Best Public Venture Funds in Austria (2026)
Updated: July 16 2026| Found helpful by 5 others
aws Gründungsfonds II is Austria's flagship seed co-investment fund, holding over €72 million and matching private VC cheques on the same terms, while the aws Venture Capital Initiative commits €3 to 10 million per VC fund. aws Preseed grants up to €89,000 and aws Seedfinancing up to €356,000 non-dilutively. tecnet equity anchors Lower Austria, and the FWF (Austrian Science Fund) adds about €384 million a year in basic-research grants. The FFG (Austrian Research Promotion Agency) distributes more than €800 million in annual R&D grants. Styria's SFG and the Tyrolean Future Foundation add regional depth.
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Sorting changes the order of the provider cards below.
Our overall pick below is aws Gründungsfonds, from 1. aws Gründungsfonds.
1. aws Gründungsfonds
Invests on same terms as private lead VC, effectively doubling round size for Austrian startups, and is the most common public investor in seed deals.
Austria's flagship public seed co-investment fund, operated by aws (Austria Wirtschaftsservice). Invests alongside private lead VCs at seed and Series A with tickets from €100,000 to €3 million on the same terms as the private lead. Since launch in 2013 it has backed more than 100 Austrian startups.
Pros
- Invests on same terms as the private lead VC
- Effectively doubles round size for Austrian startups
- Most common public investor in Austrian seed deals
- Follow-on reserves for strong performers
Cons
- Requires a confirmed private VC lead to participate
- Austrian entity required
- Additional 2 to 4 weeks added to closing timeline
Best for Austrian seed and Series A rounds with a confirmed private lead investor
2. tecnet equity
Flexible cheques from €100,000 to €2 million with strong cluster links to Lower Austria industrial and mobility players plus public-private structure.
The public-private venture capital arm of the Austrian federal state of Lower Austria (Niederösterreich). tecnet invests from pre-seed to Series A in tech startups with a connection to Lower Austria, often in industrial, mobility, and deep tech verticals.
Pros
- Flexible cheque sizes from €100,000 to €2 million
- Strong cluster links to industrial and mobility players in NÖ
- Public-private structure with market-aligned terms
- Active co-investor with Speedinvest and aws Gründungsfonds
Cons
- Requires meaningful Lower Austria connection or relocation
- Smaller fund than federal programmes
- Limited growth-stage follow-on capacity
Best for Early-stage tech founders with an anchor in Lower Austria
3. OÖ HighTechFond
Regional co-investment for Upper Austrian companies with strong cluster links to industrial and automotive players and combined Biz-up grant support.
Upper Austria's public technology venture fund, operated with Business Upper Austria (Biz-up). Invests in Upper Austrian startups across industrial tech, automation, mobility, and medtech, typically co-investing with private VCs at seed and Series A.
Pros
- Regional co-investment for Upper Austrian companies
- Strong cluster links to industrial and automotive players
- Public-private fund structure with long time horizons
- Combined support with Biz-up grants and programmes
Cons
- Limited to Upper Austria-based startups
- Smaller cheque sizes than federal aws Gründungsfonds
- Narrow sector focus on industrial tech
Best for Upper Austrian founders in industrial tech, automation, and medtech
4. FFG (Austrian Research Promotion Agency)
Entirely non-dilutive grant funding covering up to 70% of eligible R&D project costs and stacking with aws equity and the tax Research Premium.
Austria's federal research funding agency, distributing more than €800 million annually in non-dilutive R&D grants. Programmes span pre-commercial research (Basisprogramm), collaborative R&D (COMET, Research Studios Austria), and thematic calls in climate, mobility, digital, and life sciences.
Pros
- Entirely non-dilutive grant funding
- Covers up to 70% of eligible R&D project costs
- Broad sector coverage across thematic calls
- Stacks with aws equity and tax Research Premium
Cons
- Application and reporting burden is significant
- Quarterly committee cycles can delay start
- Primarily for R&D activity, not commercial scale-up
Best for Deep tech and R&D-heavy startups seeking non-dilutive funding
5. NÖBEG (Niederösterreichische Beteiligungsfinanzierungs Gesellschaft)
Direct minority equity for SMEs backed by State of Lower Austria with long-term capital horizon and silent participation option preserving founder control.
