powered by AVCO
Austria is home to highly innovative companies and entrepreneurs. Next to more than 200 hidden champions the country is gaining international recognition for its startup ecosystem as well. The latest increase in entrepreneurial activity is highly correlated to rising Angel and Venture investment activity.
Notably large investments and exits
While some Austrian entrepreneurs like Peter Platzer (Spire // Micro Satelliten CA, USA), Valentin Stalf (N26 // Challenger Bank Berlin, GER) or Martin Huber (Quantapore // Genetics CA, USA) founded successful companies abroad, more and more companies leverage on Austrias emerging and international startup ecosystem from home. Recent investment activity showed high venture capital investments, more involvement of international funds and internationally recognised exits. ZKW (Acquired by LG) was sold at a unicorn valuation – greater than EUR 1 billion.
New Members & Emerging Ecosystem
AVCO (Austrian Private Equity and Venture Capital Organisation) witnesses a significant increase in members driven by a number of new funds entering the market, more international funds attracted by the national ecosystem and an increase in corporate venture fund activity. However, average fund-sizes are still far below European or international standards.
Innovation, research and related investment activity is supported by the current government, as well as EU programs like VentureEU or the EIFs new CEE Venture fund of fund, intended to strengthen these early fund activities even more.
AVCO Annual Confernce 2018
In line with Austrian EU Presidency, AVCO will focus its annual conference, held on 4th October in Vienna’s Park Hyatt Hotel, on European developments, policy learnings shed light on its local market, showcasing internationally successful portfolio cases.