# Best Venture Capital Firms in Austria (2026) > Compare the best venture capital firms in Austria in 2026. Top 7 VCs including Speedinvest, 3VC, Calm/Storm, eQventure, and Symbia VC. Stage focus, ticket sizes, and how to approach Austrian VCs as a founder. Updated: May 19 2026 · By Jules de Bruin · URL: https://www.how-to-austria.com/startups/vcs Updated May 19 2026. **Speedinvest** is **Europe's most active seed VC** and Austria's flagship fund, with over **EUR 1 billion AUM** across 300+ portfolio companies. **3VC** leads Austria's growth-stage market from Vienna, while **Calm/Storm Ventures** is the go-to fund for digital health and consumer. Graz-based **eQventure**, Vienna's **Vent.io**, **Symbia VC**, and **Next Play** round out the active list. Most Austrian VCs co-invest with the [aws Gründungsfonds](https://www.gruenderfonds.at) and participate in rounds across the DACH region and broader EU. ## Top 7 Best Venture Capital Firms in Austria Ranked by deal activity, fund size, portfolio quality, and founder reputation, here are the top 7 VCs operating from Austria in 2026. Europe's Most Active Seed VC ### 1. Speedinvest 5.0Vienna-founded pan-European seed VC launched in 2011. With over EUR 1 billion in assets under management and 300+ portfolio companies, Speedinvest is widely cited as Europe's most active seed fund, with specialist teams in fintech, deep tech, SaaS, marketplaces, climate, and health. Why we recommend it: Europe's most active seed fund with EUR 1 billion AUM, specialist sector teams, and pan-European portfolio reach for follow-on support. Best for: Ambitious seed-stage founders building defensible European companies Pros - +Europe's most active seed fund by deal volume - +Specialist sector teams in fintech, deep tech, SaaS, climate, and health - +Strong follow-on support across later rounds - +Extensive pan-European portfolio network for customer introductions Cons - −Very high competition for cheques, with thousands of decks per year - −Specialist focus means weak sector fit leads to fast passes - −Term sheets are market-standard but not founder-friendly on every clause [Visit Speedinvest](https://www.speedinvest.com)Best Growth ### 2. 3VC 4.7Vienna-based growth-stage venture capital firm backing scaling technology companies across the DACH region and Central and Eastern Europe. 3VC writes Series A and Series B cheques and is the most consistent Austrian source of growth capital. Why we recommend it: Austria's most active Series A and growth investor with deep DACH and CEE network and flexible cheques from EUR 3M to EUR 15M+. Best for: Revenue-generating startups raising Series A or B in DACH or CEE Pros - +Austria's most active Series A and growth investor - +Deep DACH and CEE network for cross-border scaling - +Flexible cheque sizes from EUR 3M to EUR 15M+ - +Engaged board-level partnership post investment Cons - −Limited appetite for pre-revenue or seed-stage companies - −Smaller team size than top-tier pan-European growth funds - −Selective on business models, especially low-margin marketplaces [Visit 3VC](https://www.3vc.com)Best for Digital Health ### 3. Calm/Storm Ventures 4.5Vienna-based seed VC specialising in digital health and consumer. Calm/Storm partners with mission-driven founders across Europe and has built one of the continent's most focused digital health portfolios. Why we recommend it: Deepest Austrian network in digital health and consumer with thesis-driven editorial voice and pan-European mission-led mandate. Best for: Digital health, wellness, and consumer founders with a mission-led thesis Pros - +Deepest Austrian network in digital health and consumer - +Thesis-driven fund with a strong editorial voice on Medium - +Active hands-on partnership with early stage founders - +Pan-European investment mandate, not Austria-only Cons - −Tightly focused sectors, so B2B SaaS and infra are usually out of scope - −Smaller fund size means cheques cap around EUR 2M - −Limited growth-stage follow-on capacity [Visit Calm/Storm