Since the end of the zero-interest policy in 2022, it has become significantly more difficult for domestic start-ups to raise venture capital. There are “no clear signs” of a financial easing, according to the “Austrian Startup Monitor 2024.” At the presentation of the report on Friday, State Secretary for Economic Affairs Elisabeth Zehetner (ÖVP) pointed to positive developments, such as the higher share of female founders and the increase in “deep tech” ventures.

Between 2013 and 2023, more than 3,700 start-ups were founded in Austria. Nearly half of these innovative young companies are registered in Vienna’s commercial register. The “Austrian Startup Monitor 2025” also included a representative survey of the startup ecosystem. The proportion of female startup founders in 2024 was 22 percent, an increase of 5 percent over the previous year. In 37 percent of startup teams, there is at least one woman.

30,000 employed in Austria’s startup scene

Austrian start-ups currently employ an estimated 30,000 people. This year, young companies plan to create about 10,000 new jobs, said Hannah Wundsam, co-managing director of the interest group AustrianStartups, citing survey data. The most difficult positions to fill are in sales, IT, and product development, the surveyed companies said. More than half of all start-ups have received public funding, including from the Research Promotion Agency (FFG), the state development bank aws, or other funding bodies.

The “Austrian Startup Monitor” was produced under the direction of AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, in cooperation with AustrianStartups and the Start-up Center at Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU).

Start-up investments declining for three years

At the beginning of the year, auditing firm EY also published data on Austria’s start-up scene. Investments in Austrian start-ups have been declining for three years due to the challenging economic environment and rising interest rates. In 2024, total financing volume fell by 17 percent compared to the previous year, amounting to €578 million — the lowest level since 2020, according to the “EY Start-up Barometer.” The number of funding rounds also decreased, with only the artificial intelligence sector showing a positive trend.