥯 | From 11:00 AM: Hamburg and Berlin already know, now Schwabing gets its own bagel corner. First 50 people eat and take a goodie bag home for free, coffee's on the house all day, a DJ handles the rest. Hohenzollernstraße 45, Munich.

• Tue. Sep. 15: SFT Festival 2026 🌱 | 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM: Three stages, one day, zero buzzword bingo. Fynn Kliemann, dm CPO Kerstin Erbe, Wildling founder Anna Yona, Viva con Agua founder Micha Fritz, where revenue and impact are forced to get along. Tickets from €199, use code FOMO15 for 15% off. smartvillage, Munich.

Friday 7th

• NGL Bar Pop-Up x Szia Szia 🍹🌭 | 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Kick off the weekend with fizzy drinks, three signature highballs, special Lángos, curated music, and relaxed day-drinking vibes at Viktualienmarkt.

• Onda Summer Return 🌮🎶 | 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Welcome back summer with fresh tostadas, refreshing drinks, live house music, veggie and vegan options, and relaxed afterwork vibes. Free entry until sold out

• Radio Gong 96.3 Just White Party ⚪🪩| Evening: Dress in white and enjoy a free summer party featuring music, vibrant nightlife, and unforgettable vibes at Munich’s newest hotspot. Guestlist registration required.

Saturday 8th

• BRICKS MUNICH - Yannik 🚴🏃  | 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM: Conquer a 40km bike ride, 10km run, post-race hangout, great food, and community connections in Munich’s endurance challenge.

• IHWT Sommerfest ☀️🏖️ | 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM: Spend a summer afternoon by the Isar with beach vibes, five house DJs, Sarti Spritz specials, and an unforgettable open-air party atmosphere.

• CHIQUE Rooftop Closing 🌇🎉 | 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM: Celebrate the rooftop season finale with panoramic views, great music, stylish vibes, and exclusive access to both the rooftop event and official afterparty.

• TREASURE HUNT – Munich’s Biggest Influencer Flea Market 🛍️✨ | 4:00 PM – 11:00 PM: Browse 100 influencer stalls, enjoy live music, DJs, panel talks, food, DIY activities, and end the evening with the Casa Loca Sundowner Festival.

Sunday 9th

• MASSAY Community Event 🧘🌿 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Reset your body and mind through guided breathwork, group sharing, mindful movement, and relaxed conversations over healthy drinks and nourishing bowls.

Monday 10th

• Women On the RISE Speed Networking 👩‍💼🤝 | 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Connect with inspiring women through speed networking, expand your professional circle, gain monthly wisdom, and build meaningful relationships in a supportive online community.

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Don't FOMO! We are back next week.

Cephas & the FOMO team 💙

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