CBC Leadership Family in Munich: Turning Innovation, Investment and H2H Trust into Real Market Impact at The smarter E Europe, IN4SFS GreenInvest Startup Investment Days and the WCSA & WCA Ceremonies
- Jul 3
- 7 min read
The CleanTech Business Club Leadership & Partnership Family gathered in Munich from 23–25 June 2026 for an intensive programme of investment activation, innovation exchange, international partnership-building and Human-to-Human connections during The smarter E Europe 2026.
Europe’s largest alliance of exhibitions for the energy industry once again brought the global energy-transition community together at Messe München. The 2026 edition welcomed approximately 105,000 trade visitors from 163 countries and 2,650 exhibitors from 52 countries, with more than 66% of exhibitors coming from outside Germany. The event occupied 19 exhibition halls and the Outdoor Area, while its specialist conferences and side events attracted more than 3,000 participants. (thesmartere.de)
For CBC, Munich was much more than a major exhibition. It was another important opportunity to activate our international ecosystem, bring together trusted leaders and partners, support forward-looking industry initiatives and connect promising innovations with investors, corporates and international markets.
IN4SFS GreenInvest Part 1: From Startups and Investors to International Collaboration
A central element of the CBC presence in Munich was Part 1 of the IN4SFS GreenInvest International Startup Investment Days 2026, organised through the CleanTech Business Institute together with the IN4SFS consortium partners.
IN4SFS—Establishing the Investment Network for Startups and Entrepreneurs Focused on Green and Sustainable Technologies—is a Horizon Europe-funded project designed to strengthen cross-border investment, improve access to capital and support the international growth of sustainability-focused startups.
The Munich programme combined three interconnected components:
IN4SFS GreenInvest Startup Investment Forum
Held on 23 June as an Official Side Event of The smarter E Europe, the Forum brought together startup founders, investors, corporate leaders, international ecosystem organisations and CleanTech decision-makers.
The programme included startup presentations, a high-level global investor and scale-up discussion, partner addresses, award recognitions and exchanges on what investors genuinely seek when evaluating emerging ventures.
The discussions confirmed that successful scale-up requires much more than promising technology. Investors increasingly look for strong and committed teams, validated market demand, commercial traction, realistic business models, credible internationalisation strategies and the right partners for market entry and global growth.
GreenInvest Matchmaking Point
From 23–25 June, the dedicated CBC/IN4SFS Matchmaking Point in the special Start-up Area of The smarter E Europe served as a meeting place for startups, investors, industrial partners and innovation organisations.
Located at Booth C4.170C, the Matchmaking Point supported curated introductions, follow-up conversations, startup visibility and direct exchanges concerning investment, partnerships, international expansion and market access.
Startup video pitches were also integrated into the GreenInvest platform, giving selected ventures an additional opportunity to present their solutions to the international CBC and IN4SFS investor network.
CBC Leadership TV – GreenInvest Focus
The CBC/IN4SFS booth also hosted a dedicated CBC Leadership TV – GreenInvest Focus programme.
Through interviews and special addresses, CBC leaders, entrepreneurs, investors and partners shared practical perspectives on startup growth, investment readiness, international collaboration, CleanTech ecosystems, clean hydrogen, storage, artificial intelligence and the role of trusted partnerships in transforming innovation into implementation.
The Munich coverage included conversations with CBC leaders and partners such as Justin Gu, Mark Mirza and Thomas Korn, together with visionary contributions from Prof. Eicke R. Weber, Dr. Rashi Gupta, Sharzi Mukhri and other members of the wider CBC ecosystem.
H2H Beyond the Conference Room
Following the Forum, CBC was delighted to personally welcome the IN4SFS consortium partners, CBC leaders and invited guests to the GreenInvest Partners Networking Snack, powered by CBC, KEYOU and water stuff & sun.
The gathering reflected one of the central principles of the CleanTech Business Club: meaningful business relationships are ultimately Human-to-Human.
