Austria Startup Fund: Up to €55K Seed Funding Available

Aspiring founders in Austria have a new avenue for early-stage support as Austria Wirtschaftsservice (aws) opens applications for its aws First Incubator program. This initiative offers a significant financial boost of up to €55,000, coupled with a comprehensive 12-month acceleration curriculum designed to guide nascent ventures from concept to market readiness. The program is actively seeking innovative individuals and teams, with applications open until June 23, 2026.

The aws First Incubator is structured to accommodate a broad spectrum of early-stage entrepreneurs. It caters to individuals yet to establish a formal company (Module A) and those whose businesses were founded within the last six months and have generated minimal revenue (under €10,000) (Module B). The core funding mechanism provides up to 90% of eligible expenses, capped at €49,000. A notable feature is the 'Gender Bonus,' which enhances support to 100% of eligible costs, reaching a maximum of €55,000, for projects where women collectively hold over 25% of the equity. This focus aims to foster greater diversity within the Austrian startup ecosystem, which has seen significant growth in sectors like software and healthtech.

Among the current beneficiaries is Curala, an Innsbruck-based startup founded in 2025. Curala is developing an AI-powered writing assistant tailored for medical professionals. This tool aims to alleviate the administrative burden by transcribing conversations and automatically generating structured medical documentation, physician's letters, and surgical reports. Co-founder Bruno Kühn highlights the potential to reclaim up to two hours of a doctor's day, addressing critical issues of bureaucracy and staff shortages in healthcare. The company is experiencing traction across human medicine, psychotherapy, and veterinary fields, underscoring the broad applicability of their solution. Data security is paramount for Curala, with strict GDPR compliance and all data processed within Europe.

Another promising participant is crewhub, a Vienna-based company also established in 2025 as part of the incubator. crewhub addresses the challenge of flexible workforce management by providing companies with access to a pre-vetted external talent pool. This model allows businesses to quickly fill short-term staffing needs without the extensive overhead of traditional recruitment. Co-founder Petra Scheuer, drawing on her background in temporary staffing, recognized the inefficiencies and lack of transparency in the sector. Alongside co-founder Christopher Newman, formerly of Amazon Web Services, they are building a platform designed for autonomous scheduling and administration, ensuring fair and transparent conditions for workers.

The incubator's value extends beyond capital. Both Curala and crewhub emphasize the critical role of mentorship and peer learning. Curala's Bruno Kühn points to the program's provision of essential foundational knowledge and financial stability for inexperienced founders. crewhub's Petra Scheuer describes their mentor, Alois Reitbauer, as an invaluable 'sparring partner,' offering crucial insights and perspectives. The cohort-based structure fosters a collaborative environment, enabling startups to grow together and refine their market strategies. This holistic approach, combining funding, mentorship, and community, positions the aws First Incubator as a vital resource for Austria's emerging entrepreneurial talent.