Venture Café is excited to announce its newest location, Berlin, Germany, set to open at CIC’s latest Innovation Campus, CIC Berlin. Scheduled to debut in late 2024, Venture Café Berlin will serve as a dynamic hub for the local and international innovation community with free high-impact programming and events.
Established as a non-profit by CIC in 2009 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Venture Café’s mission is to connect innovators to make things happen. Today, Venture Café operates independently with 15 locations around the world with more in development, including an upcoming launch in Fukuoka, Japan.
Building on the successful model used around the world, Venture Café Berlin will activate the innovation ecosystem through a robust lineup of programming and events, including its flagship program the Thursday Gathering. In 2023, the Venture Café global network welcomed nearly 100,000 visits at 460 events featuring 2,800 speakers. These activities by design foster community building, facilitate connections, and provide valuable resources to startups, investors, universities, research institutions, students, and other stakeholders.
What to expect at Venturé Cafe Berlin:
- Weekly Public Programs: Starting with a soft launch in late 2024, Venture Café Berlin will transition to hosting weekly events that are open to the public in 2025. These gatherings will provide a platform for networking, collaboration, and learning.
- Inclusive and Diverse Community: Venture Café is committed to building inclusive innovation ecosystems. The signature program, the Thursday Gathering, is always free to the public to participate to remove traditional barriers to upward mobility.
- Global Reach and Impact: Venture Café’s innovative approach has been recognized by the Brookings Institute and Startup Genome as a best practice for activating innovation ecosystems. In 2023, Venture Café locations worldwide welcomed nearly 100,000 visits, with 37% of attendees being first-time visitors. The network hosted 460 events, 2,700 sessions, and featured 2,800 speakers.
- Exceptional Satisfaction: With a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 74, significantly above the industry average, Venture Café’s programs have garnered high praise from participants for their quality and impact.
“Berlin represents a significant step in our mission to connect innovators globally. We are excited to bring our proven model to this vibrant city and look forward to fostering a thriving innovation community here,” said Kristen Plymale, Global Growth Director, Venture Café Global Institute.
This launch marks an exciting milestone for CIC Berlin, which opened its doors earlier this year. The 14.000m2 square meter campus features a diverse mix of private offices, shared workspaces, event facilities, and amenities. By leveraging its expertise building and growing innovation ecosystems, CIC intends to bolster Berlin’s key sectors, including transport, logistics, mobility; energy technology; media and creative industries; and healthcare.
“Our new Innovation Campus in Berlin is designed to be a nexus for creativity and collaboration. Partnering with Venture Café allows us to enhance our impact and support the incredible talent and ideas emerging from Berlin,” stated Jakub Jozwicki, General Manager, CIC Berlin.
The launch of Venture Café Berlin would not be possible without the strong support of the local community. To learn more about Venture Café Berlin and how you can get involved, sign up for the newsletter here.
