Startrampe was founded in 2019 by the Sparkasse Oberösterreich Bank and Johannes Pracher, the head of Startrampe and a founder of the hub,ert startup support network. Startrampe’s services are available to anyone with a business idea, providing entrepreneurs with resources and with access to a network of experts and investors. “We’re well connected to the ecosystem and we want the people who come to us for help to make companies out of their ideas,” says Johannes. Startrampe also offers workshops covering topics such as marketing and financing, it hosts networking events to help startups build relationships and its workspace at the Tabakfabrik is open to all entrepreneurs. These informal resources are free to access and, as Johannes says, “You get as much out as you’re ready to work for.”

Startrampe’s formal accelerator program is called #believeinyourself, #glaubandich in German, and the primary requirement for admission is that the founding team has at least one woman. “We want to empower women to do more business,” says Johannes. The business idea should also be innovative and impactful, such as accelerator alumni Hive Analytics that developed a product to promote beehive activity and reproduction. “We’re searching for things that will impact our area right now,” says Johannes. The program runs for six months, once per year, and provides startups with €5,000 ($5,520) in cash, tax and legal consulting, business mentoring, and workspace at Tabakfabrik. The program is structured so that all startups begin with a basic program on finance, business modeling and sales and marketing, after which startups receive individual coaching with milestone check-ins every two months, culminating in a final demo day where startups pitch in front of Startrampe’s network.

In addition to the informal assistance and formal program, Startrampe produces educational content on entrepreneurship, including the podcast #glaubandich where Johannes interviews industry leaders, serial founders and other startup players from Austria to further educate and inspire founders.

Be an early stage startup. For the accelerator program we’re specifically looking for early-stage, pre-seed and seed stage startups. 

Have an impactful idea. We want to support ideas and companies that will provide immediate benefit to our community, be that social or environmental.

Have an MVP. We’re looking for business models that have been tested with a minimum viable product, whatever that looks like for your idea.

‍Take advantage of our resources. If you’re not quite ready or you’re waiting to apply, use our range of free resources to build your knowledge base and develop your business model.

glaubandich@sparkasse-ooe.at

Main Photo by: Antje Wolm