IAA MOBILITY 2025: A Focus on Startups – International Founders to Present Their Innovations and Solutions in Munich

• Around 70 startups will be presenting at the IAA MOBILITY 
• Three startup areas at the IAA Summit ensure maximum visibility 
• Numerous events and formats specifically for startups 
• Focus topics: Battery technology, software-defined vehicles, and connectivity 

Alongside the world's largest mobility and tech companies, around 70 international startups will present their ideas for digital and climate-friendly mobility at IAA MOBILITY 2025. These entrepreneurs will seize the unique opportunity to showcase their work among leading international corporations and forge new partnerships.

VDA Managing Director Jürgen Mindel emphasizes: "Startups are a vital part of the IAA Summit, which will take place from September 9 to 12, 2025, at the Munich-Riem exhibition center. The fact is, collaboration between startups and established companies in the automotive and tech industries can make a significant contribution to overcoming current challenges. There are already numerous success stories in this area."

The IAA Summit, including the IAA Conference, is aimed at trade visitors and serves as the most important international B2B platform, bringing together experts, industry representatives, journalists, and the leading mobility community in one place.

In 2025, startups from nearly 20 countries will be represented, including Austria, China, Estonia, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tunisia, Ukraine, and the USA.

Among the registered startups, the fields of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Digital Solutions, Charging Infrastructure, solutions for Autonomous Driving (AD), and the topics of Recycling and the Circular Economy are particularly well-represented.

"Our three Startup Areas are located in Halls A2, B2, and B3, offering participating startups high visibility. Each of these areas will attract many visitors, as they are in close distance to the major exhibitors. At IAA MOBILITY 2025, we are once again strategically bringing together various startups, investors, and industry leaders," says Mindel.

This strategy has proven successful and continues to be enhanced. "A full 90 percent of visitors rated the Startup Areas as one of the top features of IAA MOBILITY 2023 and will visit them again in 2025," adds Christian Vorländer, Head of Mobility at Messe München.

Special Offer for Journalists: IAA MOBILITY Startup Media Walk
On Press Day, September 8, a special IAA MOBILITY Startup Media Walk will begin at 1:00 PM through the three Startup Areas. A three-person jury will accompany the walk and has identified six startups that will be visited for a short talk. The jury recognizes these six selected startups as having particularly strong potential for a successful launch. The meeting point for the Startup Media Walk is the Startup Lounge in Hall A2.

AWS Invites to a Startup Dialogue
As part of IAA MOBILITY, Amazon Web Services (AWS) invites selected startups and corporations to an exclusive event. The dialogue, themed "Regulating the Road Ahead: Startup Dialogue @ IAA MOBILITY," will take place on September 11, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM in the Bavaria Lounge.

The interactive panel discussion will address important questions, such as how startups can leverage AI applications for their innovations and which cloud technologies can play a role for a young startup. The AWS Startup Breakfast brings together representatives from startups, policymakers, and industry leaders for a constructive dialogue on the future of innovation in the German automotive industry.

Registration is required via this link: https://startupdialogueatiaamobility.splashthat.com/. Note: Your participation is confirmed only after receiving a separate confirmation email from AWS. 

The IAA MOBILITY Founders Fight
Another highlight is the Founders Fight, taking place on September 11, 2025, starting at 4:00 PM at the Yellow Forum of IAA MOBILITY 2025. In this format, two startups compete against each other in three-minute pitch duels to win over the audience and a panel of experts.

The event is presented in collaboration with the Founders Fight Club and focuses on the ideas and solutions of innovative startups in the mobility sector. The jury includes internationally renowned and well-connected Roger Atkins, head of Electric Vehicles Outlook and a LinkedIn Top Voice for the EV industry.

The IAA MOBILITY Hackathon
The Hackathon at IAA MOBILITY 2025 is the perfect opportunity for individual developers and startups to work intensively in teams on prototypes or software solutions. The goal is to develop and present a creative, functional solution to a problem within eight hours. This year's "digital.auto Hack Challenge" collaborates with partners such as Bosch, OPmobility, and Mendix to solve real-world industry use cases. The entire event—from participant recruitment and technical setup to on-site community management—is managed by prototype.club. The chance to test solutions live with top developers on concrete use cases increases the visibility of participating startups in the tech community. The IAA MOBILITY Hackathon starts on September 11, at 9:30 AM in Hall B2 (Booth D107).

Free registration: IAA MOBILITY Hackathon by IAA.prototype.club.

PwC Startup Reception for Companies @ IAA MOBILITY 2025
PwC invites companies and startups to a reception on September 11 at 5:15 PM in the PwC Smart Mobility Space in Hall B3. The reception is aimed at startups and corporate executives. Topics include the evolution of industrial value creation and the role of collaboration between innovative founders and established companies.

Registration is required via this link: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=oJQyUSA-skGpcG0wvxVG-smeE5IS83lOqOKXlja9729UOVNONjBKVkhSNktUTVdJM0VKSDRRWkRFVi4u

Ultimate European Startup Event @ IAA Open Space
Startups also have the opportunity to present themselves in downtown Munich, away from the exhibition halls. At the Citizens Lab on Marienplatz, there will be startup pitches from Europe's top 10 startups—winners of the "Best Scaleup" category of the European Startup Prize for Mobility—on September 10 between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM.

The event will be opened by Prof. Dr. Helmut Schönenberger, Founder & CEO of UnternehmerTUM, one of Europe's leading startup hubs. A casual networking session with music, drinks, and many players from the startup ecosystem, including numerous companies, investors, and startups, is planned from 8:00 PM onwards.

A link with further information and confirmed participants can be found https://www.tum-venture-labs.de/events/iaa-ultimate-startup-party/