Vienna Business Agency

What Vienna Business Agency does

Vienna Business Agency (Wirtschaftsagentur Wien) is a municipal economic development fund of the City of Vienna (Ein Fonds der Stadt Wien), headquartered at Mariahilfer Straße 20, Vienna. Founded in 1982, it operates as the first point of contact for national and international companies seeking to establish, grow, or internationalize a business in Vienna. All consultations, funding programs, and events are provided free of charge to Vienna-based businesses, founders, and startups. The agency is led by Managing Directors Dominic Weiss and Manfred Juraczka, with a team of approximately 11-50 staff organized across Funding, Founders & Startups, Digital Economy, Neighbourhood Businesses & Production, Life Sciences/Green Economy/Young Talent, and Executive Office departments.

The agency's product portfolio comprises three integrated layers. First, a funding suite offers Innovation Funding (up to €300,000 at 45%/35% rates for SMEs), International Market Entry Funding (up to €50,000 at 50% rate), Production Funding, Vibrant Neighbourhoods Funding, and sector-specific programs in life sciences, creative industries, and circular economy. Second, a physical infrastructure footprint includes the Life Science Center Vienna (14,000 m² of laboratory and office space near the Vienna BioCenter), Startup Labs for life sciences startups, and the Technology Centre Seestadt production facility. Third, community-building assets include the ViennaUP international startup festival (typically held in May), the Vienna Startup Package selecting 15 international startups annually, the LISAvienna joint platform with Austria Wirtschaftsservice, and Climate Lab Vienna.

The revenue model is non-commercial: the agency is funded through municipal budget allocations and does not sell services. It disburses grants to eligible Vienna-based businesses and derives its economic impact from catalysing the broader ecosystem rather than generating revenue itself. Supported ecosystem indicators include 646 life sciences companies, 19 research institutions, a €22.7 billion sector revenue in life sciences (2023), 8,800 peer-reviewed publications, and 36 university spin-offs. Customer segments span international startups (DACH market entry), founders/new entrepreneurs (17-language coaching), SMEs (innovation and growth), neighbourhood businesses (local services support), life sciences companies (lab space and partnerships), sustainability-focused firms, technology companies, and creative industries. Distribution combines direct on-site consultations, an online Service-Compass self-service portal, the ViennaUP festival, and a specialized team of named funding experts across departments.

Name

Vienna Business Agency

Legal name

Wirtschaftsagentur Wien

Website

https://viennabusinessagency.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Vienna Business Agency is the municipal economic development fund of the City of Vienna, providing free consultations, funding programs, and infrastructure to Vienna-based companies, founders, and startups across life sciences, technology, creative industries, and neighbourhood business sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development and Business Promotion Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Management of Companies and Enterprises (55111)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainable Cities, Urban Development & Green Infrastructure (BPADALAL), Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM), Circular Economy & Resource Efficiency (BPADALAM)

Keywords

• Business development services
• Innovation funding programs
• Startup incubation
• Economic development agency
• Technology center operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Funding from City of Vienna: As a fund of the City of Vienna (Wirtschaftsagentur Wien. Ein Fonds der Stadt Wien), the agency is funded through public municipal budget allocations. It provides free services including consultations, funding, and events to Vienna-based businesses.
2. Funding Disbursement: The agency disburses funding to eligible Vienna-based businesses and founders through various programs including Innovation Funding (up to €300,000), International Market Entry Funding (up to €50,000), Production Funding, Digitalisation Funding, and Neighbourhood Business Funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Vienna Business Agency is the City of Vienna's business development fund, providing non-dilutive grants (Innovation, International Market Entry, and Vibrant Neighbourhoods Funding), operating physical innovation infrastructure such as the Life Science Center Vienna, Startup Labs, and Technology Centre Seestadt, and running cluster platforms (LISAvienna, Climate Lab Vienna, Vienna Food Innovation) along with the ViennaUP startup festival to support Vienna-based companies and international firms locating in Vienna.

Product overview

The Vienna Business Agency (Wirtschaftsagentur Wien) is a fund of the City of Vienna that operates as a comprehensive business support platform rather than a single product. The organization offers a portfolio of services including consultations, funding programs (Innovation Funding, International Market Entry Funding, Vibrant Neighbourhoods Funding), and events/workshops. Key facilities include the Life Science Center Vienna (14,000 m² lab and office space), Startup Labs for rent, and the Technology Centre Seestadt. The organization also runs the ViennaUP startup festival and the Vienna Startup Package program for international startups seeking DACH market entry. Through the LISAvienna platform, it supports life sciences companies in biotechnology, digital health, and medical technology sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LISAvienna: Joint platform of the Vienna Business Agency and Austria Wirtschaftsservice for life sciences companies, providing information, networking, and funding consultations for biotechnology, digital health, and medical technology in Vienna.
• Life Science Center Vienna
• ViennaUP
• Technology Centre Seestadt
• Startup Labs
• Climate Lab Vienna
• Vienna Food Innovation

