On 16 September 2026, Riventic won the main prize at the Investforum Pitch-Day 2026. In the Hugo Junkers Technology Museum in Dessau-Roßlau, the investors present chose the AI startup from Magdeburg out of 30 teams as the “Most Convincing Startup” (“Überzeugendstes Startup”). The prize is funded by Stadtwerke Halle GmbH and carries €2,500. Riventic pitched Riventic Flow, its software for AI-based production planning. For the team, it was the first appearance at the Investforum and the first pitch to investors ever.
The Investforum Pitch-Day 2026 in Dessau-Roßlau
The Investforum Pitch-Day brings startups from Central Germany together with investors from all over Germany. According to the organiser, it is the largest pitch event in Saxony-Anhalt. It is run by IMPETUUM GmbH, which has supported founding teams on their way to funding with the Investforum Startup-Service since 2009.
The 17th edition received 58 applications. 30 startups were selected: 20 teams from Central Germany, 12 of them from Saxony-Anhalt. The day ran in three formats:
- Stage pitch: each team had three minutes. The pitches were grouped into five Innovation Areas: health, industry, resources, intelligent technologies and social participation.
- Matchings: the organisers arrange the meetings between startups and investors before the Pitch-Day, based on research into both sides.
- Exhibition: each startup presented itself at its own stand.
The day closed with the HANGAR Night: themed tours, the award ceremony and open networking.
The “Most Convincing Startup” prize of Stadtwerke Halle
Stadtwerke Halle has supported the Pitch-Day as a sponsor for many years and funds the special prize “Most Convincing Startup”. The investors present decide who wins it. They assess three points: the pitch, the market potential and the overall impression of the team. Not only the stage pitch counts, but also the impression from the matchings and conversations throughout the day.
Two more prizes went to PERCEPTEC GmbH from Jena (TK special prize for health, from Techniker Krankenkasse) and to HYBEAM from Dresden (Legal Readiness Award, from GRUENDELPARTNER).
What Riventic pitched: Riventic Flow
Riventic Flow is a production planning system for the packaging industry. It sits on top of the existing ERP instead of replacing it, and shows production on an interactive planning board: one row per machine, each operation a block on the time axis. At the push of a button, the AI calculates a better sequence, with shorter setup times, less idle time and more deadlines met. A simulation checks each proposal against the real constraints of the production floor before it appears on the board. Planners and AI work together: the AI proposes and checks, the planners decide and release the plan to the ERP.
Flow is in use in the packaging industry. The article Riventic Flow at a glance: planning board, AI and ERP describes in detail how Flow plans.
The founders on the win
Benjamin Rolf, co-founder of Riventic, on the win (translated from German):
“Winning just feels great. Today was our first time presenting at the Investforum Pitch-Day, our first pitch to investors ever, and we won a prize right away. That tells us our solution really strikes a chord.”
Konstantin Rolf, co-founder of Riventic, on the demand in industry (translated from German):
“The award confirms that the demand is high and that, beyond our existing pilot customers, many more companies can benefit from our solution.”
Riventic's second award in 2026
The prize in Dessau follows the 2nd place at the State of Saxony-Anhalt's CIO Innovation Award 2026 in June. More about the team and its path is on the About us page.
Do you still plan your production in Excel or directly in the ERP? Request a demo of Riventic Flow.
