Start-up Center Start Up Tirol GmbH

What Start-up Center Start Up Tirol GmbH does

Gründungszentrum Start Up Tirol GmbH, operating as Startup.Tirol, is a government-funded startup support organization headquartered in Innsbruck, Austria. Established in 2016 by Marcus Hofer through the transformation of the CAST Gründungszentrum, it functions as the mandated central coordination hub ("Dreh- und Angelpunkt") for the Tyrolean startup ecosystem, uniting all major regional academic and economic institutions as shareholders. The organization is structured as an Austrian GmbH with a distributed shareholder base — Universität Innsbruck (25%), Standortagentur Tirol (25%), Medizinische Universität Innsbruck (20%), MCI (10%), FH Kufstein (5%), WKO Tirol (5%), UMIT (5%), and Verein Startup.Tirol (5%) — and a registered share capital of €35,000.

Startup.Tirol delivers a portfolio of programs spanning the full startup lifecycle. The INNC Program (delivered with InnCubator) provides 4-week pre-incubation training with a 6-month Pro Weeks extension; Boost.Up! offers 12 months of weekly 1:1 consulting with up to €20,000 in Land Tirol grants; Beyond [her] Lab is a bootcamp for female researchers commercializing scientific findings; and pioneer:impact is an impact-focused accelerator co-initiated with Impact Hub Tirol and Werkstätte Wattens. Supporting services include a Co-Founding database, Founders Breakfast Club (bimonthly), Founders Match on Campus (semesterly), Fe:male Empowerment Stammtisch (~800 community members), a Coworking Space Directory (35+ locations), Business Angel Summit, and the annual Startup.Tirol Demo Day. No equity is taken in any program.

The business model is subsidy-driven rather than commercially transactional. Programs are predominantly free for participants, with the sole direct revenue contribution being a €3,500 co-payment for Boost.Up! consulting that is offsettable against the €20,000 Land Tirol grant. Primary funding flows from the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMIMI), administered through Austria Wirtschaftsservice GmbH (AWS) as part of the AplusB Scale-up Program, with additional support from the State of Tyrol. The organization does not develop proprietary technology products; its infrastructure consists of a website platform (startup.tirol), Matomo-based analytics, and internal program and event management systems. It is a member of the AplusB South-West consortium of six founding centers covering Tirol, Carinthia, Vorarlberg, and Salzburg.

Name

Start-up Center Start Up Tirol GmbH

Legal name

Gründungszentrum Start Up Tirol GmbH

Website

https://startup.tirol

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Gründungszentrum Start Up Tirol GmbH (Startup.Tirol) is a government-funded startup support organization in Innsbruck, Austria, coordinating the Tyrolean startup ecosystem through pre-incubation, incubation, impact, and research-commercialization programs for early-stage founders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Incubator and Entrepreneurship Support Services

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD), Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC)

Keywords

• Startup incubation programs
• Entrepreneurship support services
• Pre-seed accelerator programs
• Founder networking events
• Co-founding matchmaking services

Headquarters

HQ city

Innsbruck

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding and Subsidies: Startup.Tirol is a founding center (Gründungszentrum) of the AplusB Scale-up Program funded by the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMIMI), administered through Austria Wirtschaftsservice GmbH (AWS) and the State of Tyrol. The organization also receives base funding from its shareholders (€35,000 registered capital). Their programs include subsidized consulting where startups pay a co-payment (€3,500 for Boost.Up! program) that can be offset against €20,000 in government grants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Startup.Tirol operates a portfolio of structured startup support programs and ecosystem coordination services for founders in the Tyrol region. Core offerings include the INNC pre-incubation program (4 weeks of Essential Weeks plus 6-month Pro Weeks), the 12-month Boost.Up! incubation program with 1:1 consulting and up to €20,000 in Land Tirol grants, the Beyond [her] Lab bootcamp for female researchers, and the pioneer:impact accelerator for impact-oriented startups. Supporting services include co-founding matchmaking, networking events (Business Angel Summit, Founders Breakfast Club, Fe:male Empowerment Stammtisch), and a regional coworking space directory.

