aws Gründungsfonds
aws Gründungsfonds is Austria's federal venture capital fund, managed by Austria Wirtschaftsservice, investing €140 million in later seed and pre-Series A Austrian DeepTech and technology startups with global ambitions, alongside co-investors such as XISTA, Alpine Fund, and Symbia VC.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersVienna, Austria
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What aws Gründungsfonds does
aws Gründungsfonds is the venture capital fund operated by Austria Wirtschaftsservice Gesellschaft mbH (aws), a federal development and financing bank wholly owned by the Republic of Austria. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Vienna, the fund manages €140 million of committed capital dedicated to Austrian high-growth startups at the later seed and pre-Series A stages. Its stated mandate targets companies with growth-oriented technology and global ambitions, with a particular emphasis on DeepTech spin-offs from Austrian research institutions such as TU Wien and the University of Vienna.
The fund's core activity is direct equity investment, typically as lead or co-lead investor, alongside other European venture firms including XISTA Science Ventures, Alpine Fund, Symbia VC, Fund F, LIFTT, Constructor Capital, and PhotonVentures. As of the most recent disclosures it holds 28 active portfolio investments and has realized 30 exits, including the recent acquisition of portfolio company Storyclash by Kolsquare. Recent deployments span photonic integrated circuits (Vitrealab $11M Series A), climate-risk intelligence software (refinq €2.2M seed, led by aws), nanoscale infrared analysis hardware (Invisible-Light Labs €1.5M pre-Seed), and AI-powered hospitality financial planning (profitize €1.4M seed).
The business model is a classic institutional venture fund: management fees on committed capital, with optional carried interest on realized gains. Distribution and deal sourcing are conducted primarily through the fund's website pitch portal, LinkedIn presence, and recurring ecosystem events such as the annual Portfolio Day. As a government-backed vehicle, aws Gründungsfonds operates under a public-policy mandate to strengthen the Austrian innovation economy rather than to maximize standalone financial returns, with co-managing directors Markus Jandrinitsch and Patrik Cesky leading an 11–50 person team.
aws Gründungsfonds firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- aws Gründungsfonds
- Legal name
- Austria Wirtschaftsservice Gesellschaft mbH
- Website
- https://gruenderfonds.at
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- aws Gründungsfonds is Austria's federal venture capital fund, managed by Austria Wirtschaftsservice, investing €140 million in later seed and pre-Series A Austrian DeepTech and technology startups with global ambitions, alongside co-investors such as XISTA, Alpine Fund, and Symbia VC.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
aws Gründungsfonds industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Early-Stage Venture Capital
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)
- SIC
- Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Climate / Clean Tech & Decarbonization Funds (FSANAJAA)
Keywords
Where aws Gründungsfonds is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vienna
- HQ country
- Austria
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
aws Gründungsfonds business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
aws Gründungsfonds product offering
Product offeringCore offering
aws Gründungsfonds is an Austrian venture capital fund providing equity financing to early-stage technology companies (later seed / pre-Series A) with growth-oriented technology and global ambitions. Managed by Austria Wirtschaftsservice, the fund invests across DeepTech, AI, and other technology sectors, working long-term with founders to bridge the gap between scientific research and commercial development. It deploys capital directly and via co-investor syndicates, with a €140 million fund volume backing 28 active portfolio companies and 30 exits to date.
Product overview
aws Gründungsfonds is an Austrian venture capital fund managed by Austria Wirtschaftsservice Gesellschaft mbH, with a fund volume of €140 million, 28 active investments, and 30 exits. The fund provides early-stage financing for companies with high-growth technology and global ambitions, focusing on visionary founders in the Austrian and European startup ecosystem.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use aws Gründungsfonds
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
aws Gründungsfonds technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
aws Gründungsfonds partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
aws Gründungsfonds competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF): Germany's leading public-private early-stage VC focused on technology startups; structurally the closest analogue to aws Gründungsfonds as a government-backed seed/Series A fund for tech startups in a DACH market.
- Speedinvest: Austria-headquartered early-stage VC investing across sectors with similar stage focus (Seed/Series A) and geographic overlap in Austria and broader Europe.
- xista Science Ventures: Austrian DeepTech-focused VC and frequent co-investor with aws Gründungsfonds in TU Wien spin-offs (e.g., Invisible-Light Labs); highly comparable mandate on technology-heavy early-stage deals in Austria.
- APEX Ventures: Vienna-based early-stage VC with pan-European reach and DeepTech orientation; competes for the same Austrian founders and co-investment syndicates.
- Venionaire Capital: Austrian venture and growth investor focused on technology and life sciences; operates in the same geography and overlapping stage range as aws Gründungsfonds.
- IBB Ventures: Berlin-based public-backed VC that makes early-stage technology investments; structurally similar to aws Gründungsfonds as a state-backed seed investor in a German-speaking market.
- bmp Ventures: German early-stage technology investor with a regional public-backed heritage; comparable in stage focus and DACH-centric mandate.
Broad incumbents
- European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund: EU-level public investment fund providing equity across all member states including Austria; broader in scope than aws Gründungsfonds and a common co-investor or alternative lead for Austrian startups.
- EIT InnoEnergy: European public-backed investor focused on sustainable energy and clean tech, overlapping thematically with aws Gründungsfonds's DeepTech and climate-adjacent investments.
- Earlybird Venture Capital: Pan-European early- and growth-stage VC active in DACH; competes for the same Austrian founders and frequently co-invests with or alongside aws Gründungsfonds.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
aws Gründungsfonds social profiles
Digital presenceaws Gründungsfonds financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
aws Gründungsfonds leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
aws Gründungsfonds funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
aws Gründungsfonds M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments85 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about aws Gründungsfonds
What does aws Gründungsfonds do?
aws Gründungsfonds is an Austrian venture capital fund providing equity financing to early-stage technology companies (later seed / pre-Series A) with growth-oriented technology and global ambitions. Managed by Austria Wirtschaftsservice, the fund invests across DeepTech, AI, and other technology sectors, working long-term with founders to bridge the gap between scientific research and commercial development. It deploys capital directly and via co-investor syndicates, with a €140 million fund volume backing 28 active portfolio companies and 30 exits to date.
Is aws Gründungsfonds a public or private company?
aws Gründungsfonds is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was aws Gründungsfonds founded?
aws Gründungsfonds was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is aws Gründungsfonds based?
aws Gründungsfonds is headquartered in Vienna, Austria, in the Europe region.
Who are aws Gründungsfonds's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), Speedinvest, xista Science Ventures, APEX Ventures, Venionaire Capital, IBB Ventures and bmp Ventures. Broad incumbents are European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund, EIT InnoEnergy and Earlybird Venture Capital.
Does aws Gründungsfonds have an API?
No public API is recorded for aws Gründungsfonds.
What industry is aws Gründungsfonds in?
aws Gründungsfonds's product category is Early-Stage Venture Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAM, Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated), with a secondary code of FSANAJAA, Climate / Clean Tech & Decarbonization Funds. Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6211.