On April 23, 2025, MCI | The Entrepreneurial School® in Innsbruck hosted the Startup World Cup Austria Pre-Event – co-organized by invest.austria and AustrianStartups. This inspiring event marked the conclusion of the regional qualifiers in Western Austria for the Startup World Cup Austria 2025.
Startups from Tyrol, Vorarlberg, and Salzburg pitched their innovative business ideas to a distinguished audience – aiming to qualify for the Austrian grand finale in Vienna on May 12. The Startup World Cup is one of the world’s largest startup competitions and offers founders a unique opportunity to present their ventures on a global stage and compete for a USD 1 million investment.
Winners of the Team West Pre-Event:
21energy
benmo – Benefits in Motion
ComCom
These three promising startups impressed the jury and will compete in the Austrian finals in Vienna on May 12. There, they will have the chance to represent Austria at the global finals in San Francisco and pitch for a USD 1 million investment.
The event was enriched by numerous startups, guests, and partners who contributed their ideas and perspectives. The jury brought valuable expertise to the table – Eva Ogriseg (tba network), Lisa Spöck (Startup.Tirol), Klaus Grössinger (Onsight Ventures), and Alex Burger (SymbiaVC). Additional insights were shared during a fireside chat with Wolfgang Lechner and Magdalena Hauser (both ParityQC), along with a second appearance by Alex Burger.
With this strong finale in Western Austria, the stage is now set for the grand final in Vienna. Austria’s startup scene proves itself to be innovative, ambitious, and ready for the global spotlight.
StartupWorldCup Pre-Event West ©MCI/Marc Scherr
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