Mission Startup: 15 Years of the Youth Economy Summit in Regensburg

What does the economy of tomorrow need? Above all, the voices of those who will one day shape it. On Thursday, October 29, 2026, the Kolpinghaus in Regensburg therefore became a “Future Workshop”: At the Youth Economic Summit organized by the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development, and Energy, high school students from all over Bavaria developed their own business ideas and explored economic and social issues of the future. There was also something to celebrate: the summit is turning 15. What once began with about 70 young people has now become a Bavaria-wide series of events, with well over 200 young people participating in Regensburg.
 

Mission Startup: Your Idea. Your Thing.

As a sponsor, we weren’t just supporting the event from the sidelines—we were right in the thick of it. In our “Mission Startup” workshop, Tanja Braun and Tamara Moser (TechBase) guided the young people as they launched their own mini-startups. The starting point was five challenges set in the year 2030 that directly addressed the participants’ everyday lives: a fragmented digital school experience, energy waste in schools and clubs, the search for the right apprenticeship, mobility in rural areas without a “parent taxi,” and giving clothes and technology a second life.

Working in teams, the students developed solutions and asked themselves the same questions as real founders: Where does AI make sense, and where doesn’t it? Who will pay for the service? And how do you attract your first customers—for example, at your own school or in a sports club? Finally, the teams pitched their ideas to founders from Regensburg’s startup scene, who also shared what it’s really like to start a business in practice.

Future Workshop: From Succession Planning to Financial Literacy

In addition to our workshop, the Future Workshop covered a wide range of topics. The Regensburg IHK Oberpfalz/Kelheim had the young people step into the role of a succession team. The Social Startup Hub Bavaria focused on entrepreneurship with social value. The T1 Youth Media Center demonstrated how fake news works and how to debunk it. i40 – the future skills company taught the basics of artificial intelligence through its “AI Driver’s License,” and BeAFox helped participants make better financial decisions—whether it was choosing between a kebab and a stock portfolio. There was also an AI workshop for teachers. The young people gained insights into the professional world from regional companies such as Krones, Bayernwerk, and Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen.

A Big Stage for Young Ideas

In the afternoon, the teams presented the results of their workshops to the full group. During the subsequent discussion session, moderated by Günes Seyfarth, the students engaged in conversation with Tobias Gotthardt (State Secretary at the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs), Lena Hiltel and Annalena Lüdeke (co-founders of RocketMIND), Julia Pirzer (IHK Regensburg for Oberpfalz/Kelheim), Philipp Seitz (President of the Bavarian Youth Ring), and our Managing Director Alexander Rupprecht. State Secretary Gotthardt summed up the essence of the day: “Our economy needs young people who think critically, roll up their sleeves, and bring their own ideas to life.”

Our conclusion: Tomorrow’s entrepreneurial spirit is in today’s classrooms. Showing young people early on that starting a business is a real option will strengthen Regensburg as a hub for innovation—and the entire region—in the long run.

Thank you!

A heartfelt thank you goes to the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development, and Energy for the invitation. We would also like to thank our partners—the IHK Regensburg of Oberpfalz/Kelheim region and Social Startup Hub Bavaria, the Bavarian Youth Council, all workshop partners, and the founders who supported the pitches. The biggest round of applause goes to the students, who filled the day with their ideas, courage, and energy!
 

TechBase Regensburg GmbH sponsored the 2026 Youth Economy Summit.