5 minutes overview of the coolest tech & cultural events in Berlin.
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👀 FOMO Berlin: Two Months After OpenClaw Went Viral, Its Founder Joins OpenAI | 17.02 - 23.02

👀 FOMO Berlin: Two Months After OpenClaw Went Viral, Its Founder Joins OpenAI | 17.02 - 23.02

Weekly newsletter keeping you up to date on the coolest events for tech & culture in Berlin

Cephas from FOMO
February 16, 2026

Hi Berliners,

Next Wednesday, I’m excited for Berlin auf die 1, a room full of people building what’s next for this city. We opened 10 extra FOMO guestlist spots and received 200+ applications. Ten were selected. If that’s you, check your inbox. Moments like this prove again that FOMO is one of the best places to bring investors, founders, and tech operators in Berlin into one room.

We’re already planning several gatherings for April. If you want to bring the right people together — future customers, partners, investors, reach out. Our job. Our passion. Bringing the best people into the same room.

🚨 My third column is live. This time, I’m writing about the “Cape Town dilemma” of the German startup scene — the ocean views, mastermind dinners, and pitch decks at sunset, but also what often goes unseen. As a Black founder and immigrant, I experience this world differently — not just fascinated, but questioning.

For the first time, I allowed myself to be more personal here. I usually keep my more personal opinions out of the FOMO Berlin newsletter — which is exactly why this felt important.

Check it out and let me know what you think:
https://www.businessinsider.de/gruenderszene/perspektive/das-kapstadt-dilemma-der-deutschen-startup-szene/

If you are in Cape Town, join our FOMO Cape Town WhatsApp Group.

And if you’re the type who likes an unfair advantage, plan your event schedule smarter with FOMO Berlin Insider.

📨 Stay subscribed to FOMO247 and keep an eye out for more exciting events and opportunities we’ve got in the works. Trust me, you won’t want to miss what’s coming next! 😉

In this column, I unpack the tension of living the Cape Town startup high life while, as a Black founder and immigrant, feeling the deeper contradictions that come with it.

Want to be featured in FOMO Berlin? 💰

FOMO Berlin Sponsoring - Join Qonto, LIQID, Project A, and many more and be the next company to be featured to 10000+ weekly Berlin readers (VC-backed founders, VC, senior operators) - fill out this form.

What did you FOMO last week 📸

A few impressions from our First Thursday event at the beginning of the month, which welcomed over 600 guests.

FOMO Opportunity Spotlight & Carve Out 🔦 :

rbb – Die 12: 12 diverse voices come together to debate everyday issues and develop shared solutions. Fluent German and availability for occasional Saturday filming required. Paid participation.
Antler – Investment Team: Join Antler’s Investment Team to back early-stage founders from day one, evaluate startups, and help build high-potential companies. Ideal for ambitious talent pursuing a career in venture capital.
Highsnobiety – Berlin Jobs: Highsnobiety is growing its Client Services team with new partnerships ahead. Hiring: Account Manager (Berlin), Senior Account Manager (Berlin & Milan), and Account Director (Berlin). Apply now.

Upload your event and reach 12000+ weekly Berlin readers. Or just connect your event with our Lu.ma - Fomo Berlin Calendar.

The FOMO Berlin week 💙 (17.2 - 23.2):

FOMO Top Picks of the Week 🔥

These are the events I would attend if I were in town:

“Berlin auf die 1” Kick-off 🚀 | Wednesday, 6:30 – 10 PM: Founder and investor gathering launching campaign to position Berlin as Europe’s most builder-friendly tech hub.
Berlin × Paris Climate & Impact Night 🌍 | Thursday, 6 – 9 PM: Cross-border climate tech evening uniting Berlin and Paris founders, investors, corporates, and policymakers for panels and networking.
GTM x AI Breakfast ft. ElevenLabs & HubSpot 🚀🤖 | Friday, 9 – 11:30 AM: Learn to scale GTM with Voice AI × CRM, live demos, Q&A, and founder networking over breakfast.

