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 2024 program!

Digital onboarding program: starting mid of October 2024
On-site program in Vienna, Austria: 16 - 30 November 2024

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Accelerate your startup

GO AUSTRIA Fall 2024 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 market entry.

Key benefits include a personal mentor from the Viennese startup ecosystem, hand-picked just for you, exclusive participation to the Future Forward: Navigating the Unknown, a matchmaking occasion for startups and corporates (watch this video to have a sneak peak of last year event). Additionally, enjoy one-on-one business meetings scheduled in advance, along with other networking events, and a lot of fun!

Application deadline:

15 August 2024

Announcement of selected applicants:

Earliest 17 September 2024

Digital onboarding workshops:

Starting mid of October 2024

On-site program in Vienna:

16 - 30 November 2024

Managed by:

Initiated by:

Detailing of benefits

Cost coverage & complimentary services by GIN

By joining the program, you will benefit from the following support:

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

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 executives 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.

Applications for Fall Batch 2024 are still open for startups especially from China, Taiwan, Macau, Japan and South Korea (though if you are a startup from a different target region, feel free to apply). Join the program by submitting your application by 25 August 2024!

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.

Entry criteria

What are we looking for?

Startups

We are looking for later-stage startups with an innovative deep-tech solution 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, the People's Republic of China, Taiwan and Macau. Yet also applications from other parts of Asia, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, 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

8 July - 15 August 2024
Application phase

While we review submissions on an ongoing basis, you have time to complete your application until the 15th of 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 August - 17 September 2024
Selection process

Over three rounds, a jury of Austrian and international experts will select the startups for the current batch.

Earliest 17 September 2024
Announcement

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

Starting mid of October 2024
Digital onboarding workshops

Prepare your stay in Vienna: 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.

16 - 30 November 2024
On-site program in Vienna, Austria

Visit to Vienna with a lot of individual meetings and cool networking & social events, incl.:

- Participation in the event "Future Forward: Navigating the Unknown", an exclusive matchmaking occasion for startups and corporates (watch this video to have a sneak peak of last year event).

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

- 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.

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:

- Ideally no more than 10 years in business
- Already raised money once (excluding founders money)
- Scaling or operating in Asia
- Minimum Viable Product/Service with Traction
- Market potential: product/service suitable for foreign markets
- Resources: capacity to cooperate internationally

About 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.