ViennaUP’21: Strong Outcomes despite Lockdown

 International startup event sets new standards

The Vienna Business Agency is already seeing exciting outcomes for ViennaUP´21 at its debut event series. A first broadcast among the 40 program partners confirms around  25,000 participants from 60 countries in 100 online events from April 27th to May 12th. A core aim of the festival – to build contacts and networks – was particularly successful, even in the middle of the 4th lockdown. In over 5,000 1:1 meetings, investors, founders, talent, and international organizations exchanged their contacts and discussed the possible business ideas of tomorrow. 

Huge global reach within the startup target group 

The digital communication campaign for ViennaUP’21 reached more than ten million people and successfully positioned Vienna as a hub of the global startup scene. These figures impressively confirm ViennaUP´21 – founded by the Vienna Business Agency – as the largest startup event to have ever taken place in Central Europe. Although it was only possible to realize this year’s event online due to COVID-19, with ViennaUP‘21 the Viennese startup community has sent a powerful starting signal to the world, as a successful business and startup location.

Press release "ViennaUP’21: Strong Outcomes despite Lockdown" (PDF)

Vienna, 12 May 2021

OPB support initiative ready to go

Exactly 370 days ago, the City of Vienna launched its first coronavirus aid package, the ‘Home Office’ working-from-home funding programme. Since then, the city has provided 50 support measures and more than 500 million euros for issues relating to labour, the economy, health, social concerns and culture. The new 2021 economic support package is already up and running, and additional funding opportunities will be available through the Vienna Business Agency and the waff (Vienna Employment Promotion Fund) from April 2021. The new funding measures are aimed at one-person businesses (OPBs) and digitalisation.

Vienna goes ahead: tailored packages for OPBs in Vienna

Vienna is home to around 65,000 OPBs. The City of Vienna has developed a specific OPB assistance programme to support these companies. The Vienna Business Agency’s funding pot contains 10 million euros dedicated to OPBs, with amounts of up to €7,000 available to OPBs that have been obliged to explore new fields of business or make changes to their business models as a result of the coronavirus.

Press release "OPB support initiative ready to go"  (PDF)(PDF)

Vienna, 23 March 2021

Countdown to Central Europe's largest startup-event

Registration for ViennaUP’21 now open worldwide.

The countdown to ViennaUP’21, the largest start-up event in Central Europe, is now underway. Just 43 days before it kicks off on 27 April, online registration is now open for this digital get-together for start-ups. Considerable interest was already apparent from the Central and Eastern European region in the first hour.

From 27 April to 12 May, 40 local and international partners will offer their programme items under the umbrella of ViennaUP’21 and will create a unique meeting place for the global scene. ViennaUP’21 is an initiative of the Vienna Business Agency.

Press release "City of Vienna starts counting down to Central Europe's largest startup-event" (PDF)

Vienna, 15 March 2021

Vienna achieves a solid result in attracting international businesses to the city

218 new foreign companies set up shop, despite the challenging environment caused by the coronavirus crisis

Encouraging news for the crisis year that was 2020: the City of Vienna, in collaboration with the Austrian Business Agency, was able to achieve a solid result in the number of international companies settling in the city, welcoming 218 newly arrived foreign companies to the Austrian capital.

The  companies from abroad moving to the city for the first time triggered investments in Vienna worth 263 million euros and created 1,718 jobs. That is the third-best ever number of businesses moving to the city since 2012. The comparison of nations shows that Vienna scored even higher than usual in Europe last year. In addition to Germany, Great Britain and Italy were among the most frequent countries of origin this time.

Press release "Vienna achives a solid result in attracting international businesses to the city" (PDF)

Vienna, 11 March 2021

Vienna Startup Package digital 2020

The Vienna Business Agency’s Vienna Start-up Package supports excellent international start-ups in getting to know Vienna’s start-up ecosystem and the city as a business location. With 321 applications, the coronavirus year 2020 tops previous years (see chart). Over the next few weeks, 16 winners from nine countries will take advantage of the Vienna Start-up Package’s services to further develop their business model for an international market. With individual support, coaching and networking formats, the programme creates a helpful framework for young start-ups to take their first steps towards expansion. The programme’s aim is to encourage more international start-ups to settle here in Vienna.

Press release "Digitales Vienna Startup Packages 2020" (PDF) (PDF in German)

Vienna, 13th Jannuary 2021