Vienna Startup Package
Explore Austria's thriving startup sceneWelcome to a thrilling startup opportunity from the Vienna Business Agency. The Vienna Startup Package allows 15 international startups per year to discover Vienna as a marketplace and launchpad for DACH-region success as part of an exclusive, multi-phased programme among a cohort of visionaries from around the world. Identify new business opportunities and connect with relevant stakeholders in Vienna.
Vienna is known world-wide for its rich history and culture, and has gained increasing traction in recent years for its vibrant innovation ecosystem, strategic location, and supportive business environment. The city is home to a thriving entrepreneurial community that have found the Austrian capital to be an ideal jumping off point for further innovation and international growth.
The Austrian capital offers:
A well-connected startup ecosystem with accelerators, incubators, and investors.
A supportive policy and funding environment designed to encourage growth and innovation.
An internationally-minded business community that thrives on collaboration.
A strategic geographic location, making it the perfect entry point for the CEE market and the wider Eruopean continent.
What's included?
The Vienna Startup Package offers access to networks and introductions to Viennese stakeholders, 1:1 business coaching, and a travel budget for one person/startup. Additionally, selected participants gain access to exclusive event formats during ViennaUP, the major city-wide startup festival, currently ranked by StartupBlink as one of Europe's top 5 best startup events.
Beyond the Program
The Vienna Startup Package doesn’t just open doors — it helps you build a future in the heart of Europe. Startups leave the program with:
- A clear understanding of the Austrian market landscape & beyond.
- Strategic partnerships and investor connections to drive growth.
- The experience of living and working in one of Europe’s most innovative and entrepreneur-friendly cities.
Welcome to Vienna
In Vienna, startups can expect an ideal environment to grow and thrive. The extremely high quality of life attracts a large, well-educated community of expats and students, making for a vast pool of talent. Startups can enjoy a tight-knit business ecosystem with plenty of support and funding available for companies looking to get their project off the ground. The strategic geographical location facilitates exchanges between Eastern and Western Europe, making Vienna the perfect launch pad for the wider German-speaking region and Europe at large.
Alumni 2025
Past winners of the Vienna Startup Package cover a broad spectrum of fields – from agricultural machines to AI waste management solutions, health data management to disability-aiding technologies.
Meet our Vienna Startup Package 2025 Alumni:
“Expanding into new territories is always a challenge for businesses. This program offered an invaluable introduction to the business landscape in Austria and the broader DACH region. The chance to live in Vienna for several weeks and truly engage with the local ecosystem was an incredible experience, leaving us with the confidence to expand our operations there. The Vienna Business Agency team was also outstanding and provided crucial support.”
- BigThinx
“The Vienna Startup Package offered us far more than a soft landing – it opened the door to a local ecosystem of innovation, healthcare partnerships, and genuine collaboration. From strategic connections to practical pilot opportunities, Vienna proved itself as a place where bold ideas can take root and scale across Europe. Let’s see what the near future will bring – we are excited to build on the relationships and momentum sparked here.”
- Grab2Go
“The program was packed with opportunities, meaningful contacts, and unforgettable events, all delivered with world-class hospitality. As Billy Joel sings, ‘Vienna waits for you.’ We truly wish more places had programs like this. It was genuinely inspiring.”
- Plastic Back
An international success story
In the first ten years of the Vienna Startup Package's existence (2014 - 2024), the programme attracted a total of 2,243 applicants from 113 countries around the globe. All told, a total of 156 international startups from 48 countries were accepted into the programme - and the programme is currently on the hunt for the next batch!
This programme is looking for startups that show some traction in their home markets and that are in preparing for the next scaling phase - preferably with Austria in mind. Applications will be reviewed in a two-level selection process. Shortlisted startups will be invited for a short interview, and finalists with the best programme fit will be identified by a panel of expert judges.
Full application details and guidelines
Interested?
Get in touch with the team for more details.
