Co-Organizers & Partners
Celine Rudorfer
Sophie Drescher
Julie Sufana
Markus Weiss
Alireza Sohrabian
Vienna Business Bridge: Connecting International Entrepreneurs with Vienna’s Business Ecosystem
Vienna Business Bridge is a joint initiative of the Vienna Business Agency and BeFounder designed to support international entrepreneurs entering Vienna’s business ecosystem.
The initiative connects founders with institutional partners, ecosystem experts, funding opportunities, and local networks, enabling a smoother transition from relocation to sustainable business growth.
Through curated events, ecosystem programs, and strategic collaborations, Vienna Business Bridge contributes to strengthening Vienna’s position as one of Europe’s leading startup and innovation hubs.
On February 24, BeFounder hosted an international ecosystem event in Vienna as part of the Vienna Business Bridge, a joint initiative of the Vienna Business Agency and BeFounder aimed at connecting international entrepreneurs with Vienna’s dynamic business and innovation environment.
The event took place at Future Health Lab and brought together founders, ecosystem leaders and international entrepreneurs interested in establishing and scaling their ventures in Vienna.
Event Impact & Key Figures
Founders
Speakers
Cities & Countries
Opening Remarks: BeFounder’s Growth and Future Vision
The evening began with welcome remarks by Alireza Sohrabian, CEO of BeFounder, who presented the organization’s recent achievements, international activities, and upcoming development programs aimed at expanding support for global founders.
During his opening address, Sohrabian highlighted BeFounder’s growing role in connecting international entrepreneurs with European innovation ecosystems and introduced new strategic initiatives focused on ecosystem collaboration, startup growth, and cross-border innovation programs.
He also outlined BeFounder’s long-term vision of positioning Vienna as a key entry point for international entrepreneurs seeking access to European markets and innovation opportunities.
Keynote: Starting Your Business in Vienna
The keynote address was delivered by Celine Rudorfer, Regional Manager at the Vienna Business Agency.
The session provided a comprehensive overview of Vienna’s structured support landscape for entrepreneurs, including business establishment services, advisory programs, and institutional resources available to international founders.
Special attention was given to opportunities supporting international and Ukrainian entrepreneurs integrating into Vienna’s Business ecosystem.
From Pitch Deck to Investment: What Founders Must Get Right
Following the keynote, Julie Sufana, Chief Marketing Officer at contextflow, delivered an expert session focused on investor communication and startup positioning.
The talk addressed common pitching mistakes, expectations from investors, and practical strategies founders can apply to clearly communicate market potential and business value during fundraising processes.
Grants Talk: Opportunities for International Scaleups
The session featured an engaging discussion moderated by Sophie Kaitlin Drescher, with Markus Weiss, Managing Partner at MINTED, sharing his expertise.
Sophie guided the conversation, asking insightful questions about Austria’s startup funding ecosystem and exploring key grant programs, innovation financing tools, and practical strategies for international entrepreneurs seeking support.
Markus provided clear, actionable advice on navigating grant opportunities, preparing successful applications, and aligning growth strategies with Austria’s funding landscape.
The discussion emphasized practical takeaways for early-stage startups and scaleups, showing how grants and institutional funding can be leveraged to accelerate market entry and scale sustainably.
Networking Break
During the networking session, participants engaged directly with speakers, ecosystem representatives, and fellow entrepreneurs, leading to active exchanges, new connections, and early-stage collaboration discussions across Vienna’s innovation community.
Strengthening Vienna’s International Entrepreneurial Community
Beyond knowledge-sharing, the event served as an important platform for ecosystem connection and community building.
By bringing together international founders and Austrian ecosystem stakeholders, Vienna Business Bridge continues to foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, and long-term integration of global entrepreneurial talent into Vienna’s innovation landscape.
The strong participation confirmed the increasing interest of international entrepreneurs in Vienna as a destination for innovation, business development, and market expansion.