Start something at the Start-up Arena
Catalyst for ideas and business
More than a showroom: The Start-up Arena is a joint format of automatica and Laser World of Photonics. It offers the perfect environment for presenting innovative products and services – and serves as a knowledge forum, networking platform, and investor pitch at the same time. Latest offer: a Start-up Package Light for companies with humble beginnings and great ambitions.
Ecosystem for innovators
The Start-up Arena is dedicated to innovative start-ups looking to present their – primarily technological – solutions and prototypes at the leading exhibition for smart automation and robotics. Prominently located in Hall B4, the Start-up Arena offers the perfect combination of industry expertise, financing know-how, and sustainable start-up spirit. The attendees: experts from the world of start-ups, industry key players, and interested visiting professionals.
Who can qualify as an exhibitor? Entrepreneurs with innovative ideas related to the most significant fields of technology presented at automatica and Laser World of Photonics. These include:
- Robotics and automation for production
- IIoT, AR, AI, Big Data, blockchain, and software for automation solutions
- Solutions for digital transformation in manufacturing – optimized using Big Data, safety and security technology, and robots
- Photonics industry such as laser systems for industrial production, laser and optoelectronics, optics or optical engineering
- Technologies & solutions ready for market
- Extra: Ukrainian Tech Start-ups and women lead start-ups
- Stand space: 4 m² (width x depth: 2 m x 2 m presentation area), AUMA fee
- Stand construction: Wooden wall elements & white wall element (inner wall), carpet
- Graphics: Logo image (42 cm x 100 cm) & monitor
- Furnishings: 1 bar table, 1 bar stool, hanging plant (variable position)
- Utilities: LED lighting, triple power socket, electrical connection (3 kW, 230 V) incl. consumption, hidden wiring (wooden demo counter)
- Upon request: additional central space for exhibits
- Storage space usage incl. shelves, wardrobe, and a locker each
- Stand cleaning, nighttime stand security for the Start-up Arena, fixed waste-disposal fee, 2 exhibitor passes
Included marketing services
- Mandatory communication contribution for extensive exhibitor entry in digital automatica and Laser World of Photonics media
- Unlimited number of day ticket vouchers for your customers
- Pitch opportunity within the framework of the Start-up Arena stage program
All prices quoted are net excluding statutory value added tax.
The Start-up Package Light is only bookable for early stage Start-ups in field of automation, robotics, photonics or AI with a correspondingly low “maturity level” (pre-first sales).
The Start-up Package Light at a glance:
- Up to three start-ups share this area with a wall element, high table and bar stool as well as a shared monitor
- Branding with company name
Included marketing services:
- Mandatory communication contribution with extensive exhibitor entry in the digital media of automatica and Laser World of Photonics
- Unlimited number of one-day ticket vouchers for your customers
All prices quoted are net prices plus statutory VAT.
Who can participate?
- Companies younger than 7 years from the date of their first commercial sale or younger than 10 years (if commercialization has not yet taken place)
- Independent small or medium-sized start-ups owned and run by the founders holding at least 51% of shares
- Newcomers with innovative products and/or services and/or business models
- Companies aiming to scale up their products and/or service (in terms of their number of employees and/or turnover and/or markets)
- Our “Start-up light” package can also be booked for newly founded start-ups with a correspondingly low “maturity level”. Qualification for this is handled by our partner FundingBox.
Become a Start-up Arena exhibitor now.
Application and selection process:
To participate in the Start-up Arena at automatica 2025, exhibitors are required to register in advance. Applications will be accepted until beginning of May 2025 through the FundingBox platform, available as of mid of October. You can use this platform to qualify for either the “Start-up Package” or the “Start-up Package Light”. Our partner FundingBox will conclude an exhibitor contract with you on behalf of and for the account of Messe München. All applications received will be jointly reviewed by Messe München and FundingBox.
Once your application has been accepted, you will receive a placement proposal that you may accept with a simple click. By the way: It pays to be quick – premium placement is reserved for the first participants.
If you have any questions concerning the process, the eligibility criteria, or questions related to your application for the automatica Startup Arena booth? Reach out to automatica@fundingbox.com.
Support for start-ups: become a sponsor now.
Are you part of the start-up community and want to increase your visibility? As a sponsor of the Start-up Arena, you can support innovative newcomers and strengthen your own market presence at the same time – through visibility on the channels and accompanying PR provided by automatica, Laser World of Photonics, and FundingBox. As a sponsor, you have preferential access to all exhibiting start-ups – within the framework of an exclusive workshop to kick off the trade fair. Whether gold, platinum or diamond package: All sponsorship packages are individually tailored to fit. Please contact us:
Rafał Oświęcimka
Project Manager
Email: rafal.oswiecimka@fundingbox.com
Phone +48 791 867 707
Innovators meet investors.
Goal of the Start-up Arena: working together to develop ideas to market maturity – in the trend areas of Digitization and AI, Sustainable Production, Future of Work, and Photonics. Our knowledge stage presents an opportunity to find out how this can be done. As the very heart of the Start-up Arena, it offers various highly relevant program highlights. These include start-up pitches as well as expert insights into financing matters and investor needs. This makes the Start-up Arena all the more exciting for financial analysts, equity investment companies, asset managers, banks, investors, entrepreneurs, and individual investors who want to step up their activities in this market – and are looking for the right partner here and at the Odense Investor Summit expected on Thursday, June 26, 2025.
A stage for your ideas
Open. Compact. Inviting. The Start-up Arena will be the central attraction of Hall B4 with its knowledge stage, café bar, and lounge. Here, sustainability is more than an important topic to be covered: The modern shell-scheme stand is particularly resource-conserving as it is made from domestic wood by local producers.
Your advantages at a glance:
- Network: Setup and support of a global hub for start-ups in the area of robotics, automation, and photonics.
- Inspire: See, speak, listen, feel – exchange on all levels. Decisive knowledge edge and market overview for innovations in line with the market.
- Experience: Innovation and competency are basic prerequisites for successful implementation of business ideas. We establish con-nections between start-ups and potential partners.
Our cooperation partner FundingBox
FundingBox champions entrepreneurs and innovators. Easy-to-apply funding models and tailor-made acceleration programs support the acceleration of innovation processes and enable rewriting the future. For this purpose, global brands and investors are matched with promising start-ups to put on track profitable collaborations.