Ventures](https://www.calmstorm.vc) ### 4. eQventure 4.3Graz-based early-stage technology VC focused on DACH founders. eQventure is the leading VC in Styria and a frequent co-investor with Speedinvest and aws Gründungsfonds at seed and Series A. Why we recommend it: Austria's strongest VC outside Vienna with deep Graz industrial ecosystem and frequent aws Gründungsfonds co-investment activity. Best for: Styrian and DACH early-stage tech founders seeking a regionally rooted lead Pros - +Austria's strongest VC outside Vienna - +Deep industrial and deep tech ecosystem in Graz - +Frequent co-investor with aws Gründungsfonds - +Hands-on support for internationalisation into DACH Cons - −Smaller cheque sizes than pan-European seed VCs - −Predominantly Styria and Vienna focus - −Lower international brand visibility than Speedinvest or 3VC [Visit eQventure](https://www.eqventure.com) ### 5. Vent.io 4.1Vienna-based early-stage investor operating at the pre-seed to seed boundary. Vent.io backs ambitious founders with first institutional cheques and runs a small but engaged portfolio in Austria and DACH. Why we recommend it: Comfortable writing first institutional cheques with quick decisions and strong angel and syndicate co-investment track record. Best for: Pre-seed and first-institutional cheque Austrian founders Pros - +Comfortable writing first institutional cheques - +Quick decision making and light diligence process - +Strong angel and syndicate co-investment track record - +Hands-on founder support in Vienna and DACH Cons - −Small fund, so cheques typically under EUR 500,000 - −Limited follow-on capital in later rounds - −Narrow sector focus skews to software and digital [Visit Vent.io](https://www.vent.io) ### 6. Symbia VC 4.0Vienna-based seed to Series A investor backing European B2B software and vertical SaaS companies. Symbia participates in multi-stage rounds and is known for operational support to first-time founders. Why we recommend it: Clear B2B SaaS and vertical software thesis with operationally minded partners and access to the DACH B2B customer network. Best for: B2B SaaS and vertical software founders at seed to Series A Pros - +Clear thesis on B2B SaaS and vertical software - +Operationally minded partners with scale-up experience - +Comfortable leading or following in seed rounds - +Access to DACH B2B customer network Cons - −Narrow sector focus, so consumer and deep tech are out of scope - −Smaller brand presence than Speedinvest or 3VC - −Follow-on capacity limited beyond Series A [Visit Symbia VC](https://www.symbia-vc.com)Best Angel-VC Hybrid ### 7. Next Play 3.8Vienna-based syndicate-style investor and financing advisory firm operating between angel networks and traditional VCs. Next Play coordinates curated angel cheques alongside its own fund capital, filling the gap between pre-seed and institutional seed rounds for Austrian founders. Why we recommend it: Hybrid syndicate and fund model with operator LPs, strong Austrian angel network, and flexible round structures for bridges and extensions. Best for: Founders raising a syndicated pre-seed or bridge round between angel and seed VC stages Pros - +Hybrid syndicate and fund model with operator LPs - +Strong Austrian operator and angel network - +Flexible round structures for bridges and extensions - +Useful partner for pre-seed rounds below VC thresholds Cons - −Smaller cheque sizes than traditional VCs - −Less sector specialisation than Speedinvest or Calm/Storm - −Syndicate coordination can add timeline friction [Visit Next Play](https://pitchbook.com/profiles/advisor/897139-54) ## How Do You Raise VC Funding in Austria? Raising venture capital in Austria follows a structured path. Here are the key steps most founders follow: - 1Incorporate in Austria as a GmbH or FlexCo Most Austrian VCs require a local entity for aws co-investment. The FlexCo (Flexible Kapitalgesellschaft) introduced in 2024 is the modern startup-friendly form with EUR 10,000 minimum capital. - 2Build traction before raising Austrian