News from the German Mittelstand
Summer Summit 2026: An evening that whetted our appetite for the future
The Summer Summit 2026 has once again demonstrated just how valuable face-to-face interaction is for small and medium-sized enterprises. In a relaxed atmosphere, new contacts were made, exciting conversations took place and fresh
New Ambassador Jordan: Oliver Gebert strengthens the bridge between German Mittelstand and the Middle East
Oliver Gebert is now taking on the role of Ambassador for Jordan in the German Mittelstand & United Mittelstand network. The entrepreneur and „Business Across Borders“ expert is
When the traffic jam suddenly lies beneath you
Review: PAL-V as a guest at the Drivers Club Munich Some evenings feel like a glimpse into the future - except that they don't look like the future.
IN VINO VERITAS: New dialogue format
Conversations that work: With „IN VINO VERITAS“, German Mittelstand e.V. creates a space for reflection, exchange and leadership with attitude.
News from MeinGM (our intranet)
GM Summer Reception 2025: An evening of attitude, heat and high-calibre guests
What happens when entrepreneurs, visionaries, state secretaries, founders, hosts, award winners and future shapers get together on a rooftop terrace - with brisket on the grill and a margarita in a glass? Then the summer reception of the German Mittelstand e.V.. And the result is no ordinary networking event, but a lively reflection of what characterises the SME sector today: substance, attitude and an unshakeable will to shape things.
The SME sector as a stage - and as a movement
What happens under the umbrella of 1000 Satellites GmbH SOHO was not a guest list - it was an ecosystem: from start-ups to hidden champions - from political decision-makers to family entrepreneurs - from bakeries in East Westphalia to cybersecurity leaders.
Lisa Glassner General Manager of 1000 Satellites and Werner Theiner President of German Mittelstand, not only welcomed the guests, but also hosted the evening.
The tenor of the evening: Those who bear responsibility need encounters - not just reports. Attitude - not just headlines. And courage - not just models.
„It's not the thought that changes the world. It's the courage to turn it into reality.“ - Werner Theiner
Two awards - and many goosebump moments
German Mittelstand Innovation Award 2025
The award winners were celebrated, but not for PR or pitch decks - but for real solutions that create security, enable sovereignty and make SMEs fit for the future:
PioVation GmbH
Founder and Brain Mazda Sabony accepted the award for the development of the PioSphere, a modular European AI platform for SMEs and public authorities. GDPR-compliant, highly secure, hosted in Germany. AI - not from the Valley, but from Bavaria. With partners like EMC Home of Data and AMD. Accompanied by our business mentor for PioVation Michael Emmer
Deutsche Telekom Security
For the Magenta Cyber Mittelstand Solution, an MDR portfolio that makes security simple, scalable and affordable. How award winners Wolfgang Neudorfer formulated: „We will continue. For the SME sector. For more cyber resilience. For security that works.“
The speakers emphasised why these solutions are so important: Ingobert Veith, VP Policy at Huawei Germany, recognised PIOVATION as the European answer to AI standards with attitude. Jens Pälmer Director Alliances at CrowdStrike presented the award to Telekom Security - for cybersecurity that works because it is understood.
Premiere: German Mittelstand Consulting (GMC)
„Anyone who really understands your company not only knows your balance sheet - but also your sleepless nights.“ - Werner Theiner
With the foundation of the German Mittelstand Consulting starts a consulting approach by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs. No templates, no theory slides - just sparring personalities with their own experience, a clear view and a willingness to share responsibility.
Ingolf Brauner, founder and board member of German Mittelstand e.V., emphasised on stage:
„No templates, no theory slides - just sparring personalities with their own experience, a clear view and a willingness to share responsibility.“ - Ingolf Brauner
Consultancy as it should be: honest, practical and effective. Thanks to the interdisciplinary team that not only advises SMEs - but understands them.
