More and more start-ups have their home in our immediate vicinity. There is a wide network in Carinthia, Austria, where successful and competitive entrepreneurship develops through the development of new ideas in a business-friendly environment. You can take advantage of it too. 

What do an app to promote sustainable healthy habits, an online tool to provide a personalised hotel experience for guests, an app to edit faces in photos, a platform to develop apps in-house and the creation of smart safety gadgets for cyclists and scooter riders have in common? Different products and services and one common denominator: the ideas were realized in an environment that encourages startups with expert advice, support and funding. Close to home, in Carinthia, Austria!

An opportunity for anyone

"The Carinthian startup scene is young, colourful and open to anyone interested in starting a business in Austria" is the message from all the institutions that can help. In addition, the state and the region offer support for start-ups and young entrepreneurs from the first idea to market entry. The procedures are simple, there are no bureaucratic hurdles and financial support is available. It is a place where every startup can present and test its business idea at no cost. If they convince the ones, who are actively looking for individuals and teams with fresh projects, they can get a formal job and a guaranteed salary, and then have a year to develop their idea, test it in practice and then set up their own company.

If you want to pitch your idea too, fill out this form!

EXAMPLES OF GOOD PRACTICE

Support and financial security for idea development  

Michael Omann and Marion Kanalz worked together to develop the idea of an app that would playfully bring exercise and health into the workplace. They wanted to encourage company employees to take care of their physical and mental well-being and lead them to more sustainable healthy habits through daily challenges, micro-activities and gamification in a fun way. They were supported by KWF and the Build! incubator. Michael Omann and Marion Kanalz recall their beginnings: "We were immediately connected with other companies in the field and given the opportunity to receive advice from business people with many years of experience."

Even as a startup with limited resources, it is possible to succeed

Flasher is a start-up company working on safety gadgets for e-scooter drivers and cyclists to protect everyone on the road. It found its opportunity in Carinthia, Austria, where it made contact with various players from industry and academia with the help of the Silicon Alps Cluster and gained the chance to explore. The cooperation with them not only enabled the company to find new partners but also increased its visibility through a number of events and online activities, which was key to overcoming the challenging global environment and building the company's brand.

AUSTRIAN CARINTHIA – IT'S MY LIFE

Small but progressive and successful

In one year, entrepreneurs from different countries start up 2,700 companies in Carinthia, Austria. With a population of just under half a million people, it is home to 37,000 entrepreneurs, and in terms of the number of startups per capita, Carinthia in Austria is second. The first is the cosmopolitan city of Vienna, which is home to almost two million people. The small size of Austria's southernmost state is not a problem, but an advantage. In recent years, an attractive, stimulating and dynamic environment for startups has developed. It is a place where innovative ideas come together and connect without borders.

Work and relax by the lake

Have you ever thought of working in an office on the shores of Lake Wörth? The English term "work-life balance", which is often used to describe the balance between work and leisure, has been changed to "work-lake balance" in Austrian Carinthia. Many people are so impressed by the environment that Austrian Carinthia is not only their office, but also their new home.

INFORMATION ON SETTING UP A BUSINESS IN CARINTHIA AND LINKS TO INSTITUTIONS THAT CAN HELP YOU CAN BE FOUND ON THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF CARINTHIA: Carinthia.com.