CORPORATES

Hinterland of Things is the platform for established B2B companies looking to accelerate innovation, discover relevant startups, and build long-term partnerships. As a corporate participant, you gain curated access to ambitious B2B tech founders, industry experts, and fellow innovation leaders who are ready to solve real-world challenges.

Where Corporates meet high-impact B2B startups

At Hinterland of Things, you are not just attending a conference. You are part of a curated ecosystem where corporate innovators, Mittelstand champions, and forward-thinking companies connect with the right startups and partners. Use this day to identify scalable solutions, build your innovation pipeline, and accelerate digital and industrial transformation.

Join Germany's most focused B2B tech conference

what you get

CURATED STARTUP ACCESS

Meet startups with solutions that address your company’s concrete challenges, from Industrial Tech to AI, Climate Tech, and productivity innovations.

INNOVATION INSIGHTS

Hear directly from founders, operators, and Mittelstand peers about what works in B2B implementation, scaling, and co-creation.

PILOT & COLLABORATION OPPORTUNITIES

Identify potential pilots, co-development projects, and new business models with startups ready to engage immediately.

ACCESS TO A TRUSTED NETWORK

Tap into the Hinterland and Founders Foundation ecosystem: Mentors, experts, investors, and corporate peers who stay engaged beyond the conference.

who you'll meet

STARTUPS

Connect with B2B startups ready to implement pilots and projects relevant to your business.

MANAGERS & DIGITAL TEAMS

Engage directly with teams driving digitalization, transformation, and corporate innovation initiatives.

INVESTORS

Meet investors who understand enterprise sales cycles, industrial tech markets, and complex B2B ecosystems.

PEERS & LEADERS

Exchange experiences and best practices with other forward-looking companies, creating opportunities for collaboration and joint problem-solving.

Why it matters now

Innovation is urgent

German Mittelstand and global companies must digitize, decarbonize, and implement new technologies. And they are actively looking for external partners with concrete solutions.

Focus on B2B, no distractions

The entire conference is built around B2B tech. Every stage, format, and meeting is designed to create actionable business opportunities.

From insight to implementation

Hinterland is not just about inspiration, it’s about turning conversations into pilots, projects, and long-term collaborations.

Is hinterland the right fit for you?

You want to identify, validate, and implement innovative solutions in collaboration with startups?

You are looking for B2B tech in areas like industrial tech, climate tech, AI, and productivity?

You are ready to engage in specific use cases, pilots, and co-development projects?

You want to strengthen your corporate innovation pipeline and connect with industry peers?

how to make the most of your day

Define your innovation goals

Clarify the challenges you want to solve and the opportunities you aim to explore with startups.

Target meetings strategically

Use the conference app and network to schedule curated sessions with startups, peers, and investors aligned to your priorities.

Follow up & implement

Leverage the Hinterland and Founders Foundation ecosystem to continue conversations, launch pilots, and turn ideas into measurable outcomes.

CONNECTING LEADERS.

TREND NAVIGATOR FOR INNOVATION & FAMILY BUSINESSES

In a rapidly evolving world, staying ahead is a necessity. Hinterland of Things Conference offers access to groundbreaking innovations for the Mittelstand. Dive into tech sessions, demystify trends, and connect with industry leaders.

FIND STARTUPS AND RISING TALENTS THE EASIEST WAY

Welcome to an unparalleled experience in startup discovery. At our conference, we simplify your journey to find the next big thing in the startup world.

HANDSHAKE WITH C-LEVELS AND EXPAND YOUR NETWORK

Dive into a dynamic ecosystem where each handshake might ignite a future partnership, every chat could spark the next Big Idea, and every encounter might redefine your growth trajectory.

HINTERLAND OF THINGS CONFERENCE

Days

Hours

Minutes

Seconds

TICKETS SOLD 98%

15 % LATE BIRD DISCOUNT - CODE: LATE15

TRUSTED BY THE HEART OF GERMANYS MITTELSTAND

PARTNER & RENOWNED BRAND COME TO BIELEFELD

"At the Hinterland of Things, we have a trusted dialog, between mid-sized companies and startups, that could be a role model for many other regions in Germany."

Dr. Brigitte MohnBoard member at Bertelsmann Stiftung

"It's probably the most heavy networking conference I've experienced so far!"

Philipp KlöcknerInvestor, Advisor, Podcast Host Doppelgänger TechTalk Podcast

"It's the unique mix of startups, family-owned businesses, and corporates and I don't think you find that somewhere else."

Eva MettenmeierManaging Director Maschinenraum

"Since the foundation, it has to be the conference where the most successful hidden champions go to."

Rouven DresselhausCo-Founder & Managing Partner Cavalry Ventures

SPEAKER 2025

CHRISTIAN HÜLSEWIG

CEO SCHÜTTFLIX

CHRISTIAN HÜLSEWIG

CEO SCHÜTTFLIX

CHRISTIAN HÜLSEWIG

CEO SCHÜTTFLIX

CHRISTIAN HÜLSEWIG

CEO SCHÜTTFLIX

GET YOUR TICKET TODAY

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

A SELECTED MENU OF TOPICS THAT REALLY MATTER

PRODUCTIVITY & AI

AI is redefining how work gets done - from HR and learning processes to finance and back-office operations. As intelligent systems increasingly automate routine tasks and augment human decision-making, organizations face a decisive moment: reinvent workflows, upskill people, and build cultures that can harness this new productivity frontier. The transformation is not optional; it is already underway.

INDUSTRIAL TECH

Industrial technology remains the backbone of Europe’s economy, yet it stands at a crossroads shaped by global competition, rising complexity, and urgent sustainability demands. As the Heart of B2B Entrepreneurship, this shows how the next generation of industrial innovation can secure Europe’s economic resilience. We spotlight technologies, founders, and strategies shaping what a future-ready industrial ecosystem must look like.

A SELECTED MENU OF TOPICS THAT REALLY MATTER

GREEN TECHNOLOGY

The surge in green initiatives and policies worldwide is fueling demand for climate tech, offering vast opportunities for entrepreneurs and researchers.

EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY

The era of educational technology has revolutionized learning by integrating digital tools and AI, making education more accessible, personalized, and engaging.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

The intersection of productivity and AI is a dynamic and transformative area, marked by AI-driven solutions that enhance efficiency and decision-making in various sectors.

PRODUCTION & AUTOMATION

Industrial technology is a rapidly evolving field, offering significant opportunities in automation and robotics, which enhance efficiency and create new roles in system design and maintenance.