Lower Austria's public equity-investment company, providing direct minority equity stakes and silent participations to SMEs and growth companies headquartered in Lower Austria. NÖBEG is owned by the State of Lower Austria and Raiffeisen-Holding NÖ-Wien.
Pros
- Direct minority equity investments for SMEs
- Backed by State of Lower Austria and Raiffeisen-Holding NÖ-Wien
- Long-term capital horizon (5 to 10 years typical)
- Silent participation option preserves founder control
Cons
- Limited to Lower Austria-registered companies
- Slower decision process than venture capital
- Less startup focus than aws Gründungsfonds
Best for SMEs and growth-stage companies headquartered in Lower Austria seeking minority equity or silent participation capital
6. Styrian Business Promotion Agency (SFG)
Strong Styrian industrial and cluster links with grants, guarantees, and equity combined plus support for internationalisation into DACH.
The Styrian state agency supporting business growth, innovation, and startup co-investment. SFG provides grants, loan guarantees, and equity participation for Styrian companies, especially in materials, mobility, and green tech.
Pros
- Strong Styrian industrial and cluster links
- Grants, guarantees, and equity combined
- Support for internationalisation into DACH
- Public long-term capital horizon
Cons
- Limited to Styria-based startups
- Smaller overall programme size than federal aws
- Less deal activity than larger regional funds
Best for Styrian startups in materials, mobility, and green tech
7. Tyrolean Future Foundation
Deep connection to University of Innsbruck and MCI with focus on academic spinouts, technology transfer, and Startup Tirol accelerator support.
The Tyrolean innovation fund (Zukunftsstiftung Tirol) supports research, innovation, and spin-off projects in Tyrol. It funds academic spinouts, technology transfer, and selective early-stage startup investments, often alongside Startup Tirol and private angels.
Pros
- Deep connection to University of Innsbruck and MCI
- Focus on academic spinouts and technology transfer
- Combined with Startup Tirol accelerator support
- Long-term patient capital horizon
Cons
- Limited to Tyrol-based companies and researchers
- Smaller fund size than other regional programmes
- Narrower sector focus on academic and deep tech
Best for Tyrolean academic spinouts and early-stage deep tech startups
Ranked by deal volume, cheque size, ecosystem importance, and founder friendliness, here are the top 7 public funding sources for Austrian startups in 2026.
What Public Funding Is Available for Austrian Startups?
Austria runs one of Europe's deepest public funding stacks for startups. Here is what is on the menu in 2026:
- 1
aws Gründungsfonds (seed co-investment)
Austria's flagship seed fund, co-investing up to 50% alongside a private VC lead, on the same terms, from €100,000 to €3 million per round.
- 2
FFG grants (non-dilutive R&D)
More than €800 million distributed annually across programmes like Basisprogramm, COMET, Research Studios Austria, and thematic calls in climate, mobility, and digital.
- 3
aws PreSeed and Seedfinancing grants
Early-stage non-dilutive grants up to €200,000 for pre-company and pre-product stages, often combined with FFG's Innovationsscheck for small research contracts.
- 4
Regional funds and agencies
Each state (Bundesland) runs its own programme. tecnet covers Lower Austria, OÖ HighTechFond covers Upper Austria, VBA Ventures covers Vienna, SFG covers Styria, and Zukunftsstiftung covers Tyrol.
- 5
Research Premium (Forschungsprämie)
A 14% refundable, uncapped tax credit on qualifying R&D expenditure. Pairs with FFG grants and applies regardless of company age. See our income tax guide for structuring notes.
- 6
aws Venture Capital Initiative (fund-of-funds)
aws commits €3 million to €10 million into private VC funds that back Austrian research- and technology-oriented startups. Selected funds must invest at least twice the aws commitment into Austrian companies (aws, 2026).
