Global Incubator Network Austria (GIN)

Join GO AUSTRIA and kick-start your startup in Europe

Pitch your deep tech solution to enter the Austrian and European markets and accelerate your business. If you are a later stage startup and a pioneer in the area of deep tech, based in Asia or Israel and ready to expand your business to Europe, apply now for the GO AUSTRIA Fall 2023 program!

On-site program in Vienna, Austria: 20-24 November 2023 (individually extendable)

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Circular economy

Mobility

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Fintech

Zero emissions

Smart production

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Materials and manufacturing

Energy

Social tech

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Everything at a glance

Accelerate your startup

GO AUSTRIA Fall 2023 is a market exploration and access program in Austria for later-stage startups from Asia and Israel with a deep tech focus. The program gives you the opportunity to find new collaboration partners and prepares you and your company for your first market entry.

Key benefits include a personal mentor assigned to you, in-depth workshops on market entry, one-on-one business meetings scheduled in advance, pitching opportunities and other networking events - plus a lot of fun!

Applications deadline:

27 August 2023

10 - 15 startups get selected:

25 September 2023

Digital onboarding events:

October/November 2023

On-site program in Vienna:

20-24 November 2023
(individually extendable until December 2023)

Managed by:

Initiated by:

Application closed
Benefit from the program

Travel cost subsidy & services provided for free by GIN

- Flight (reimbursement max. 1,500,- EUR)
- Accommodation (reimbursement max. 180,- EUR per night)
- Co-working space
- Individual mentoring
- Workshops
- Entry to relevant events with local corporates and startups
- Cost coverage limited to one person per startup

Each selected startup has to nominate one main person participating in the whole program. Typically, this will be one of the co-founders or senior executive responsible for your company's internationalization strategy.

For the on-site program, GIN covers the costs for one person only. You can bring a second person along, yet the cost will have to be borne by your company.

Application closed
Expand your business to Europe

Why Austria?

Why not start right in the heart of Europe, in the world's most liveable city, Vienna? There are lots of reasons to fall in love with Austria, from winter sports to beautiful nature, from delicious pastry and wine to classical music and rich cultural activities.

Luckily, there are also great reasons to do business in Austria, such as easy access to the entire German-speaking region (~100 million people across 6 countries) and to Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), highly innovative corporates in a variety of industries open to collaborating with startups, phenomenal access to talent, exceptional support for R&D and economic performance well above EU average.

Sounds like a place worth exploring? Apply to GO AUSTRIA Fall 2023 and let us surprise you!

Application closed
Entry criteria

What are we looking for?

Startups

We are looking for later-stag startups with an innovative deep tech solutions suitable for foreign markets. Your product or service should be commercially available already and your traction should be strong enough to impress potential customers, partners or investors at the other end of the world.

Focus countries

The program is geared towards startups headquartered outside of the EU, with priority given to startups from GIN's primary target countries Israel, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and the People's Republic of China. Yet also applications from other parts of Asia, including India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam are very much welcome.

Participants

Participants should be C-level persons with decision power concerning the startup's internationalization strategy. We strongly encourage female founders to apply. Lastly, attendees should be fluent in English.

Timeline

Key dates
of the program

10 July - 27 August 2023
Application phase

While we review submissions on an ongoing basis, you have time to complete your application until 27 August. You will not need much more than your pitch deck (in English) and approx. 10-15 min. of time - so why not do it right now?

15 September 2023
Selection process

Over three rounds, a jury of Austrian and international experts will select up to 15 startups for our next batch.

Until 25 September 2023
Announcement

You will be notified of the outcome of the selection process latest by this day.

October/November
Digital onboarding

We will assign you a personal mentor from a pool of seasoned entrepreneurs and industry leaders based in Vienna, who will support you in arranging meetings and activities ahead of your visit.

20 - 24 November 2023
On-site program in Vienna, Austria

One-week visit to Vienna with a lot of individual meetings and cool networking & social events, incl.:

- Exclusive events such as Startup-Mentor Speed-dating, Pitch Trainings, funding opportunities Legal advisory etc.

- Individual mentoring sessions and collaboration with GO AUSTRIA corporate partners

- Individual one-on-one meetings with potential business/ research/ support partners

- Participation in the "Future Forward" Event, a matchmaking event for startups and corporates investors, and optionally in the "GigaLab", an ideas lab to find solutions for challenges by corporates and research institutions

- An exclusive social program with welcome drinks, Vienna sightseeing, farewell lunch etc.

- Option to extend your stay individually up until early December for follow-up meetings and events

Future
Expand your business

Expand your business to Austria and other European countries, with further support tailored to your needs and provided by GIN and other Austrian government agencies.

About the Global Incubator Network Austria

You get a trusted partner with GIN

The Global Incubator Network Austria (GIN) is the connecting link between Austrian and international startups, investors, incubators and accelerators with a focus on selected hotspots in Asia.

GIN is a program initiated by the Austrian Federal Government, managed by the public funding agencies Austrian Promotional Bank GmbH (aws) and Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), and financed by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Labour and Economy (BMAW).

Who is it for

We are looking for innovative solutions

Together with startups, scaleups and strategic partners, we want to provide breakthrough solutions in sectors such as future mobility, circular economy, sustainable fuels, and beyond. Solutions can be technical, digital or material and we're scouting for trends and opportunities all the time.

Help us shape the future, and benefit from OMV’s global operations, resources, and market access to grow your business.

Benefits

What’s in it for you?

Meet investors and business angels

Get expert guidance in navigating the dynamic and promising markets of Austria and Europe.

Enter the Austrian and European markets

Benefit from professional guidance and insights to enter the diversified and high-potential markets.

Participate in tailor-made workshops

During our exclusive on-site program in Vienna, you will take part in tailor-made workshops with highly skilled experts.

Expand your network and engage with corporates

Network with investors and like-minded Austrian and European startups. Exchange your ideas with our corporate partners.

Make the most of expert mentoring

Work with extremely well-connected experts to develop your internationalization plan.

Work on your business model

Tailor your business model to the specific needs of the Austrian and European markets together with top experts.

Still have questions?

We’ve got you covered.

How does the selection process work?

Within the application period, you can apply via the promoted link. Approximately two months before the program starts, a jury of experts will select startups to be invited to participate in the program.

Definition of a later stage startup:

- Up to ten years in business
- Already raised money once (excluding founders money)
- Scaling or operating in Asia (latest by end 2022)
- Minimum Viable Product/Service with Traction
- Market potential: product/service suitable for foreign markets
- Resources: capacity to cooperate internationally

Who is WhatAVenture?  

WhatAVenture is a Corporate Venture Builder based in Vienna and comprised of hands-on entrepreneurs. The company is providing support to GIN Go Austria in the pre-selection and set-up phase and is therefore present at various stages.

For more details about the program visit the GIN homepage.

More FAQs
Join us

Join our program and
accelerate your business

We give you the opportunity to explore the Austrian and European markets, to find new collaboration partners, and to prepare your company for your first market entry.