DEEP Pioneers Assemble

July 14, 2025 – 2:45 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Location: ESMT Berlin Campus
By invitation only

Supported and funded by Joachim Herz Foundation

What Is DEEP Pioneers?

DEEP Pioneers is an ecosystem program that builds founding teams for deep tech spin offs.

We match top researchers and IP from universities and TTOs with experienced commercial founders to launch venture-backable deep tech startups — fast, early, and right.

We work with VCs, corporates, and universities to turn world-class patents into real companies. Think of us as co-designers of next-gen spin-offs — unlocking Europe’s deep tech potential by matching the right people at the right time.

Only 3% of researchers interested in starting a spin-off actually become academic entrepreneurs, despite 28% expressing interest

ZEW (Centre for European Economic Research)

Finding suitable commercial co-founders, is a major barrier to successful spin-offs in Germany and Europe

European Commission report "Spin-offs: Driving innovation across the EU-27"

65% of startup failures due to co-founder conflict (misalignment)

Noam Wasserman, Harvard Business School professor and author of The Founder’s Dilemmas

We're changing that.

Why This Event?

DEEP Pioneers Assemble is our first public gathering — a curated evening bringing together tech transfer offices (TTOs), researchers, founders, investors, and policymakers to crack deep tech’s hardest problem:
How do we build the right founding teams early — and fast?

You will learn about the DEEP Pioneers model- a program to match the top research with serial founders to create more successful spin offs.

This is not a pitch competition or demo day. It's a design session and network catalyst to shape how Europe’s deep tech gets built — together, one team at a time.

🧪 TTOs / Universities

Unlock spin-out potential from your research pipeline — with teams built to succeed.

💼 VCs / Corporates

Get early access to top-tier deep tech ventures — with founding teams designed for scale.

👩‍🔬 Founders / Researchers

Meet your co-founder — scientific or commercial — and launch something that matters.

🏛️ Public Sector & Ecosystem Builders

Help shape the infrastructure to scale deep tech in Europe, sustainably.

July 14, 2025

2:45 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Berlin, ESMT Campus

Keynotes + Curated Networking + Invite-Only Spin-Off Design Session

Detailed agenda shared upon registration confirmation.

Featuring Speakers

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr. Sabine Kunst – Chairwoman of the Board, Joachim Herz Foundation
...and other pioneers of Europe’s deep tech future

Want to join the event?

This event is by invitation only. Request your spot now and join the pioneers building Europe’s deep tech engine — together.

Request Your Invite