The team on site: Björn Ole Neumann Marco Hornung Christian von Carlowitz Anne-Kathrin Kabitzke-Schiede Wolfgang Meidenbauer Heinrich (Heiner) Birner Karin Scheeff-Plessing Hakan Günay Andreas Essing Renate Eglhofer Tomal K. Ganguly
Impulses with attitude - guests who have something to say
The list of speakers read like a Who's Who of lively economic thinking:
- Tobias Gotthardt, State Secretary in the Bavarian Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, spoke about the political responsibility to finally create a more practical framework.
- Vera Cornette, Head of Communications at Bavarian State Ministry for Digital Affairs, The event provided a strong impetus on the topics of disinformation, media literacy and the responsibility of digital communication - especially in an economic context.
- Sebastian Roloff, Member of the Bundestag, made it clear that „SMEs must finally become the benchmark for economic development.“ Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)
- Luise Goldi Schöneberg from the Ludwig Erhard Foundation e.V. touched the audience with a generational speech full of depth, warmth and vision. Her metaphor: „SMEs are like sourdough - they need patience, care and trust. Then it will rise.“
Barbecue meets business - enjoyment with attitude
In addition to the impulses and the award ceremony, the evening was also a culinary experience: Stefan Tschoner, founder of Laburrita (3x in Munich), Eggcellent Barbecue and distributor of the legendary Big Green Egg, spoilt the guests with perfectly grilled brisket and authentic barbecue charm. Served in a glass: hand-mixed margaritas with 1880 Tequila - the perfect blend of freshness, elegance and a little touch of Mexico in Munich.
An evening that showed: Even the middle class has taste. And style.
Reactions that remain
Werner Paulus: „It was probably the hottest event of German Mittelstand e.V. - not just because of the grill, but because of the energy on the rooftop.“
Jonas Leeb: „Exciting political insights, inspiring discussions - and a strong new GMC. If you want change, you have to involve those who drive it.“
Tomal K. Ganguly: „Bold ideas, strong bridges, and that rare mix of focus and fun. That's the spirit of German Mittelstand e.V.“
Bernd Preuschoff: „When Werner Theiner calls, things get rolling. Thank you for this evening full of real conversations.“
Conclusion: The evening was more than just a reception
It was a statement. A laboratory for the future. A stage for the entrepreneurial SME sector in all its diversity.
The GM Summer Reception 2025 was a place where ideas came to life, where people met at eye level - and where it became clear: The future is not planned in an ivory tower, but is set in motion on roof terraces like this one.
Bastian Schertel Daniel Hauth Laura Geyer Andreas Orbig Wienfried Senker Mihaela Theiss Brother Paul Elke Neureuther Brother Paul Michael Haeckel Rainer Karcher Maximilian Schack Ravi Kurani Hamid Reza Monadjem Sebastian Witt Dr Lukas Biedermann Carola Grimminger Aaron Gottardi Christin Kiessling Dr Hermann Gumpp Michael Westphal Ralph Veil Michael Spitzenberger Bianca Müller Felix Bender Hilde Gerg Julian Marberger Sabine Zimmermann Frank Miller Jonas Leeb Melanie Schaffenroth Joerg Muehle Dr Niels Kuschinsky Kristina Mader Andreas Burkhardt Otto A. Held Gudrun Held Andreas Bode Kai Rehnelt Philipp Schiede Anica Thalmeier Oliver Sturz Roland Becker Wolfram von Blumenthal Hajan Tamim Juckel Katerina Steeger Bernd Preuschoff Ulrich Lissner Mike Schroeter Michael Lipka Florian Kiermeier Verona Vulcano Juliane Pälmer Thomas Neeff Jakob Lipp, MUTMACHER Patric Flommersfeld Andreas Kerneder Judith Haberkorn Regine Sixt Holger Stromberg Carsten J. Pinnow Alessa Wensing Regina Hunziger Lucas Collisi Carlo Metz Sina Schaper Joachim Kalff Tobias Hetfleisch Alexander Range Harald Kirchschlager Andreas Keck Franz Georg Strauss Andrea Belegante and many more.
All pictures of the evening: https://photos.app.goo.gl/MQVmRzrYpkc2ywCXA
German Mittelstand e.V.
Digital sovereignty determines whether companies, people and states will still be able to act tomorrow. It affects the way we work, communicate, store, develop and do business.
