The story behind the premiere of the Ventures Almanach Austria 2015

EACH WEEK, THE INVENTURES EDITORIAL STAFF SIT DOWN TO DISCUSS ENTREPRENEURS AND THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS.

Given the backdrop of current major global crises, it feels a bit unreal. Where do entrepreneurs get their energy, optimism and drive, when most others would give up? What do they tell themselves every day before they face the challenges their businesses bring? These are the questions that drove inventures from an online magazine all the way to the first book.

We decided to create something that lasts. A medium we could show to our grandchildren and explain what being an entrepreneur meant in 2014 – the conditions, the emotions and how it led to the life we continued. And, yes, we want to show them that we had lunch once with this or that very successful person, before anyone knew about them. Without the need for WIFI, electricity or a ‘cloud’ (the standard tools of our trade), this book also is a record of our times and a repository of our experiences.

This book is a prototype – our first take on a publication of its kind, with more to follow, we hope. While there is surely room for improvement, we want to be transparent about the intentions and ambitions behind it, and invite you to measure us against them. (First reactions to the book from Fast Company magazine cofounder Alan Webber, as well as distribution details can be found on theAlmanach page.)

1. What is it about?
2. The book gives an overview of the Austrian venture scene and its current trends and challenges. Over 20 founders of different industries such as design, tech, music, healthcare, hardware, share their experiences and talk about failure, success, resurrection and everything in between. 
3. Where do I get it?
4. Ventures Almanach Austria 2015 is available in selected places in Austria, details can be found on the Almanach page (link above). International orders can be submitted via email to office@inventures.eu.

FOUNDERS FIRST

We have made a conscious effort to put founders at the forefront. This book gives space to over 20 founders to share not only their experience, but also their expertise and views on their respective industries. We very much enjoy stories of people who choose not to follow a conventional career path, but rather decide to share their big idea with a friend and start a business together. While they may not always pull it off the very first time, they keep at it and often succeed with ensuing attempts.

DEFIANCE, NOT DEFINITION

We have been asked on numerous occasions to define a startup or compare our definition to someone else’s. But aren’t the edges the most interesting sources of surprises? Aren’t the combinations of unusual sectors, business models and scaling mechanisms where novelty comes from? We write about innovators who don’t wait for a definition, defy the norms and let others attach a label.

Backstage impressions of the book making: the team in the office, in the field during a photo shoot and on the finishing straight.

1. The 200 pages include:
2. – 15 guest commentaries from the scene
3. – 9 industry insights
4. – 11 sums granted by governmental agencies
5. – 10 most popular profiles
6. – 10 most popular startup picks
7. – 500 ventures
8. – 150 investors
9. – 195 places to work in a novel way
10. – 150 entrepreneurship classes

TREND VS. HYPE

Doing business, trading goods and selling services are activities as old as mankind. Like fashion or food, they have been evolving with every new generation. Being able to separate contemporary trends from the hype has preoccupied business storytellers for just as long. While today we toss around terms like ‘appy’ and ‘lean’, and can say that communication between and about new businesses is more accessible than ever before, can we already define a business trend, or is it all just hype? Perhaps only time will tell.

TRANSPARENCY

Publishing an Almanach is a claim to comprehensiveness. Nevertheless, one of the greatest challenges about putting together this book has been a general lack of available data and, at times, the unwillingness to share them. Trust reduces transactional costs and opens up markets for many new opportunities and players. In our own unique experience, trust has been the key factor for growing our business, within the team as well as with clients, in Austria and internationally. Save a slot in your bookshelf for your edition! In the meantime, keep up-to-date on inventures.eu.

CLAUDIA AND ONDREJ

Ventures Almanach Austria 2015 is supported by Vienna Business Agency