Credits

aws First Incubator

Austria Wirtschaftsservice

An early-stage Austrian incubation grant covering 90-100% of costs, up to €55,000 for women-led teams.

Potential value:
EUR 55k in credits
Provider:
Austria Wirtschaftsservice
Referral needed:
No

Why this could be a strong fit

Useful for teams standardizing on Austria Wirtschaftsservice who want to offset general costs during the early build-out phase.

What you need to qualify

  • Natural persons, sole proprietorships, partnerships, or legal entities that are micro or small enterprises
  • Module A is for people who are not yet economically active with the project and have not founded a company
  • Module B is for companies founded no more than 6 months ago, with maximum net turnover of EUR 10,000
  • Companies founded more than 6 months ago are excluded
  • The project must contain a product or process innovation; projects without one are excluded
  • Founding alone or with a team of up to 4 people
  • Applications are accepted only during an advertised call, and documents must be written in the language of that call

Eligibility

Eligible stages
Pre-seed, Seed
Countries
Austria

How to apply

  1. 1

    Wait for an open call

    aws accepts submissions only during advertised call windows. The call documents are published under Downloads on the program page shortly before a call starts.

  2. 2

    Register in the aws Funding Manager

    The application is submitted exclusively online through the aws Funding Manager at foerdermanager.aws.at. Create an account there before the call closes.

  3. 3

    Prepare and upload the application

    Submit an application video, your personal data, the project description, the consent declaration for the aws First Start-up Camp, and proof of identity. Incomplete applications are not considered.

  4. 4

    Attend the aws First Start-up Camp

    Shortlisted applicants are invited to the mandatory aws First Start-up Camp, where the jury meets the people behind the project through challenges and workshops.

  5. 5

    Jury decision and notification

    aws and an external jury assess applications on formal criteria and on content after the deadline. Written approval notification follows within 3 months.

Frequently asked

Projects are funded up to a total project cost of EUR 55,000. The grant covers a maximum of 90 percent of the costs, up to EUR 49,000. Personnel subsidies are capped at EUR 7,200 per project member, paid monthly for up to 12 months.

If at the time the grant is awarded the project includes one or more women who will own more than 25 percent of the shares in total, the grant increases to up to 100 percent of the eligible costs or a maximum of EUR 55,000.

People who want to start their own business with an innovative idea, alone or with a team of up to 4 people. Module A is for those not yet economically active with the project, Module B for companies founded no more than 6 months ago with net turnover up to EUR 10,000.

Only during an advertised call, and only through the aws Funding Manager. Documents must be written in the language of the call. Incomplete applications are not considered.

aws accepts applications only during advertised calls and publishes each call's documents under Downloads shortly before it starts. The program page lists no call open after June 2026, so check the page for the next window.

aws issues written approval within 3 months of the deadline. The program itself runs for one year, with 25 professional development days and monthly progress reports, and the funded project may run up to a maximum of 2 years.

A mandatory event for shortlisted applicants where the jury gets to know the people behind the project personally through challenges and workshops. Final acceptance decisions are made after it.
General

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We have not been able to confirm a deadline for this one. Check the official page before you start.

Do I qualify?

2 things decide this one. Check yourself against them before you spend time on the form.

Stage
Pre-seed, Seed
Where you are incorporated
Austria
Funding raised so far
No limit stated
Referral
Not needed. You can apply directly

That is the rulebook. What we cannot show you here is whether your startup clears it, how this ranks against the other programs you qualify for, and what to fix if you do not.

Check what I qualify for

Five questions, about a minute, no account needed.

Last verified against the official page. Report an error

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