Connecting Visions, Capital, and Innovation

The new year starts smart: Under the title “Connecting Vision & Capital”, the start-up initiative “SMARTUP St. Pölten” invited its guests to USTP – University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten for the event “Hall of Innovation”. Representatives of the start-up and innovation scene were interested to see how visions, entrepreneurship, and financing interact – and how ideas are turned into successful innovations.

It was an inspiring afternoon and evening that provided the participants with exciting inputs, practical insights, and many opportunities for exchange.

The panel discussion featured Mateo Primorac from the St. Pölten-based AI start-up Scopri, Christina Liess from the start-up LOCI Design for recyclable play furniture kits, and Natascha Fürst from Female Founders. Topics included investor potentials, growth without external investment, and support for business founders through networks and know-how.

Of Headaches, Capital, and Participation

Concerning the topic of start-ups and investors, Primorac explained: “Start-ups shouldn’t hunt for money but focus on the customers. This is the most important thing.” His advice for business founders: “If you raise capital at an early stage, explain in detail which problem you are solving, and why you are the right person for solving it. Everything else – features, releases, etc. – is irrelevant.”

“It would have saved me a lot of headaches if I had had known from the beginning to view a funding body as an investor. However, you should not forget that all sponsors have a say in your work and that you have to fulfill your reporting obligations”, says Liess.

Founding a Business in Europe

“Europe is a great place for start-ups – we have to become an equally good place for scaling. For business founders in particular, it is not just the idea that is decisive but the access to networks and big tickets. This requires more large growth funds and public authorities that systematically leverage private capital – with fast and lean co-investments and bridges instead of bureaucracy”, explains Fürst.

Keynotes, Networking, and Exhibition

In addition to the panel discussion, the afternoon and evening were packed with impulses and perspectives. Investor Peiman Zamani held a keynote on the financial basis of successful innovation. USTP lecturer Lucas Schöffer gave a talk outlining the financial potential of the gaming industry, while representatives of Austrian Senior Experts addressed the offer of “micro-credits” in Austria. A poster exhibition explored the topic “Connecting Vision & Capital” from various perspectives, and start-ups from the financial education scene presented themselves at the event.

The candidates for the Award for Female Entrepreneurship introduced themselves with a video presentation. The Award is bestowed by the European University E³UDRES² which is coordinated by USTP.

“I am very happy that we once more succeeded in bringing the start-up and innovation scene together with this event. There was a lot of room for networking between start-ups, investors, and persons interested in innovation”, says Ulrike Wieländer who organised the event and is responsible for promoting young talent, innovation, and start-ups at USTP.

SMARTUP St. Pölten

SMARTUP St. Pölten is an initiative to promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and start-ups in the town of St. Pölten. The initiative was designed by USTP – University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten on behalf of the municipal government of St. Pölten and is supervised by USTP as well.

SMARTUP St. Pölten