In November 2017, it is again time for “entrepreneurs to meet investors”

The German Equity Forum is the largest information and networking event for capital seeking companies and investors. 2017's event is set for 27 to 29 November.

At the event, which has been organized by Deutsche Börse since 1996, companies of all sizes and sectors report their development and performance and present their current financial figures. Institutional investors, analysts and private equity and venture capital investors have the possibility to meet listed and unlisted companies’ most important decision makers and to expand their network and make investment decisions.

Thousands of participants from the financial sector, German and international entrepreneurs as well as investors and analysts are expected to attend the event on all three days. The German Equity Forum 2016 saw around 5000 participants and 200 corporate presentations.

Review

“Companies meet investors” was the motto at the Sheraton Airport Hotel in Frankfurt once again from 27 to 29 November 2017. Deutsche Börse Cash Market has organised the German Equity Forum together with KfW for 21 years now. The forum is the largest informational and networking event on stock exchange corporate financing. Around 220 businesses and 1,000 institutional investors and analysts accepted their invitations to the event. 

CFO Gregor Pottmeyer and Dr Ingrid Hengster of the KfW Executive Board opened the conference jointly. Pottmeyer said, “Our economy, European companies, need capital to deal with the digital transformation and remain innovative.”

The second day was dedicated to start-ups. Company founders and management board members used the Deutsche Börse Venture Network's Venture Stage to present their companies to win over investors and make contacts. Representatives from the German Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVK), High-Tech Gründerfonds, Creathor Venture Management and Phoenix Contact Innovation Ventures occupied the main stage to discuss “Innovation financing: venture capital and the SME sector”. 

An interesting programme was also offered to attendees on the last day. A panel of representatives from Deutsche Handelsbank, ICF Bank and IBU-tec advanced materials – the first company to list in Scale – discussed “Growth financing for small and medium-sized enterprises”. 

Institutional investors and financial analysts had the opportunity for personal meetings with corporate decision-makers in the 1-on-1s offered on all three days along with more panel discussions and a whole range of analyst conferences. The 1-on-1s were very popular again this year. More than 6,500 were requested in advance – around 30 percent more than in 2016.