Product overview

Startup.Tirol operates as a centralized startup support hub and ecosystem coordinator for the Tyrol region, not a single software product but rather a portfolio of interconnected programs and services. The core offerings include: INNC Programm (pre-incubation for idea-stage founders), Boost.Up! Programm (incubation for startups ready for market entry), Beyond [her] Lab (specialized bootcamp for female researchers commercializing science), and pioneer:impact (impact-focused accelerator). Supporting services include Co-Founding matchmaking via an internal database and networking events (Founders Breakfast Club, Founders Match on Campus), a Coworking Space Directory covering 35+ locations, flagship events like the Business Angel Summit and Fe:male Empowerment Stammtisch, and coordination of the broader Tiroler Startup-Ökosystem that connects startups with investment, funding advice, and regional institutional partners. The organization serves as the central point for awareness-building, startup support, and networking in the Tyrolean startup scene.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• INNC Programm Pre-incubation program for aspiring founders that develops innovative business ideas into structured business models over 4 weeks of intensive training (Essential Weeks) with potential extension to 6 months (Pro Weeks). Free of charge with no equity taken. Run jointly by InnCubator and Startup.Tirol, with extended locations at Innovationsraum Kufstein and STARTN Kitzbühel.
• Boost.Up! Programm 12-month incubation program for startups with validated prototypes seeking market entry. Includes weekly 1:1 consulting sessions, expert workshops, up to €20,000 in funding from Land Tirol, and active integration into the Tyrolean startup ecosystem. Participants pay a €3,500 co-payment for consulting that is offsettable against the €20,000 grant.
• Beyond [her] Lab Free two-day bootcamp for female researchers, PhD students, and master's students from Carinthia, Salzburg, Tyrol, and Vorarlberg to transform scientific findings into marketable solutions. Includes workshops and lunches, with no participation fee. Organized jointly with build! Kärnten, Startup Salzburg, and Startup Vorarlberg.
• pioneer:impact Accelerator for impact-oriented startups focused on unlocking full impact potential in the Tyrolean ecosystem. Co-initiated by Impact Hub Tirol and Werkstätte Wattens. Targets founders developing solutions with ecological and social impact aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• Co-Founding Services Matchmaking services that connect prospective co-founders, comprising an internal Co-Founding database, the bi-monthly Founders Breakfast Club networking events, and the Founders Match on Campus university event series.
• Business Angel Summit Annual event held in Kitzbühel connecting top Austrian startups with national and international private investors for knowledge exchange and networking. Co-organized by Startup.Tirol, Standortagentur Tirol, and Austria Wirtschaftsservice GmbH (AWS).
• Fe:male Empowerment Stammtisch Quarterly networking event for female entrepreneurship and leadership in Tirol, organized jointly with Kreativland Tirol and Impact Hub Tirol. Features keynote speakers and community building for a community of approximately 800 women across over 32 regular meetups.
• Founders Breakfast Club Bi-monthly informal networking breakfast bringing together startup founders in Innsbruck cafés with established entrepreneurs sharing insights.
• Coworking Space Directory Directory of 35+ coworking spaces across Tirol, from Innsbruck to smaller towns like Lans, Hall in Tirol, Kufstein, and Reutte, maintained as part of the ecosystem overview.

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and support.