What Are the Exact Grant and Fund Sizes?
| Programme | Agency | Amount (EUR) | Stage | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| aws Preseed | aws | Up to €89,000 (€100,000 with gender bonus) | Pre-company / concept | Grant (non-dilutive) |
| aws Seedfinancing | aws | Up to €356,000 (€400,000 with gender bonus) | Prototype / pre-market | Grant (non-dilutive) |
| aws Gründungsfonds II | aws | €0.5 to 1.5M initial, up to €5M total (€72M+ fund) | Seed to Series A/B | Equity co-investment |
| aws Venture Capital Initiative | aws | €3M to 10M per VC fund | Fund-of-funds | Equity (via funds) |
| FFG Basisprogramm | FFG | Part of €400M+ federal (close to €1bn incl. EU) yearly | Applied R&D | Grant + soft loan |
| FWF Principal Investigator Projects | FWF | Part of ~€384M per year | Basic research | Grant (non-dilutive) |
| FWF Wittgenstein Award | FWF | Up to €1.5M | Top researchers | Grant (non-dilutive) |
| Forschungsprämie (Research Premium) | BMF | 14% refundable, uncapped | Any R&D spend | Tax credit |
Sources: aws, FFG, FWF, BMF, 2026.
Austria's federal programmes publish fixed ceilings. aws Preseed grants up to €89,000 (up to €100,000 with the gender bonus), aws Seedfinancing up to €356,000 (up to €400,000 with the gender bonus), and the equity aws Gründungsfonds II writes €0.5 to 1.5 million initial tickets up to €5 million total per startup (aws, 2026). The table below lists the current headline amounts.
What Does the FWF (Austrian Science Fund) Fund?
The FWF (Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung) is Austria's central agency for non-dilutive basic-research grants, with a budget of about €384 million per year(€1.151 billion across 2024 to 2026). It funds university researchers, PhD programmes, and deep tech spinouts rather than commercial scale-up, so founders pair it with FFG applied-R&D grants and aws equity (FWF, 2026).
- Principal Investigator Projects: the core open-topic basic-research grant (formerly Stand-Alone Projects), the FWF's largest scheme by volume.
- FWF Wittgenstein Award: up to €1.5 million, Austria's most prestigious science prize for a single top researcher.
- START and ASTRA Awards: multi-year funding for outstanding early-career researchers building their own groups.
- ESPRIT: postdoctoral career grants; doc.funds funds structured PhD programmes.
- 1000 Ideas: high-risk, unconventional research; the Clusters of Excellence initiative backs large collaborative research networks.
How Do You Apply for aws Funding?
aws runs separate application tracks for grants, loans, guarantees, and equity. Here is the practical path for the most common startup programmes:
- aws PreSeed / Seedfinancing grants: Apply online through the aws Fördermanager platform. Prepare a project plan, budget, and milestones. Decisions typically within 6 to 10 weeks.
- aws Gründungsfonds equity: Requires a confirmed private VC lead investor. The Gründungsfonds team reviews the lead's investment memo and matches terms. Add 2 to 4 weeks to the lead VC's timeline.
- aws guarantees (Garantien): For working capital and bank loan backing. Apply through your bank, which routes the file to aws for guarantee approval.
- EIC / Horizon Europe: aws acts as Austrian National Contact Point for EU-level programmes. Useful for deep tech and scale-up capital up to €15 million.
Combine grants with equity for capital efficiency
Which Regions Offer Startup Grants?
Each Austrian state runs its own startup and innovation programme alongside the federal aws and FFG schemes:
- Vienna: Vienna Business Agency (VBA) and VBA Ventures offer grants, subsidised offices, and co-investment for startups headquartered in Vienna.
- Lower Austria (NÖ): tecnet equity runs a public-private VC plus accelerator support. Complemented by ecoplus's cluster programmes.
- Upper Austria (OÖ): OÖ HighTechFond is the regional public tech VC, paired with Business Upper Austria's grant and soft-landing schemes.
- Styria: Styrian Business Promotion Agency (SFG) provides grants, guarantees, and co-investment for Styrian startups, especially in mobility and materials.
- Tyrol: Tyrolean Future Foundation (Zukunftsstiftung) invests in innovation and spin-off projects. Startup Tirol complements on the accelerator side. See our VC overview for private co-investors.
Typical Regional Ticket Sizes
- Grants: €10,000 to €200,000 per project, typically covering 40 to 60% of eligible costs.
- Regional equity: €200,000 to €2 million cheques co-investing with private VCs.
- Guarantees and loans: Up to €1 million in loan guarantees to make bank financing accessible to young companies.