As Thomas Korn, Founder and CEO of KEYOU and water stuff & sun and Co-Chair of the CBC CleanTech Startup Hub, emphasised:
“Successful companies are not built by technology alone. They are built by people who trust one another, share a common purpose and combine their strengths to transform innovation into real market impact. This is the true meaning of H2H relationships and the #TogetherWeAreStronger spirit. The Forum, together with the opportunity to personally welcome the IN4SFS partners at the GreenInvest Partners Networking Snack—powered by CBC, WSS and KEYOU—once again confirmed that, when we unite our experience, networks and capabilities, we can achieve far more than any of us could accomplish alone. Technologies may open doors, but it is trust, openness and genuine human connection that enable us to walk through them together—and to build something meaningful, impactful and lasting.”
Celebrating Visionary CleanTech Leadership
The Munich Forum also provided the setting for special recognition ceremonies connected with the World CleanTech Awards and World CleanTech StartUPs Awards.
We warmly congratulate the following 2025 awardees:
WCSA2025 Visionary Accelerator Award (Prof. Eicke R. Weber Award) - Start2 Group
Recognised for accelerating breakthrough CleanTech startups and innovation worldwide.
WCA2025 Visionary CleanTech Leader Under40 Award - Jenny Tong, Impact Investor and Entrepreneur; Investment Analyst at Shanghai Technology Exchange; Head of Global Affairs & Marketing at SNEC.
Jenny was recognised for her leadership as a young impact investor and entrepreneur and for advancing global CleanTech innovation by connecting China with international markets, investors and innovation ecosystems.
WCA2025 Visionary CleanTech Policy Decision-Maker (Hans Josef Fell Award - Dr. Stefan Kaufmann
Former Innovation Commissioner for Green Hydrogen of the German Federal Government and Chair of the CBC Off-Takers & Infrastructure Hub.
Dr. Kaufmann was recognised for his visionary contribution to CleanTech and clean hydrogen policy, his commitment to connecting innovation with industrial deployment and his continued support for international cooperation.
The recognitions celebrated individuals and organisations that demonstrate how visionary leadership, entrepreneurship, investment and international cooperation can accelerate the transition from ideas to measurable global impact.
Supporting Renewables 24/7
Beyond the IN4SFS activities, CBC was proud to support two important initiatives of The smarter E Europe and Intersolar Europe.
The first was the special exhibit: Renewables 24/7 – Secure Energy for a Changing World
The exhibit demonstrated that a renewable energy system can provide secure, reliable and affordable energy around the clock.
Using Germany as a practical example, it showed how renewable generation, battery storage, intelligent grids, digital energy management, mobility solutions and hydrogen technologies can be combined into a flexible and resilient energy system.
Visitors could explore four interactive areas covering the industrial, commercial, residential and mobility sectors. Each area presented practical technologies, economic and operational benefits and real-world implementation examples.
The initiative strongly corresponds with the CBC vision of moving from fragmented technologies towards integrated, intelligent and demand-driven energy ecosystems.
The official post-event communication from The smarter E Europe also identified Renewables 24/7 as one of the central highlights of the 2026 edition, demonstrating how a future energy system can become more decentralised, digital, flexible and interconnected. (thesmartere.de)
Strengthening Cooperation Between Europe and India
CBC was also proud to support: India as the Focus Country – Intersolar Europe 2026
India is one of the world’s fastest-growing renewable-energy markets and has set a target of reaching 500 GW of renewable-energy capacity by 2030, including 280 GW of solar power.
Its rapid market growth, manufacturing ambitions and increasing demand for storage, grid technologies, green hydrogen, digitalisation and intelligent energy infrastructure create significant opportunities for cooperation with European companies and institutions.
CBC representatives participated in the dedicated EU–India Solar Night and Networking Reception, connecting with Indian and European industry leaders and discussing opportunities for deeper cooperation across investment, technology, manufacturing, innovation and market development.