All Day Festivals & Conferences ✨

Feb 12 – Feb 20: 76th Berlinale – Berlin International Film Festival 🎬✨ | All Daily: World-class films, filmmaker talks, premieres, and industry exchange celebrating cinema, creativity, and global storytelling at the highest level.
Feb 22 – Feb 28: YAAM Black History Month Celebration ✨✊🏾 | All Day: Celebrate past, present, and future of Black culture in Berlin with music, art, and community vibes.

Tuesday 17th

From Science to Impact: NLND Breakfast Club ☕ | 9:30 – 11 AM: Science, venture, and impact leaders discuss translating research into credible value creation through strategic storytelling and impact logic.
AI Builders Berlin at CIC Berlin 🤖 | 5:30 – 9 PM: AI demos, expert talks, public sector panel, pizza, and networking for builders exploring practical machine learning systems.
Data Engineering at Superhuman: From Writing Assistant to Agent Platform 🚀 | 6:30 – 9 PM: Engineering deep-dive on unifying analytics and ML data, migrating core systems, and scaling AI experimentation without slowing delivery.
OPEN BLN #001: Meet & Shape 🪽 | 6:30 – 9:30 PM: Inaugural mentorship gathering fostering intentional connection, guided exercises, and collaborative community-building among Berlin’s mentors, creatives, and learners.
SLEEK Talk at Soho House 🎬✨ | 7 – 9 PM: Susanne Wuest and Christian Bracht discuss film awards, artistic freedom, industry expectations, and contemporary cinema’s evolving recognition culture.
Women of SaaS Berlin – New Year’s Reception ✨ | 7 – 9:30 PM: Networking reception and AI-focused panel discussing implementation partners, SaaS ecosystem shifts, and strengthening women’s tech leadership connections.

Wednesday 18th

Scaling E-commerce: Founder Breakfast by Finom ☕ | 8:30 – 10:30 AM: Curated founder breakfast featuring lightning talks, peer networking, and insights on scaling D2C e-commerce businesses.
Pitch Me! – Test your Investors’ Pitch 🎤 | 5 PM: Five startups pitch to expert jury, receive professional feedback, and connect with Berlin’s entrepreneurial community.
From Lab to Daily Biohacks at The Longevity Practice 🧬 | 6:30 – 8:30 PM: Expert talks on personalized preventive medicine, daily biohacking strategies, healthspan optimization, and curated networking with longevity enthusiasts.
Berlin ECCEDU MeetUp (Community) at Manifesto Market 🤝 | 6:30 – 9:30 PM: Curated founder roundtables and networking evening with tailored agendas, focused discussions, and full catering for meaningful business connections.
“Berlin auf die 1” Kick-off 🚀 | 6:30 – 10 PM: Founder and investor gathering launching campaign to position Berlin as Europe’s most builder-friendly tech hub.
Clay in Berlin: GTM Roundtables | 6:30 – 10 PM: Peer-led GTM roundtables, honest operator discussions, rotating small-group sessions, dinner, and networking for RevOps, founders, and growth teams.

Thursday 19th

Road to START Summit – START Berlin 🚀 | 3 – 9 PM: High-energy pitching competition showcasing Berlin’s top tech and deep tech startups with keynotes, panels, and networking.
Your Muscles Are a Longevity Organ 💪 | 5:30 – 8 PM: Science-backed strength training session exploring muscle health, aging, performance optimization, and sustainable exercise habits.
Berlin × Paris Climate & Impact Night 🌍 | 6 – 9 PM: Cross-border climate tech evening uniting Berlin and Paris founders, investors, corporates, and policymakers for panels and networking.
DEMO DAYS #001 BERLIN 👾💻 | 6 – 9 PM: The anti-pitch for Berlin builders: raw, live demos of AI hacks, dev-tools, and wild side projects. Test-drive creations, chat with founders, and dive into the DIY tech spirit.
Data & AI in Product: What Actually Moves the Needle? 🤖📊 | 6:30 – 9 PM: Panel discussion for product leaders on leveraging data and AI to drive meaningful outcomes, followed by Q&A, pizza, drinks, and networking.
Finding the Magic in the Logic - Creative Leadership Salon N°18 🤖✨ | 6:30 – 10 PM: Explore AI beyond art and science with Professor Friedrich von Borries & Alexander Doudkin, including a talk, fishbowl discussion, and creative networking. Bring a piece of cheese, wine, provided.
Into Design Systems at HelloFresh 🎨 | 6:30 – 10 PM: Design systems meetup exploring antifragility, AI-powered Figma plugins, and scaling production-ready design infrastructure.

