Best Public Venture Funds in Austria (2026)
Jules de Bruin
Expat in Vienna
Updated: May 19 2026 | Found helpful by 5 others
Updated May 19 2026. aws Gründungsfonds is Austria's flagship seed co-investment fund, matching private VC cheques at up to 50% of the round on the same terms. tecnet equity is Lower Austria's tech VC, while Upper Austria's OÖ HighTechFond and the Vienna Business Agency's VBA Ventures anchor regional co-investment. The FFG (Austrian Research Promotion Agency) distributes more than EUR 800 million in annual R&D grants. Styria's SFG and the Tyrolean Future Foundation add regional depth.
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Top 7 Best Public Venture Funds in Austria
Ranked by deal volume, cheque size, ecosystem importance, and founder friendliness, here are the top 7 public funding sources for Austrian startups in 2026.
1. aws Gründungsfonds
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 EUR 100,000 to EUR 3 million on the same terms as the private lead. Since launch in 2013 it has backed more than 100 Austrian startups.
Why we recommend it: 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.
Best for: Austrian seed and Series A rounds with a confirmed private lead investor
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
2. tecnet equity
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.
Why we recommend it: Flexible cheques from EUR 100,000 to EUR 2 million with strong cluster links to Lower Austria industrial and mobility players plus public-private structure.
Best for: Early-stage tech founders with an anchor in Lower Austria
Pros
- +Flexible cheque sizes from EUR 100,000 to EUR 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
3. OÖ HighTechFond
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.
Why we recommend it: Regional co-investment for Upper Austrian companies with strong cluster links to industrial and automotive players and combined Biz-up grant support.
Best for: Upper Austrian founders in industrial tech, automation, and medtech
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
4. FFG (Austrian Research Promotion Agency)
Austria's federal research funding agency, distributing more than EUR 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.
Why we recommend it: 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.
Best for: Deep tech and R&D-heavy startups seeking non-dilutive funding
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
5. NÖBEG (Niederösterreichische Beteiligungsfinanzierungs Gesellschaft)
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.
Why we recommend it: Direct minority equity for SMEs backed by State of Lower Austria with long-term capital horizon and silent participation option preserving founder control.
Best for: SMEs and growth-stage companies headquartered in Lower Austria seeking minority equity or silent participation capital
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
6. Styrian Business Promotion Agency (SFG)
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.
Why we recommend it: Strong Styrian industrial and cluster links with grants, guarantees, and equity combined plus support for internationalisation into DACH.
Best for: Styrian startups 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
7. Tyrolean Future Foundation
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.
Why we recommend it: Deep connection to University of Innsbruck and MCI with focus on academic spinouts, technology transfer, and Startup Tirol accelerator support.
Best for: Tyrolean academic spinouts and early-stage deep tech startups
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
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 EUR 100,000 to EUR 3 million per round.
- 2
FFG grants (non-dilutive R&D)
More than EUR 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 EUR 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 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.
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 EUR 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: EUR 10,000 to EUR 200,000 per project, typically covering 40 to 60% of eligible costs.
- Regional equity: EUR 200,000 to EUR 2 million cheques co-investing with private VCs.
- Guarantees and loans: Up to EUR 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 fund writes tickets from EUR 100,000 up to EUR 3 million per round, with follow-on reserved for strong performers.
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 EUR 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.