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Everything you need for a piece about the 12MIN.ME Startup Slam. Numbers, images, contact. Just ask if something is missing.
In three sentences
On 25 November 2026 12MIN.ME brings the Startup Slam back to Hamburg, to the venue where it all started.
Twelve startups pitch for 144 seconds each, twelve times twelve. A jury of five nominates one finalist per round, and in the final the room decides by applause.
Startup pitch meets poetry slam: no pitch circus, but storytelling, showmanship and attitude.
What 12MIN.ME is
A talk format from Hamburg, running since 2013: 12 minutes of talk, 12 minutes of questions. Today the 12MIN.ME community counts more than 100,000 members and well past 1,500 meetups and gatherings.
What the format does
- 144 secondsper pitch, twelve times twelve. The clock runs on the big screen for everyone to see.
- 12 startupsin three rounds of four. The running order is drawn live on the night.
- 5 jurorsThey look at the problem, the solution, the team and whether the pitch wins the room.
- 3 finalistsone per round, nominated by the jury.
- 1 roomdecides the final by applause. The applause is measured live.
- Golden anchorthe trophy for the winner.
The facts
- When
- Wednesday, 25 November 2026. Doors 7:12 PM, show 7:48 PM, final 9:12 PM, party from 9:24 PM.
- Where
- ABSOLUTE Software, Jungfernstieg 49, 20354 Hamburg
- Tickets
- 12 euros on Luma, every registration is approved.
- Language
- The pitches are in English.
- Call for startups
- Twelve slots, apply at hamburg@12min.me.
- Website
- 12m.in
The jury
- Hugo Paquin
Partner and podcast co-host at found - Freya Oehle
Founder and CEO of Dreitausendsassa - Victor M. Reincke
Single family office · Direct investments in tech, defense and finance - Philipp Hartmann
Business angel · VC investor - Prof. Dr. Pauline Reinecke
Professor of Management and Organisation at Leuphana University Lüneburg
Organiser
- Oliver Rößling
- Rudi Höfert
- Martin Zielinski
- Tom Winkelmann
- Kyrylo Korsun
- Sophia Bartsch
- Florian Warnken
- Jan Sebastian Steffen
Partners
ABSOLUTE Software, found, Caps & Collars, DeepTech Campus Circle, ARIC
Logos and images
Lockup, 12MIN.ME and Startup Slam, transparent background
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Lockup on black, for dark surfaces
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Startup Slam lettering in brand red
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12MIN.ME logo, white
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12MIN.ME wordmark, white
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Key visual of the night
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Elbphilharmonie at night, the motif of the site
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The files may be used for reporting about the Startup Slam, unchanged and with the source named. For any other use, please ask first.
Ready to use
12MIN.ME brings the Startup Slam back to Hamburg Hamburg, 25 November 2026. Twelve startups, 144 seconds each, a room that decides: on 25 November 2026 12MIN.ME holds the Startup Slam at ABSOLUTE Software, Jungfernstieg 49. The pitches run in three rounds of four startups, 144 seconds each, which is twelve times twelve seconds. After every round a jury of five nominates one startup for the final, where the room decides by applause. The winner takes the golden anchor. 12MIN.ME is a talk format from Hamburg, running since 2013: 12 minutes of talk, 12 minutes of questions. Today the community counts more than 100,000 members and well past 1,500 meetups and gatherings. Doors open at 7:12 PM, the show starts at 7:48 PM, the final at 9:12 PM. The pitches are in English. Tickets are 12 euros on Luma, and the hosts approve every registration. Startups can apply at hamburg@12min.me. Everything about the night: https://12m.in/
Press contact
Write to us, we answer the same day. For photos of the night, interviews with the jury or the startups, and for accreditation.
This page: 17.10.2026. 12MIN.ME Hamburg, 12min.me e. V.