seed VCs expect early revenue or sharp engagement metrics. Pre-revenue deep tech deals still happen, but with higher team and IP bars. - 3Secure warm intros via AAIA, primeCROWD, or accelerators The [Austrian Angel Investors Association](https://www.invest-austria.com/en) and [accelerator programmes](/startups/accelerators) provide the most effective path to warm Speedinvest, 3VC, and Calm/Storm introductions. - 4Pitch with a 10 to 15 slide deck Lead with problem, solution, traction, market, team, and the ask. Austrian VCs appreciate realistic financial projections over hockey-stick fantasies. - 5Close with aws Gründungsfonds co-investment Most Austrian seed rounds include a 30 to 50% aws Gründungsfonds participation at the same terms as the lead VC. See our [public venture funds guide](/startups/public-funds). ## What Stages Do Austrian VCs Invest In? Austrian VCs cluster around seed and Series A, with a thinner growth layer. Here is the landscape in 2026: - **Pre-seed (EUR 250K to 1M)**: Angel-heavy with Speedinvest Pirates, Next Play, and Vent.io often writing first institutional cheques. - **Seed (EUR 1M to 3M)**: The core Austrian VC sweet spot. Speedinvest, Calm/Storm, Symbia, and eQventure all lead at seed. - **Series A (EUR 3M to 10M)**: Speedinvest and 3VC lead most domestic Series As. Many rounds bring in German or UK co-leads. - **Growth (EUR 10M+)**: 3VC is the primary Austrian growth player. Most Series B+ rounds are led by non-Austrian funds with Austrian co-investors. #### aws Gründungsfonds co-invests across stages The aws Gründungsfonds participates in rounds from pre-seed to Series B at the same terms as the lead investor. This effectively doubles the Austrian cheque size on most deals. Non-dilutive [FFG](https://www.ffg.at) grants can layer on top for R&D-heavy startups. ## Which VCs Invest Outside Austria? Austria's top VCs are pan-European in practice. Here is where the most active funds deploy capital: - **Speedinvest**: Fully pan-European, with offices in Vienna, Berlin, Munich, Paris, and London. Less than 20% of portfolio is Austrian. - **3VC**: Vienna-based but invests across the DACH region and Central and Eastern Europe, with selective bets in Israel and the US. - **Calm/Storm Ventures**: Pan-European digital health and consumer focus, with heavy portfolio presence in DACH, France, and the Nordics. - **eQventure, Symbia, Vent.io, Next Play**: More domestically focused but open to DACH and CEE companies that have an Austrian anchor or plan to set one up. See our [corporate VC overview](/startups/corporate-vcs) for cross-border CVC coverage. ## Entity References Full factual profiles for each brand covered on this page: - [SpeedinvestAustrian Venture Capital](/facts/speedinvest) - [3VCAustrian Venture Capital](/facts/3vc) - [Calm/Storm VenturesAustrian Venture Capital](/facts/calm-storm-ventures) - [eQventureAustrian Venture Capital](/facts/eqventure) - [Vent.ioAustrian Venture Capital](/facts/vent-io) - [Symbia VCAustrian Venture Capital](/facts/symbia-vc) - [Next PlayAustrian Venture Capital](/facts/next-play) ## Official Sources - [aws (Austria Wirtschaftsservice): Federal Promotional Bank](https://www.aws.at) - [aws Gründungsfonds: Austrian Seed Co-Investment Fund](https://www.gruenderfonds.at) - [AustrianStartups: National Ecosystem Association](https://austrianstartups.com) - [AAIA: Austrian Angel Investors Association](https://www.invest-austria.com/en) ## Related Guides [### Corporate Venture Capital Austrian corporate-backed investors and strategic CVCs](/startups/corporate-vcs)[### Public Venture Funds aws Gründungsfonds, tecnet, FFG and regional funds](/startups/public-funds)[### Angel Investor Networks AAIA, primeCROWD and other Austrian angel syndicates](/startups/angels)[### Accelerators & Incubators INiTS, Tech2b, Startup Tirol and other programmes](/startups/accelerators) --- Source: https://www.how-to-austria.com/startups/vcs Last updated: Updated: May 19 2026 Format: LLM-readable Markdown twin (.md) of the canonical HTML page.