India will also play an important role, alongside China and other strategic global markets, within the forthcoming CBC Strategy 2026–2030.
FoxESS: When Partnership Becomes Friendship
On the special invitation of Michael Zhu, Founder and CEO of FoxESS, members of the CBC Leadership & Partnership Family also joined the FoxESS booth party.
The evening offered another strong example of the CBC H2H philosophy. Business cooperation becomes truly powerful when it is supported by personal trust, mutual respect and genuine friendship.
The gathering once again demonstrated that H2H goes beyond transactions, contracts and formal meetings. It is about building relationships that can endure, evolve and create new opportunities over many years.
IN4SFS GreenInvest Part 2: The Digital Deal Flow Continues
The conclusion of the Munich programme did not mark the end of the GreenInvest International Startup Investment Days. We are now moving into IN4SFS GreenInvest Part 2—the Digital Deal Flow Series, extending the opportunities created in Munich and opening participation to a wider international network.
Part 2 includes three main elements:
1. The Next Deal Flow – Southern Europe Edition
7 July 2026 | 12:00–13:30 and 16:00–17:30 CET
Two curated investor–startup sessions will introduce selected high-potential ventures to international investors.
The format prioritises quality over volume, concise presentations, targeted matchmaking and relevant follow-up discussions.
2. IN4SFS Investor Roundtable
9 July 2026 | 14:00–16:00 CET
Under the title From Project to Partnership – IN4SFS Investor Roundtable on Cross-Border Collaboration, Co-Investment and Future Deal Flow, selected investors and key ecosystem partners will participate in a strategic dialogue aimed at creating joint investment collaboration and future initiatives.
The objective is not only to exchange perspectives, but to identify concrete opportunities for co-investment, shared deal flow and long-term cooperation extending beyond the formal project period.
3. GreenInvest 1-on-1 Matchmaking Meetings
Until 15 July 2026 | Online
Curated Zoom-based meetings will connect:
investors with selected startups,
investors with fellow investors and potential co-investment partners,
startups with strategic corporate and ecosystem partners.
These meetings are designed to turn initial introductions into meaningful discussions around investment, internationalisation, market access, strategic partnerships and follow-up cooperation.
Join the CBC/IN4SFS Startup and Investor Network
We invite startups, scale-ups, business angels, venture capital funds, family offices, corporate investors, financial institutions, industrial off-takers, accelerators and innovation organisations to participate in Part 2 of the GreenInvest International Startup Investment Days.
Join connect with the IN4SFS/CBC Investor & Startup Network - HERE
We also invite interested organisations to become part of the expanding CBC/IN4SFS international network of startups and investors.
Through this network, we aim to continue facilitating:
international startup visibility,
curated investor access,
cross-border investment and co-investment,
corporate and industrial partnerships,
international market entry,
follow-up deal flow,
long-term ecosystem cooperation.
Participation in the IN4SFS GreenInvest activities is free of charge thanks to the support of the European Union through the Horizon Europe-funded IN4SFS project.
Thank You, The smarter E Europe
We extend our sincere thanks to The smarter E Europe, Solar Promotion GmbH and the entire Solar Promotion team for their outstanding support of the IN4SFS GreenInvest Startup Investment Days and our broader CBC activities in Munich.
Their openness, professionalism and commitment to innovation made it possible to integrate the IN4SFS GreenInvest Forum into one of the world’s most important energy-industry gatherings and to provide startups, investors and partners with a high-quality international platform.
We congratulate the entire organising team on another outstanding edition of The smarter E Europe—an event that combined global reach, technological leadership, an inspiring atmosphere and a clear message:
The energy future is renewable—and it must be built together.
For CBC, Munich once again confirmed that technologies create possibilities, but people create progress.
Built on H2H Trust. Driving Innovation. Empowering Decision-Makers. Building Future-Proof Ecosystems.
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