FOMO Upcoming Top Events & Opportunities 💯 :

Mon. Feb 24: AI & CX Leaders Networking at CCW 🤖🍸 | 6 – 9 PM: Curated networking for senior AI, product, and CX leaders with drinks, canapés, and conversations in a relaxed setting.
Tue. Feb. 25: Future Founder Dinner by Jetpack 🥷 | Evening: A curated dinner in Berlin Mitte bringing together 8 of the most ambitious future founders. No pitches, no co-founder matching — just honest conversations. 50/50 technical & non-technical. Free, but apply by Feb. 18.
Fri. Feb 27: HOT BOYS TALK – Berlin Edition 💧🗣 | 6 – 9 PM:
Live conversation on modern masculinity with Christoph May, open discussion, honest questions, free drinks, all genders welcome.

Friday 20th

Code Green: Hacking the Future of Sustainable Impact 🌱💻 | All Day: Tackle Berlin’s climate challenge using AI, data, and business skills. Build real solutions, pitch to experts, win prizes.
GTM x AI Breakfast ft. ElevenLabs & HubSpot 🚀🤖 | 9 – 11:30 AM: Learn to scale GTM with Voice AI × CRM, live demos, Q&A, and founder networking over breakfast.
Radical Sneak: Climate Activism Screening 🌍🎬 | 7 – 9:30 PM:
Film screening on climate activism’s radical edges, followed by open German discussion on protest, disruption, and public support.
Spring 2026 Exhibition Opening at KW 🎨✨ | 7 – 10 PM: Celebrate new exhibitions by Klara Lidén, Jean Katambayi Mukendi, and Else Marie Pade with free admission.

Saturday 21st

Vibecoding Workshop: Build Your First Prototype 💻✨ | 10 AM – 12 PM: Beginner-friendly hands-on session to create an interactive app prototype using Lovable. Bring ideas, laptop, and curiosity.
Healthy For Life: Body Recomposition & Strength Workshop 💪🥗 | 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Learn body recomposition, nutrition, sustainable strength training, and recovery techniques. Includes scan, coaching tips, and community networking.
Superspäti Comedy im KATER 🎤😂 | 8 – 10 PM: Stand-up mix show with top Berlin comedians, hosted by MC Fitti, delivering sharp jokes and lively audience interaction.

Sunday 22nd

Good Moves X Femella Sweaty Sunday Pilates 💪🌿 | 1:30 PM: Join a full-body Pilates session with Cam, boost strength, confidence, and community, followed by plant-powered refuel and hangout.
Monia Ben Hamouda & Rodrigo Hernández at ChertLüdde 📚🎨 | 2 – 7 PM: Book presentations “After Totality” and “The Long Pond,” featuring artist talks and discussions at ChertLüdde.
Matcha Tasting with Tea Farmer Daiki Tanaka 🍵 | 3 – 5 PM: Learn about single-origin Japanese matcha, cultivation methods, and taste award-winning teas with Daiki Tanaka.

Monday 23rd

AI Breakfast: The Future of Logistics 🤖 | 9 – 10:30 AM: Panel discussion on AI-driven logistics, supply chain innovation, and venture opportunities over coffee and croissants.