• Universität InnsbruckcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner25% shareholder of Startup.Tirol. Provides academic research base, spin-off pipeline, and access to student talent. Dr. Holger Bock serves as transfer consultant for Boost.Up! startups. Jointly organizes Founders Match on Campus events.
• Standortagentur Tirol GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner25% shareholder and main operational partner. Handles invoicing, payroll, contract creation, and marketing activities for Startup.Tirol. Anja Koll serves as Data Protection Coordinator. Also organizes Business Angel Summit together with AWS.
• MCI Management Center InnsbruckcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner10% shareholder. Entrepreneurial University providing international study programs. Contributes through entrepreneurship activities, Founders Match on Campus hosting, and MCI entrepreneurship consulting services.
• Medizinische Universität InnsbruckcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner20% shareholder. Contributes through MedLifeLab innovation hub for technology transfer, research services, and spin-off support. Benjamin Suitner (Vice Chair of Startup.Tirol Association) is from MCI.
• Wirtschaftskammer TirolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner5% shareholder. Provides Gründerservice for startups including Startbox Tirol, founder workshops, and regulatory advice (trade law, patents). Junge Wirtschaft Tirol co-organizes networking events.
• Fachhochschule Kufstein TirolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner5% shareholder. Contributes through career platform, meet & match events, founding services, and alumni networks. Extended INNC Program locations through Innovationsraum Kufstein partnership.
• UMIT TIROLcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner5% shareholder. Private university for health sciences, medical informatics, and technology. Contributes to healthtech innovation and startup support.
• Verein Startup.TirolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner5% shareholder with purpose of promoting business foundations and awareness. Has board including Lena Obermaier (Chair), Kathrin Treutinger, and Benjamin Suitner (Deputy Chair). Organized across three pillars: programs, ecosystem, and awareness.
• InnCubatorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-delivers INNC Program for pre-incubation. Located in Innsbruck with startup programs, prototyping facilities, coworking, and innovation lab. Offers FREE coworking space during INNC Program.
• Impact Hub TirolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-initiated pioneer:impact accelerator and Fe:male Empowerment Stammtisch. Provides startup incubator, accelerator, sustainability consulting, community memberships. Lena Obermaier is Impact Hub Tirol representative on Startup.Tirol board.
• Health Hub TirolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManaged by Standortagentur Tirol. Focuses on Life Science, Medical Technology, e-health, Pharma, and Biotechnology innovation. Provides infrastructure (offices, labs, workshops), funding programs, and services for research-intensive founders.
• Werkstätte WattenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational center for founders, startups, and companies in various development phases. Co-initiated pioneer:impact accelerator and Fe:male Empowerment Stammtisch. Provides coworking space and manufacturing facilities.
• build! Gründungszentrum KärntenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of AplusB South-West consortium covering Tirol, Carinthia, Vorarlberg, and Salzburg. Co-organizes Beyond [her] Lab bootcamp for female researchers. Provides cross-regional startup support.
• Startup SalzburgmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of AplusB South-West consortium. Co-organizes Beyond [her] Lab bootcamp. Provides cross-regional startup support for Salzburg and Tyrol.
• Startup VorarlbergmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of AplusB South-West consortium. Contributes to regional startup ecosystem development and cross-regional collaboration.
• Fachhochschule Vorarlberg (FHV)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of AplusB South-West consortium. Contributes through University of Applied Sciences resources to regional startup ecosystem.
• ASEP - Austrian Senior Experts PoolsupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides experienced senior experts for consulting, process/project support, networking, and business coaching for startups, SMEs, and municipalities.
• Austrian StartupssupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeutral, independent, non-profit startup platform promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in Austria. Publishes Austrian Startup Monitor, organizes think tank activities, and provides startup support.
• Junge Wirtschaft TirolsupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerVoluntary network of young entrepreneurs organized within WKO. Provides national and international networking, financing support, and connects young entrepreneurs.
• CemitsupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation and startup support organization providing services to Tiroler startup ecosystem.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• build! Gründungszentrum Kärnten: AplusB founding center for Carinthia and direct AplusB South-West consortium partner of Startup.Tirol. Comparable state-level pre-incubation and incubation model for academic and regional founders.
• Startup Salzburg: AplusB South-West consortium partner operating the Salzburg region startup hub. Co-organizes Beyond [her] Lab with Startup.Tirol and shares the same public funding architecture.
• Startup Vorarlberg: AplusB South-West consortium partner covering Vorarlberg. Provides directly comparable regional incubation services and co-markets with Startup.Tirol on cross-state initiatives.
• INiTS Universitäres Gründerservice Wien: Vienna-based AplusB founding center spun out of the University of Vienna and TU Wien. Comparable academic-anchored incubator with similar BMIMI/AWS funding logic, but serving the larger Vienna market.
• Science Park Graz: AplusB-affiliated Styrian incubator with academic roots at University of Graz and TU Graz. Closely comparable scope of pre-incubation, incubation and academic spin-off services.
• accent Gründerservice: Upper Austria AplusB founding center providing comparable pre-seed and incubation services. Direct structural peer within the same national AplusB network.
• tech2b Inkubator: Upper Austrian AplusB-affiliated tech incubator focused on technical founders. Highly comparable public-funded accelerator model with similar consulting, networking and grant components.
• Impact Hub Tirol: Tyrolean incubator/accelerator co-initiating pioneer:impact and Fe:male Empowerment Stammtisch with Startup.Tirol. Operates a coworking and impact acceleration model serving the same founder base.
• Werkstätte Wattens: International center for founders and startups in the Innsbruck/Wattens area. Co-initiates pioneer:impact and Fe:male Empowerment Stammtisch; serves overlapping Tyrolean founders with coworking and hardware/maker infrastructure.
• Health Hub Tirol: Standortagentur-managed life sciences and medtech hub serving Tyrolean founders. Operates an overlapping public-funded accelerator model targeting a narrower (health) vertical of the same regional ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/startup-tirol
• Instagraminstagram.com/startup.tirol

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Start-up Center Start Up Tirol GmbH