Wu Ignite Ventures: The latest initiative for start-ups ensures departure!
Wu Ignite Ventures: The latest initiative for start-ups ensures departure!
The WirtschaftsUniversität Vienna (WU) announced on June 11, 2025 the foundation of a new investment company called "Wu Ignite Ventures". The aim of this initiative is to support young start-ups from the university environment in the early phase. In addition to the financial support, which is up to 50,000 euros annually for six to eight selected WU-close founding teams, extensive know-how is also offered. The willingness to support expands the possibilities of implementing innovative ideas into viable companies.
"Wu Ignite Ventures" is based on a special form of contract that is specially tailored to the needs of young start-ups. The founders not only receive financial means, but also coaching and access to a network of experienced entrepreneurs, investors and potential customers. The Rector of the WU, Rupert Sausgruber, emphasizes the strategic value of this initiative, while Cattina Leitner, chair of the university council, underlines the importance of the active support of innovative ideas.
strengthening the entrepreneurship
With this initiative, the WU aims to strengthen entrepreneurship in the academic environment and thus contribute to Austria's innovative strength. According to the "Austrian Startup Monitor" 2024, 23% of the newly founded start-ups in Austria have their origin in the university area. "Wu Ignite Ventures" should help to further strengthen this trend and to position the WU as a leading impetus for innovation and entrepreneurship. In addition, the initiative complements existing activities, such as the Entrepreneurship Avenue and the Changemaker program.The WU founding center plays a crucial role in the implementation of "Wu Ignite Ventures". The director of the founding center, Rudolf Dömöntör, emphasizes the need to actively support the transition from innovative ideas to sustainable companies, which should be done by special formats such as co-founder matching as part of the entrepreneurship center network (ECN) and through more intensive integration into national initiatives such as spin-off Austria. The WU has also received clipping funding from the AWS spin-off initiative for creating professional exclusion structures.
Support for start-ups in Austria
In Austria, around 40,000 companies are founded every year, most of which are small and medium -sized companies (SMEs). These companies are crucial for economic growth and the creation of new jobs. However, start-ups that are considered young and innovative companies need special support to successfully implement their ideas. The Austrian Research Promotion Society (FFG) is the central point of contact for research and innovation funding. It invests around 90 million euros annually in start-up projects to promote their development, implementation and market launch.
The introduction of "Wu Ignite Ventures" is another step in the promotion of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Austria, which focuses on strengthening innovative activities that can result from the universities. The WU is increasingly positioning itself as a leading start-up hub in Europe and actively contributes to creating a dynamic and sustainable economic environment.
Further information can be found on the websites of Wu , wu ignite venture and the ffg .
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| Ort | Wien, Österreich |
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