## Introduction

Calling all visionary entrepreneurs! Bits&Pretzels, in partnership with TechUkraine, European Association for Software Engineering (EASE), and Kyiv IT Cluster, is thrilled to extend a special invitation to Ukrainian startups for the highly anticipated Bits & Pretzels 2023.

Are you the mastermind behind a groundbreaking tech startup? Does your innovative product or solution possess the power to revolutionize industries and transform the world? If you're ready to embark on an exhilarating journey, we invite you to join the most exhilarating tech event of the year!

Bits & Pretzels\
September 24-26\
Munich, Germany

## About the Event

Prepare to immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of Bits & Pretzels, where the brightest minds, innovators, and disruptors from every corner of the globe converge. This grand festival will unite 5000 participants, including founders, investors, and influential figures in the startup realm. The event will take place at the prestigious ICM Internationales Congress Center.

We're on the lookout for startups in diverse tech-related fields that meet the following criteria:

* Companies that launched their Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in 2013 or later.
* Startups with a team size not exceeding 100 employees and funding amounting to less than 15 million euros.

At the festival, a dedicated Ukrainian stand, spanning an impressive 2x4 meters, will proudly showcase four handpicked Ukrainian startups. The primary goal of the stand is to demonstrate the immense potential of Ukraine's thriving technology sector and foster valuable connections.

As a gesture of support, the conference organizers offer pavilion space free of charge, with EASE generously covering half the cost of the booth. Participating startups are required to contribute a participation fee of €560, along with any associated logistics expenses.

## How to Apply

To seize this extraordinary opportunity, complete the comprehensive [application form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeVPEFtI_G_GPIVyy12dCPSCgRBX64DjFedbAo-8DQDOy9avw/viewform), ensuring you provide detailed information about your startup, your exceptional team, and the purpose of your attendance at this illustrious conference.

Application Deadline: **September 20**

## Action Plan

* Accepting startup applications until September 20.
* On **September 21**, a captivating offline Open Call with the esteemed jury will be held in Kyiv, where four deserving startups will be selected to shine at the festival.
* On the same day, **September 21**, participants must transfer the participation fee to the EASE account and provide essential company details for stand branding.
* Stand preparation and publication of captivating startup information will be carried out **until September 22**.
* Finally, mark your calendars for the grand event itself, Bits & Pretzels 2023, taking place f**rom September 24 to 26**.

Don't let this golden opportunity slip through your fingers! Be a part of Bits & Pretzels and propel your startup to unprecedented heights. [Join us](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeVPEFtI_G_GPIVyy12dCPSCgRBX64DjFedbAo-8DQDOy9avw/viewform) in shaping the future of technology, where innovation knows no bounds!


Join the exhilarating Bits & Pretzels 2023 tech event in Munich, Germany! Open call for Ukrainian startups to showcase their innovative products and disruptive solutions. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with industry leaders, investors, and fellow visionaries shaping the future of technology. Apply now and be part of the most exciting startup festival of the year!

Unleash Your Startup's Potential at Bits & Pretzels 2023: Open Call for Innovators

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### Expectation vs. Reality: Why the Internet is Obsessed with Forza Horizon 6 Before Its Official Announcement

If your social media feeds look anything like ours lately, you’ve probably seen them: short, high-energy Reels and TikToks of gamers absolutely losing their minds over clips of flawless sports cars tearing through neon-lit streets. The comments are a mix of pure hype and desperate speculation. The subject of all this chaos? Forza Horizon 6.

But over the last few days, the conversation around the unannounced game shifted from innocent daydreaming into a massive corporate thriller.\
\
[Forza Horizon 6 – Official Launch Trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYhaW-Vr4wg) 

#### The Leak and the 8,000-Year Ban

While the internet was busy debating whether the game would be set in Japan or Germany, an accidental leak turned the gaming world upside down. A playable, DRM-free development build of Forza Horizon 6 was accidentally pushed to Steamworks, instantly making its way onto torrent trackers. Gamers who couldn't resist the temptation downloaded the leaked build to get an early look.

The retaliation from Microsoft and Playground Games was swift and brutal. The developers began issuing permanent, hardware-level bans (HWID) to anyone who touched the leak. The ban notifications sent to players listed an expiration date of December 31, 9999. It’s an 8,000-year timeout tied directly to your computer's motherboard – meaning simply reinstalling the game or switching accounts won't save you. Playground Games officially warned that hackers are being locked out of the entire Forza franchise permanently.

#### The Expectation: The Dream of Japan

Before the dramatic leak, the entire Forza discourse was a form of collective daydreaming. Go to any gaming forum, and you’ll see the exact same wish repeated like a mantra: "Please let it be Japan." For years, fans of racing culture have begged the developers to bring the Horizon Festival to Tokyo and the surrounding mountains. Gamers are visualizing a digital playground built on JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) car culture, neon-drenched night racing through Shibuya, and physics-defying drift battles down the narrow winding roads (touge) of Mount Fuji.

