Sektor5 enters into cooperation with AustriaTech

A new collaboration is on the horizon of the Austrian startup scene: sektor5 is partnering with AustriaTech and the Austrian Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology to discover the up-and-coming innovative ideas of how to improve life in the city. Among the main goals of this joint initiative is to choose three successful young teams to take part in a newly launched three-month accelerator programme at the coworking space. 

Sektor5 manager Yves Schulz is happy to see the partnership between the three parties kick off. “I am quite excited about it,” he said. “Our partners are really listening to the needs of the community with this project.”

But how will the community of startups at sektor5 benefit from this cooperation? “We can get proof of the potential that evolves within the community, as all the main stakeholders of this project are outside of our community,” said Schulz. Among the main perks is the fact that three selected startups will be able to attend a major economic and political event this summer: “We’ll have these teams conditioned to present their ideas at Forum Alpbach to give them a great start into entrepreneurship,” said Schulz, giving prospective applicants yet another incentive to apply.

In the middle of this collaboration is the Urban Innovators Challenge, whose goal is to give new, innovative technological solutions the necessary push towards market maturity. “We want the young and creative to be connected to the big players and exploit Austria’s innovative potential to its fullest,” federal minister Doris Bures said in a press release. The kick-off event will take place on 27 March at sektor5. The deadline for applications to the Challenge is 21 May.

Project ideas can be submitted to the jury in the categories mobility, energy, living and housing and information and communications technologies. The top three will then be selected and have the opportunity to be part of the accelerator programme at sektor5. There, alongside having a place to work at, the teams will also have the chance to participate in consulting meetings and pitching trainings.