German Mittelstand formulates a clear action agenda on the basis of our expert breakfast at HandzOn. For companies and for politicians.
No alarmism. Just what is necessary now.
1. recommendations for action for companies
Digital sovereignty is not an IT issue. It is a management task.
1.1 Redundancy instead of dependency
A provider is convenient - but risky.
Companies need alternatives for central areas:
E-mail and collaboration
Cloud and hosting infrastructure
Data rooms and backups
AI tools and process automation
Sovereignty comes from choice.
1.2 Control over own data
Critical company data must remain in your own hands.
Data rooms, compliance, backups and access rights must not be dependent on foreign laws.
Whoever controls data controls the business.
1.3 Investments in infrastructure
Digital independence does not come for free.
Regional data centres, proprietary platforms, secure data flows - these are all building blocks for stable business models.
Investment today protects your ability to act tomorrow.
1.4 Strengthen co-operation
Companies alone are users.
Companies in a network are a market.
SMEs should join forces to build up their own standards, solutions and negotiating power.
1.5 Addressing risks openly
Many companies recognise the dependencies, but hardly anyone talks about them.
Transparency about digital risks strengthens organisations, not the other way around
2. recommendations for policy makers
Digital sovereignty is a core task of the state.
Clear decisions, reliable frameworks and tangible prioritisation are needed.
2.1 A national and European masterplan
Germany and Europe need a clear line:
Which digital areas need to be sovereign?
Which technologies do we need to build ourselves?
Where are dependencies acceptable, where not?
No further workshop - a binding plan.
2.2 Promoting European infrastructure
Sovereignty arises from foundations:
Data centres
Nets
Data rooms
Platforms
Basic AI models
Europe must strengthen its own structures - not just utilise them.
2.3 Competitiveness through de-bureaucratisation
Innovation is not created in long processes.
Regulation must become faster, clearer and more future-orientated.
A law facilitates. One law is cancelled.
This is the logic that makes progress possible.
2.4 Actively applying the EU Blocking Regulation
The case of ICC judge Nicolas Guillou shows how vulnerable Europe is in the digital space.
The EU must ensure that extraterritorial sanctions do not digitally disable European citizens or companies.
Europe must not duck away - it must protect.
2.5 Linking awards to sovereignty
Public funds must be used where European independence grows.
It is contradictory to talk about digital sovereignty and at the same time divert billions to non-European clouds.
Public procurement policy is industrial policy.
2.6 Radically strengthening digital education
Sovereignty does not start in the server room, but in the head.
Digital expertise must be a matter of course in schools, universities and public authorities.
Only those who understand can create.
Sovereignty is a decision
Digital sovereignty is not an abstract concept. It is a question of responsibility - in companies, in politics and in Europe.
German Mittelstand will continue this debate: visibly, clearly, practically.
The time for talking is over. Now the action begins.
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The topic: Artificial intelligence.
However, the discussions went far beyond technology. It was about attitude, responsibility and the question of whether technology replaces or enhances people.
„AI was just the occasion - it was actually about trust, courage and the future of our entrepreneurship,“ says Werner Theiner.
He was not there as an observer, but as an actor, as the voice of the middle class, which stands precisely between these worlds: Analogue in attitude, digital at heart.
With Karsten Wildberger, from which the entrepreneur speaks and Fabian Mehring, a change-maker with courage and enthusiasm, Theiner met two politicians who show that politics can be different: pragmatic, passionate and close to the people.
„We need more of this kind,“ says Theiner. „People who listen, shape and understand SMEs as partners - not as addressees.“
At Werk 43, it became clear that progress does not begin in the algorithm, but in the mind - and in the shared desire to make things better.
When business and politics meet like this,
AI does not become a risk,
but the Proof that progress needs attitude - and people who live it.
Latest news from our capital city office in Berlin
Here you get the latest information, assessments and actions from our Capital city office - which German Mittelstand runs together with many other business associations and organisations. Together, we ensure that the voice of SMEs is heard in Berlin - and that we play an active role in shaping policy instead of just commenting on it.
LinkedIn is our primary social media channel. Here are the latest posts.
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