Funding for Start-ups in Austria

The step into self-employment is exciting – and often more capital-intensive than it initially seems. Funding can help you in starting your business by cushioning typical hurdles such as startup costs, prototyping, first employees, market entry, or building stable processes. Especially in Austria, the funding landscape is broad: depending on your project, grants, guarantees/liabilities, low-interest financing, or equity capital may be options.

Currently, the focus is particularly on innovation and growth startups (e.g., Deep Tech, Green Tech, Health, Digital), on digitization (products, processes, cybersecurity, data/AI), and on sustainability (energy and resource efficiency, circular economy, climate-resilient business models). Additionally, there are programs for internationalization and scaling as well as qualification and consulting. If you are starting from unemployment, the AMS (Public Employment Service Austria) with the Business Start-up Program (UGP) can also be a suitable path.

It is important to note: funding follows different logics. aws instruments often focus on financing, guarantees, and early startup phases; FFG programs on innovation and R&D; federal states and location agencies on regional priorities – frequently complemented by the WKO (Austrian Economic Chambers) as the central contact point for startup consulting. Many funding programs are not retroactive, so early planning of timing, project start, budget, and co-financing is worthwhile.

So that you don’t have to search through every guideline yourself, the Reflecta Funding Compass supports you in finding suitable programs: you can match funding opportunities to your project and be guided step by step through the application process. This way, your idea becomes a fundable startup project faster – with clear next steps.