What AustrianStartups is NOT
Even tough we have an online survey out there to create a catalogue of political visions for the startup community, we do not see ourselves as an official representation of startups in Austria. We see ourselves as community initiative that wants to create significant impact, not more, not less. We are also not a substitute to official and/or public institutions such as the chamber of commerce, public incubators, public support and/or grant institutions.
We are an additional layer to them, trying to cater to the specific needs of startups, which are a bit different than those of small and medium enterprises.
Aren’t startups just small & medium enterprises anyway?
We believe that there is a difference between all entrepreneurs and specifically startups. All startups are entrepreneurs, but not all entrepreneurs (who we believe are all together the backbone of the economy!) are necessarily startups.
If you see and define yourself as a startup, chances are high that you actually are one. If you are not sure, then the closest definition we could find would be along the thoughts of Steve Bank (best-selling author and one of the fathers of the Lean startup movement) and Paul Graham (Founder of Y-combinator):
“A startup is a temporary organization designed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model.” – Steve Blank
“A startup is a company designed to grow fast. Being newly founded does not in itself make a company a startup. Nor is it necessary for a startup to work on technology, or take venture funding, or have some sort of “exit.” The only essential thing is growth. Everything else we associate with startups follows from growth.” – Paul Graham
In other words: startups can come in all forms, but are united in their association with (potentially) fast/strong growth as well as their search for a scalable business model. They are mostly, but not exclusively, technology-oriented companies*, many of which seek to disrupt an existing market or to create a new market.
* whereas technology includes, but is not solely limited to: Hardware, Software, Internet & Mobile Technologies, Communication, Bio-Tech, Medical, Robotics, Electronics, Mechatronics, Energy, Transportation, Environmental,…
What YOU can do
Sign-up for FREE and become a member to benefit from increasing specials such as newsletter, invitation to meetings (Stammtisch), be visible with your startup on the StartupMap, bring in your own project ideas for the startup ecosystem (and launch them with us), and have a vote in how and where AustrianStartups should be active… more goodies to follow.
Companies, organizations and legal entities, which want to support AustrianStartups, can do so as supporting members. Currently we are talking with stakeholders, foundations, and individuals who want to contribute to AustrianStartups. We are open for talks with everyone, but want and have to ensure the neutrality of AustrianStartups at any time. Therefore, if needed, we would also decline a partnership with potentially interested supporting members.
Beside the already announced supporting members, we are glad to present our main sponsors: the Internet Foundation Austria (IPA) known for its internet grant scheme netidee, which provides us with crucial support in the initial phase.
Read the first part of ‘What is AustrianStartups‘
Credit: Nick Stevens – photo 1,2,3