#### The Reality: Virtual Tourism & The Safe Bet

While Japan is the ultimate dream, the reality of game development usually involves balancing creative ambition with technical limitations. Building a dense, towering metropolis like Tokyo that runs smoothly at 60 frames per second is a massive coding nightmare.

Insiders suggest that while Playground Games is definitely listening to the hype, they might opt for a location that allows for more diverse landscapes – like Germany, with its speed-limit-free Autobahn and rolling countryside. The reality is that Forza succeeds because it is a "virtual vacation." It needs deserts, beaches, and open roads just as much as it needs city streets.

#### Why Does Everyone Care So Much?

The fact that thousands of gamers risked a permanent hardware ban just to catch a glimpse of Forza Horizon 6 proves how deeply attached people are to this franchise. It’s the ultimate anti-stress ecosystem. There are no high-stakes combat situations, no stressful survival mechanics, and no toxic chat rooms. It’s just you, an impossibly beautiful sunset, a car you’ll probably never afford in real life, and a phenomenal soundtrack.

In a world that feels increasingly chaotic, the collective hype, and now the high-stakes drama surrounding Forza Horizon 6 is proof that sometimes, all people want is a beautiful, endless road. Just make sure you wait for the official release date, unless you plan on playing video games again in the year 10,000.

Why are racing fans losing their minds over an unannounced game? Read about the massive Forza Horizon 6 development leak, Microsoft's swift retaliation, and the map expectations.

Forza Horizon 6 Hype: Leak Drama and Location Rumors

Car culture, TikTok reels, and the ultimate anti-stress ecosystem: examining why thousands of gamers risked permanent banishment just for a glimpse of an endless digital road.

Expectation vs. Reality: The High-Stakes Hype Behind Forza Horizon 6

On December 20, 2023, Kyiv — Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship [/nnov8](https://www.cyberinnov8.com/) and [Unicorn Nest](https://unicorn-nest.com/), with the support of the [USAID Program "Competitive Economy of Ukraine"](https://www.facebook.com/usaidcep.ua/), are launching the Fundraising Lab project to increase investment maturity and help attract investments for 10 Ukrainian startups.

The 6-month initiative will run from January to June 2024 and will help startups raise capital from local and international investors, including venture capital funds and business angels. The FundraisingLab project offers practical support in the form of development of investment attraction skills, assistance in organizing and supporting an investment round, as well as building connections with the community of local and international investors.

“One of the biggest current challenges for technology companies is access to international capital. FundraisingLab project is designed to improve the level of investment maturity of Ukrainian startups and help ten of them with practical experience of growth and fundraising from local and international investors and business angels,” Sviatoslav Sviatnenko, CEO of /nnov8.

Unicorn Nest, which has already helped more than 300 startups from different countries to attract capital, and whose team members have facilitated investments for Ukrainian startups and scaleups in the total amount of more than $70 million (including Dmarket, SOCPrime, Dreamteam, Lemon.io and others) will become a partner of the project , providing its unique experience and innovative services in the field of fundraising.

FundraisingLab project allows you to use the unique experience of attracting investments in combination with the use of innovative services and online tools for attracting capital.

“We believe that Ukrainian startups have incredible potential and are proud to support their path to fundraising. FundraisingLab was created to help them realize their ambitions in attracting investments and grow in the international market through practical experience and a relevant community,” Denis Dovgopoliy, CEO of Unicorn Nest.

Ukrainian technology startups that attract an institutional round of investments in the amount equivalent to $1 million or more are invited to participate in the project.

Applications for the project will be accepted until January 19, 2024 inclusive.

The start of the project is January 22, 2024.

Read more details about the project and apply [via the link](https://fundraisinglab.com.ua/).

**ADDITIONAL INFORMATION**

The [USAID program “Competitive Economy of Ukraine](https://www.facebook.com/usaidcep.ua/)” supports Ukrainian business in order to increase competitiveness in the domestic market of Ukraine and in international markets, helps in building a simplified and transparent business climate, and also provides Ukrainian companies with opportunities to take advantage of international trade.

[/nnov8](https://www.cyberinnov8.com/) is a center of innovation and entrepreneurship, founded for the development of the technological ecosystem in Ukraine. The center helps potential and existing entrepreneurs create and scale startups as well as technology businesses.

[Unicorn Nest](https://unicorn-nest.com/) is a Ukrainian SaaS company in the FinTech industry, which with the help of services meets all the fundraising needs of startups.

MEDIA CONTACT\
Al’ona Guseva\
Head of PR and Communications at /nnov8\
[aguseva@cyberinnov8.com](mailto:aguseva@cyberinnov8.com)


Join the Fundraising Lab project launched by /nnov8 and Unicorn Nest in collaboration with the USAID Program "Competitive Economy of Ukraine." This 6-month initiative aims to enhance investment maturity and assist 10 Ukrainian startups in attracting capital from local and international investors. Benefit from practical support, development of investment attraction skills, and connections with a vibrant investor community. Apply now until January 19, 2024, and kickstart your fundraising journey in January 2024.

Fundraising Lab project announces a set of 10 startups to help attract investments

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