About GoUSA
At GoUSA Silicon Valley (GoUSA SV), Austrian startups profit immensely from the honest and constructive feedback they receive from VC partners, mentors and corporate development managers of top-tier tech companies, who know the ins and outs of the market. Contacts that would require months or years to cultivate from Austria happen within weeks in Silicon Valley. High-profile companies like Apple or Google become approachable once you receive personal recommendations, which are plentiful.
Now in its 14th year, the venture has already graduated over 180 companies, a fifth of which established a subsidiary in the U.S. as a result of their participation in the program. Even though every company has different goals and achievements, numerous strategic partnerships were formed and successful acquisitions took place.
What Makes Austria a Special Business Location?
Why Austria?
OPEN AUSTRIA serves as a bridge between Austrian and European decision-makers and the global technology industry. We facilitate discussions to reconcile cutting-edge technologies - especially artificial intelligence (AI) - with democratic values, ethical innovation and human rights.
Austria offers comprehensive support for international companies looking to establish or expand their presence in the country. The government, alongside local business organizations, provides a variety of incentives, including
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Financial support programs for businesses entering the Austrian market
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Consultations and advisory services for market entry strategies
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Networking opportunities with key players in various industries
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Access to an entrepreneurial ecosystem that includes technology hubs, accelerators, and industry-specific associations
Support for international companies can come from various governmental and private sector organizations, such as:
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Austrian Business Agency (ABA): The ABA offers extensive support to international companies considering Austria for investment. This includes providing information on the business environment, legal requirements, financing options, and helping with the setup process.
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Economic Diplomacy and Trade Missions: The Austrian Foreign Ministry and local chambers of commerce often organize events and missions to help companies connect with Austrian business partners, investors, and markets.
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Tax Incentives and Grants: Austria offers attractive incentives like tax exemptions, investment grants, and research funding for foreign companies, particularly those in technology, innovation, and R&D.
Support for International Companies Interested in Austria
What’s in it for you?
Participants in our GoUSA SV program are carefully selected together with our team of Silicon Valley judges. These chosen entrepreneurs have founded companies that we believe have what it takes to succeed: They’re working to expand into the US market, raise funding here, go public or make a strategic exit. All they need is that last push, like insightful advice, a crucial connection, or in true Silicon Valley fashion, that serendipitous meeting with just the person they were looking for to help them take their business to the next level.
This is where our GoUSA SV program shines. We put our high-value Silicon Valley ecosystem to work to connect participants to our network of mentors: experienced founders, investors, and experts in their field, oftentimes of Austrian descent, who want to dedicate time to helping Austrian entrepreneurs reach their goals in the Valley.
In addition to a two-week long bootcamp in a group setting, you will be paired with your own dedicated mentor. Your mentor will guide you and keep track of your progress week over week, lend their support, network, and insights. They will also hold you accountable and on track for your goals to ensure that you get the most value out of the program.
Whether you’re looking for funding or just exploring growth opportunities in the US, our GoUSA team will be here to support you every step of the way.
