© Michael Stabentheiner
Small yet big:
Welcome to the startup ecosystem in Carinthia
Carinthia loves people with innovative ideas and courageous founders with visions for the world of tomorrow.
That is why the province of Carinthia supports startups and young entrepreneurs from their first steps
to their launch with funding and personal support. Uncomplicated and unbureaucratic.
Good reasons for young companies
Knowledge-based and technology-oriented startups are particularly at home in Austria’s southernmost province. Why are they successful here and why do they feel so at home? There are several reasons for this:
1. Consulting the uncomplicated way
You have an idea, but how do you turn it into a business model and a success? The “Carinthia Startup Network” offers up-to-date insights into Carinthia’s innovative startup projects and provides access to resources from key stakeholders. Professional coaches of the build! startup centre accompany motivated founders step by step.
© Johannes Puch
2. Funding opportunities: financial support
No matter how good a business idea is, it is difficult to implement it without capital. Whether it be crowdfunding, business angels and venture capital or subsidies: there are diverse opportunities and Austria’s funding landscape is impressive by European standards. The most important funding agency in Carinthia is the Carinthian Economic Promotion Fund (KWF). One example: the “vor.GRÜNDEN” programme supports young founders for nine months so that they can concentrate fully on their “baby”.
Monte Nero Productions
3. Business opportunities: in a good neighbourhood
In Carinthia, startups can count on a good neighbourhood. The startup ecosystem includes international industrial groups such as Infineon, the top research centre Silicon Austria Labs and the technology centre of Lakeside Park. The location is also ideal: fast connections to the entire Alps-Adriatic region enable optimal market access and international work.
4. Work-lake balance: inspiration always and everywhere
New ideas need an inspiring environment. In coworking spaces, founders not only share space, they also get to talk to each other. At Makerspace Carinthia, a mix of workshop and workspace, prototypes, collaborations and sometimes even friendships are formed. And if you need fresh air and nice scenery to work: the Businessbeach directly on Lake Wörthersee has Wi-Fi, a power socket and your own locker – the only thing you have to do yourself is take the dive!
Tinefoto
Interview with Martin Trink, Managing Director of build! Gründungszentrum
“Carinthia is a place where startups can get up and running faster.”
Carinthia is small, but that can actually be an advantage for startups. Short distances, direct access to industry and research, personalised support, and strong networks make the region particularly attractive for technology-focused ventures. In the interview, Martin Trink, Managing Director of build! Gründungszentrum Kärnten, explains why Carinthia does not need to compete with Berlin or London, what the region’s particular strengths are, and why startups are crucial to the future as a business hub.
“Without startups, there can be no successful business location.”
Martin Trink, Managing Director of build! Gründungszentrum
Carinthia.com: Mr. Trink, when it comes to startup locations, many people first think of Berlin, London, or Barcelona. Why is it worth keeping an eye on Carinthia as well?
Martin Trink: I’m not originally from the ecosystem here in Carinthia myself and have gained experience in various regions, from Vienna to Berlin. That’s why I think I can put this into perspective pretty well. The support services in Carinthia are truly excellent and definitely contend with those in other Austrian provinces – and in some cases even surpass them.
What makes Carinthia so special is that there is much more direct access to everything here. Instead of competition, there is highly personalised support. That’s possible because this is a small location where we work very collaboratively. In major hubs, countless startups often compete for attention at the same time. In Carinthia, though, things are different. We provide a straight line to industry leaders, research infrastructure, and decision-makers. This could be immediate connection to Infineon or within the Lakeside Science & Technology Park. The lines of communication here are incredibly short.
In addition, capital, funding, and infrastructure work well together here. When someone is accepted into a programme and successfully takes the next steps, there is often appropriate support available for the next phase as well. In my view, this integration is a major strength. And, of course, quality of life also plays a role. Carinthia is a very attractive location with significantly lower costs than many major startup hubs. Carinthia is no substitute for the major hubs, but it is a place where you can efficiently build a startup, with very direct access to the right resources.
Which startups find Carinthia particularly attractive?
Trink: That depends largely on what a company specifically needs. While cities like Berlin or London offer a massive talent pool, they also suffer from high turnover rates. Every region has its trade-offs. Founders need to consider what the key drivers of their growth could be.