Entity References
Full factual profiles for each brand covered on this page:
- aws Gründungsfonds
Austrian Public Venture Funds
- tecnet equity
Austrian Public Venture Funds
- OÖ HighTechFond
Austrian Public Venture Funds
- FFG (Austrian Research Promotion Agency)
Austrian Public Venture Funds
- NÖBEG (Niederösterreichische Beteiligungsfinanzierungs Gesellschaft)
Austrian Public Venture Funds
- SFG (Styrian Business Promotion Agency)
Austrian Public Venture Funds
- Tyrolean Future Foundation
Austrian Public Venture Funds
Frequently Asked Questions
What is aws Gründungsfonds?
aws Gründungsfonds is the flagship seed co-investment fund of aws (Austria Wirtschaftsservice), Austria's federal promotional bank. It invests alongside private lead VCs at seed and Series A, typically matching up to 50% of the private cheque at the same terms. Since launch in 2013 it has backed over 100 Austrian startups and is the most common public investor in Austrian seed rounds. The original aws Gründerfonds held €68.5 million (2013 to 2026, now in divestment), and the successor aws Gründungsfonds II holds over €72 million (2023 to 2033), writing €0.5 to 1.5 million initial tickets up to €5 million total per startup (aws, 2026).
What is the aws Venture Capital Initiative?
The aws Venture Capital Initiative is a fund-of-funds run by aws (Austria Wirtschaftsservice) that invests €3 million to €10 million into venture capital funds backing research- and technology-oriented Austrian startups. Selected funds must invest at least twice the aws commitment into Austrian companies, which pulls international VC into the country. aws targets market-level returns alongside the private investors in each fund, and the public sector cannot be the majority investor. Applications open roughly once a year with an approval rate near 10% (aws, 2026).
What does the FWF (Austrian Science Fund) fund?
The FWF (Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung) is Austria's central agency for non-dilutive basic-research grants, with a budget of about €384 million per year, or €1.151 billion across 2024 to 2026. It funds university researchers, PhD programmes, and deep tech spinouts rather than commercial scale-up. Core programmes include Principal Investigator Projects, the Wittgenstein Award (up to €1.5 million), START and ASTRA Awards for early-career researchers, ESPRIT postdoctoral grants, 1000 Ideas for high-risk research, and the Clusters of Excellence initiative (FWF, 2026).
Can foreign founders apply for aws funding?
Yes, provided the operating company is registered in Austria. aws funding is linked to the Austrian entity rather than the founder's nationality. Foreign founders who incorporate a GmbH or FlexCo in Austria and base meaningful activity there can apply for the same grants, guarantees, and equity instruments as Austrian founders. Some programmes additionally require that a proportion of employment or R&D activity is conducted in Austria.
What is the FFG?
The FFG (Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft) is Austria's national research funding agency. It distributes more than €800 million annually in non-dilutive R&D grants across sectors including deep tech, life sciences, climate, mobility, and digital. Typical funding intensities range from 35% to 70% of eligible project costs depending on company size and collaboration type. FFG grants stack on top of aws equity investments, which is why many Austrian deep tech startups combine both.
How long does aws application take?
Grant applications to aws typically take 6 to 12 weeks from submission to decision, depending on programme and complexity. Equity co-investment through aws Gründungsfonds follows the lead VC timeline and usually adds 2 to 4 weeks on top of the private investor's diligence. FFG grant reviews run on quarterly committees, which can add waiting time. Plan at least 8 to 12 weeks into fundraising schedules.
Are grants taxable in Austria?
Most Austrian public grants, including many FFG and aws PreSeed grants, are treated as taxable business income unless the granting programme explicitly exempts them. However, grants are normally offset by matching R&D or capital expenditure, and Austria also offers the Research Premium (Forschungsprämie), a 14% refundable tax credit on qualifying R&D spend. Founders should consult an Austrian tax advisor when structuring grant-heavy programmes. See our income tax guide for more context.
Official Sources
- aws (Austria Wirtschaftsservice): Federal Promotional Bank
- FFG: Austrian Research Promotion Agency
- FWF: Austrian Science Fund (basic-research grants)
- aws Venture Capital Initiative (fund-of-funds)
- BMF: Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance (Research Premium)
- Vienna Business Agency (Wirtschaftsagentur Wien)
Related Guides
Venture Capital Firms
Speedinvest, 3VC and private co-investors for aws-backed rounds
Government Agencies
aws, FFG, WKO and the federal support bodies for founders
Income Tax in Austria
Research Premium, grant taxation, and founder tax planning
Freelance & Self-Employment Visa
Founder visa routes pairing with aws and FFG support