Founding an enterprise the direct way
More direct and personal contacts who provide advice and support: in Carinthia, founding an enterprise is not as complex and anonymous as in some startup hot spots, but actually personal and uncomplicated.
I dream of owning my own company, but how do I turn this dream into a reality? How can my idea actually become a product or service? Is there even a market for this? What can my business model look like and how do I best put my team together? And is a business plan really a must? Anyone who wants to found a startup or is still at the beginning of their startup has many questions. But who can help with what?
Startup platforms and networks
In Carinthia, innovators who are interested in setting up a business can get their first overview on the startup platform StartNet Carinthia. It lists contact points for networks, events, competitions, capital, funding and infrastructure. In addition, founders who are still looking for the right location can discover the advantages of the surrounding area – from the low cost of living and the research undertaken by leading companies, to the strategically favourable location.
Moreover, a new platform, the “Kärnten Gründungsnetzwerk“ (Carinthia Startup Network), is being developed that is designed to convey a dynamic and up-to-date picture of the startup ecosystem. Not only can startups register there, but also mentors or experts can showcase their services. “This platform gives you an insight into Carinthia’s innovative startup projects and provides access to the resources of important stakeholders,” explains Jürgen Kopeinig, Managing Director of the build! startup centre, regarding the idea and the benefits for startups.
Reach your goals faster
The build! startup centre is an important contact point for innovative, scalable and technology-oriented startups. It supports founders in the realisation of their business ideas through professional and trustworthy coaching. If required, the build! team supports founders in all steps towards their own company: from the initial meeting and the preparation phase to funding programmes and getting started.
build! is part of the Austrian incubator network, “AplusB” (“Academia Plus Business”). Along with organisations and institutions from Vorarlberg, Tyrol and Salzburg, Carinthia makes up “AplusB South-West”. “Together, we want to be perceived as a central place in the respective Austrian provinces for research and technology-oriented startup projects, and to position ourselves as an essential player for growth-oriented startups in Austria and neighbouring regions,” explains Jürgen Kopeinig. “We exchange ideas on the basis of specific themes. It works very well and is already gaining more attention in other provinces – I find that very exciting.”
Jürgen Kopeinig, Geschäftsführer build! Gründerzentrum
“We don’t have 25 incubator structures like perhaps Vienna or Munich, but we have one incubator that is responsible for technology-oriented startups and a startup office linked to the Carinthian Chamber of Commerce. This means that you can often coordinate things quickly and some processes are faster. That certainly sets the location apart.”