Edition #01 · Deep Tech · Germany Premiere

Be a co-founder
of a disruptive startup.

A curated online evening every few months. Researchers pitch — business people book meetings on the spot.

What we are

The bridge between deep-tech projects and business co-founders.

SouthwestX Cofounder Matching brings together technical founders, researchers and business profiles ready to build.

Projects get visibility. Business co-founders get qualified access. Partners activate the pipeline across France and Germany.

The format is intentionally simple: online, in English, three hours, tightly paced and curated.

How it works

One evening.
Three ways in.

Researchers & technical founders

Pitch in 2 minutes. Get booked for private 10-minute meetings by business people who want in.

  • Submit through your institution startup contact
  • Own your follow-up and keep control of the project
  • Stay visible to partners, VCs and tech-transfer teams
Submit a project

Business co-founders

Review curated projects in advance. Book on-the-spot meetings with high-potential scientific founders.

  • Review curated deep-tech projects in advance
  • Book on-the-spot meetings with the ones that fit
  • No solicitation, no recruitment — just matches
Register

Partners & networks

Source deep-tech projects into the programme. Activate your community. Co-host a vertical edition.

  • Submit projects on behalf of your researchers
  • Share with alumni and business networks
  • Co-curate a focused vertical edition
Get in touch

The run-of-show

Three hours, tightly paced.

Pitches up front. Meetings after. Open networking throughout.

17:00
Welcome & intro to SouthwestX
Opening context
17:10
Partner presentations
Tech-transfer offices
17:20
~10 deep-tech pitches
2 min each
18:00
Private speed meetings
10 min · booked on the spot
18:00
Random 1:1 matches
7 min · parallel track
20:00
Closing
Next steps

With partners across France & Germany

Where the projects come from.

Tech-transfer offices, universities, alumni networks, and investor scouts from France and Germany curate the pipeline.

Université des Saarlandes
DFKI
Max-Planck-Innovation
HTW Saar
FITT gGmbH
WHU
Hochschule Trier
RPTU
INRIA
Bpifrance
Collège des Ingénieurs
CNRS

Further info

What you need to know.

Deep-tech project owners, researchers, technical founders, business co-founders, startup operators, alumni networks, VCs, tech-transfer teams and ecosystem partners looking for meaningful co-founder matching.

Projects pitch first, then participants book private speed meetings live. In parallel, business co-founders can join random 1:1 matches to meet more people quickly.

No. The format is designed around founder-level matching, entrepreneurial fit and project exploration. No solicitation, no recruitment booths, no noise.

Yes. Tech-transfer offices, universities, alumni communities, VC networks and startup factories can submit or source projects for upcoming editions.

Upcoming events

Edition #01
is open.

26
Tue May 26, 2026

#01 · Deep tech · Germany premiere

Online · English · 17:00–20:00 CET · free · curated

More editions to come in 2026.

Community · curated

Not this edition? The next one.

SouthwestX Cofounder Matching is a community that stays warm between editions. Tell us who you are and what you are into — we will only reach out when it is relevant.

Project teasers Priority seats Partner calls