Products and services

• Innovation Funding Non-dilutive grant program supporting innovative Vienna-based companies across technology and growth stages; intended for founders and SMEs seeking public R&D and development co-funding.
• International Market Entry Funding Subsidy program supporting international companies establishing operations in Vienna and Austrian companies expanding into foreign markets; targets foreign founders and corporate development teams.
• Vibrant Neighbourhoods Funding District-level subsidy program for small businesses, retailers, and creative operators to sustain and grow commercial vibrancy in Vienna neighborhoods.
• Life Science Center Vienna 14,000 m² managed life sciences facility offering wet lab, cleanroom, and office space to biotech, medtech, and pharmaceutical ventures in Vienna.
• Startup Labs Managed startup laboratory infrastructure providing prototyping and lab access for early-stage Vienna-based technology ventures.
• Technology Centre Seestadt Technology center in Vienna's Seestadt Aspern district offering office and innovation space to technology companies and startups.
• LISAvienna Platform Life sciences cluster platform connecting biotech, pharma, and medtech stakeholders across the Vienna region.
• Climate Lab Vienna Cleantech cluster platform supporting climate innovation ventures, corporates, and research partners active in Vienna.
• Vienna Food Innovation Food innovation cluster platform supporting food-tech ventures, agritech, and consumer food companies in Vienna.
• ViennaUP Startup Festival Annual international startup festival bringing together founders, investors, and corporates to engage with the Vienna startup ecosystem.
• Vienna Startup Package Structured onboarding package for international and domestic startups establishing operations in Vienna, bundling funding, infrastructure, and advisory support.
• Business Consultations and Advisory Services Free-of-charge consultation and advisory services covering funding applications, business establishment, and ecosystem navigation for Vienna-based and international companies.

Quantifiable outcome

• €22.7 billion annual revenue in Vienna life sciences sector (2023)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• LISAviennacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint platform between Vienna Business Agency and Austria Wirtschaftsservice serving as the first port of call for life sciences companies seeking information on financing and networking opportunities in Vienna. Provides networking support and consultations on biotechnology, digital health, and medical technology.
• Austria Wirtschaftsservice (AWS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint operator of LISAvienna life sciences platform with Vienna Business Agency, providing funding and support services for Austrian businesses.
• Vienna BioCentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading research environment in Vienna's third district where Life Science Center Vienna is located, providing cluster benefits for life sciences companies.
• IMBA (Institut für Molekulare Biotechnologie)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustrian Institute of Molecular Biotechnology - key research partner in Vienna's life sciences ecosystem, home to 2025 Wittgenstein Prize winner Elly Tanaka.
• CeMM - Forschungszentrum für Molekulare MedizinmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch Center for Molecular Medicine - part of Austrian Academy of Sciences, key research institution in Vienna's life sciences hub.
• AITHYRA (Institute for AI in Biomedicine)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences with ambitious goals to revolutionize AI use in biomedicine, positioning Vienna as a leading hub.
• Vienna Science and Technology Fund (WWTF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports outstanding scientific research by providing funding resources and establishing long-term thematic programmes in targeted areas.
• Health Hub ViennamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoins forces with key stakeholders to improve Austrian and European healthcare system through collaborative and innovative environment.
• Medizinische Universität Wien und AKHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical University of Vienna and General Hospital - major medical research and healthcare institution in Vienna's life sciences ecosystem.
• acib - Austrian Centre of Industrial BiotechnologymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology - research partner for biotech companies supported through the agency.
• EIT HealthmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Institute of Innovation and Technology Health - provides access to European innovation network for Viennese healthcare companies.
• Kreative Räume WienminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides assistance in selecting the right commercial space and information on general legal conditions for temporary use of vacant property or vacant commercial units.
• Creative Space ViennaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHelps companies make temporary use of vacant property or find vacant commercial units in Vienna.
• TU Wien (Vienna University of Technology)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey research institution in Vienna, collaborating on life sciences and technology projects including Biofabrique Vienna.
• EIT ManufacturingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean innovation network providing access to manufacturing and production technology partnerships for Viennese companies.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Startup Amsterdam: Amsterdam's public-private initiative supporting the local startup ecosystem with events, programs, and international founder services — closely mirrors Vienna Business Agency's startup mandate and ViennaUP festival model.
• London & Partners: London's business growth and destination agency, similar to Vienna Business Agency in providing municipal-level business support, international market entry services, and event programming for the local innovation ecosystem.
• Barcelona Activa: Barcelona's municipal economic development agency offering funding programs, business incubation, and entrepreneurship support — operating under a similar municipal-fund structure as Vienna Business Agency.
• Munich Startup: Munich's central startup ecosystem platform backed by the city and state government, providing founder support, ecosystem events, and DACH market entry services highly analogous to Vienna Business Agency's startup mandate.
• Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie: Berlin's municipal business development and technology agency, providing funding, consulting, and cluster-building services analogous to the Vienna Business Agency but for Berlin's larger ecosystem.
• Invest in Bavaria: Bavaria's state-level business promotion agency providing FDI consulting, location marketing, and cluster support — operates one administrative level up from Vienna Business Agency but with comparable functions.
• Paris&Co: Paris's economic development and innovation agency running incubators, funding programs, and international attraction services, structurally comparable to Vienna Business Agency's mix of funding, incubation, and ecosystem events.
• Greater Zurich Area: Swiss investment promotion agency that combines business location marketing, FDI attraction, and ecosystem building — directly comparable to Vienna Business Agency's mandate of attracting companies and talent to its region.
• Helsinki Business Hub: Helsinki's regional business development entity focused on attracting international companies and talent to the Helsinki capital region — directly comparable to Vienna Business Agency's international market-entry programs and ViennaUP-style events.

Broad incumbents

• Austria Wirtschaftsservice (AWS): Austria's federal promotional bank and business development agency, which co-operates LISAvienna with Vienna Business Agency. Operates one jurisdictional level above VBA with overlapping funding programs but national scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WirtschaftsagenturWien

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments26 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vienna Business Agency