Carinthia excels particularly when it comes to moving from application-oriented research through prototype development to series production. Our true strength lies in this transition from idea to practice. If someone wants to produce as cheaply as possible, then Carinthia is probably not the right place for the entire value chain. But the region can be very attractive for development, research, and initial implementation steps. Carinthia is particularly strong in the early stages because many things work more simply and directly here.
How is the startup ecosystem in Carinthia structured, and what role does build! play?
Trink: Carinthia boasts an excellent support network. There are grants, events, coaching, one-on-one consultations, and exciting facilities such as the Makerspace, Silicon Austria Labs, and research infrastructure at the University of Klagenfurt and Carinthia University of Applied Sciences.
build! serves a dual purpose here. On the one hand, we support startups from the idea phase through the founding stage and into their initial growth period. To that end, we have a variety of programmes and offer long-term support. On the other hand, we are a platform within the ecosystem. We connect startups with the right organisations and open doors for them. We know exactly what options are available and which type of support is best suited for each project.
This is exactly how we fulfil our role as a central hub in the Carinthian ecosystem. build! alone could not possibly cover this broad range of services. But when we work together, it works very well.
What funding and support programmes are available to startups in Carinthia?
Trink: What founders need are financial resources, tools for development, and expertise. In Carinthia, grants of up to 200,000 euros and financing options of up to approximately 500,000 euros are available. In addition, there is access to infrastructure, such as through the University of Klagenfurt, Carinthia University of Applied Sciences, or makerspaces. And then, of course, the support and networking provided by build! are essential. I think we are particularly strong in the early stages. Even in the idea phase, startups receive a wide range of support here.
Furthermore, the region has specialised in specific technology sectors including microelectronics, sensor technology, autonomous systems, robotics, and drone technology. Partnerships with industry and research giants like Infineon, Silicon Austria Labs, and the Drone Hub create tangible opportunities to bring new technologies to market. That’s exactly where we can help.
What do you hear from the founders themselves? Why do they choose Carinthia?
Trink: TThe most common feedback is about personalised support. Here, you’re not just a number. And while that personalised approach is welcoming, it is also a genuine driver of success. This is because founders gain faster access to the right people, the industry, or the research community.
We also provide operational support for grants and help integrate them effectively into the overall strategy. As a result, startups are able to move more quickly into implementation and often generate their first revenue much faster as well. What’s more, there are lower costs combined with very high quality in infrastructure and research facilities.
Which startups from Carinthia best demonstrate the potential that is emerging here?
Trink: The best-known example is certainly Bitmovin. This is an international success story. I also find LoconIQ very exciting in the field of industrial applications. And right now, there’s a big buzz surrounding NoxAvis. The company develops AI-powered documentation software for emergency medical calls and was founded just about a year ago. This diversity is precisely what showcases the region’s strength: Carinthia may not have a huge number of startups, but it does have some truly exciting international projects.
What role can startups play in Carinthia’s economic development in the future?
Trink: An absolutely vital one. I think many people aren’t even aware of how important startups are to a thriving economy. Look at the tools we rely on every single day: tech giants like Apple, Microsoft Teams, Netflix, YouTube, and TikTok all started as small ventures.
Startups create a disproportionately large number of knowledge-based jobs and contribute massively to the local economy. At the same time, they bring new technologies and new ways of thinking to the region. This drives economic regions toward innovation in the long term. That is why I am convinced that without startups, there can be no successful and sustainable business hub.
What personally inspires you about working with founders?
Trink: I was a startup founder myself and have experienced all the ups and downs. Helping others is my greatest source of motivation. Plus, the work is incredibly varied. You gain insights into new technologies, markets, and developments very early on, often long before they become widely known. And, of course, it’s especially rewarding to see a project succeed and grow. That’s exactly what makes the role so fulfilling.
Carinthia as a startup location at a glance
- Close ties to research, industry, and funding agencies
- Personalised care instead of anonymity
- Leading technology fields such as AI, microelectronics, and robotics
- Grants of up to 200,000 euros and financing options of up to approximately 500,000 euros
- Access to research infrastructure and prototype development
- International perspectives in the Alps-Adriatic region
