Founder Institute Vienna

🚀 Meet Our Jury: Ivo Ronner – A Global Venture Capitalist Helping Startups Scale! We’re thrilled to announce that Ivo Ronner will be joining our Founder Institute Vienna & Switzerland Online Pitching Event on February 6th at 18:00 CET as a jury member! 🌍 💰 As a Venture Capitalist and Founder of Ronner Ventures Ltd, Ivo has spent years investing in and scaling startups across Europe and the U.S. With a strong background in corporate venture capital, incubators, and accelerators, he has helped numerous startups successfully navigate the investment process and scale to new heights. 📈 Currently, Ivo leads investments for Swiss Post, screening over 1,000 deals annually and securing top-tier investments in companies like Seenons, Classtime, and ContractHero | Digital Contract Management. His deep understanding of startup growth, financing, and strategy makes him an invaluable resource for founders looking to refine their pitch and attract investors. 🛠 As an active board member and advisor, Ivo doesn’t just invest—he actively supports startups in accelerating their growth. With roles at several startups, he brings hands-on expertise in securing funding, building strategic partnerships, and scaling internationally. 🔥 Why should founders be excited to pitch to Ivo? Get expert feedback from an investor who evaluates startups daily 🎯 Gain insights into what VCs look for in early-stage companies 💡 Learn how to position your startup for international investment 🌍 🎓 Ivo is a long term valued mentor at Founder Institute, helping founders sharpen their pitch, refine their strategy, and prepare for investor discussions. This is a rare chance to pitch in front of an investor with global VC experience and a track record of scaling startups across multiple industries. 🚀 Want to be one of the selected founders pitching live? Sign up now: https://fi.co/e/366498/sp1 Even if you’re not pitching, join us to learn from top experts and see what makes a pitch truly stand out! #Startups #Pitching #VC #VentureCapital #Entrepreneurship Ingeborg Gasser-Kriss Lilla Peczely Jacqueline Kressner Kasia Sadowska Stanish GUNASEKARAN Stephan Kreiger

Learn Fundraising & Watch a Live Startup Pitch! 💼 Aspiring entrepreneurs, this is for you! Join us for an exclusive online event where you’ll: - Discover fundraising models like bootstrapping, angel investment, and venture capital. - Learn how to craft a solid pitch that attracts investors. - Watch a LIVE pitch session as a HealthTech entrepreneur presents to a real VC! - Gain insights into how VCs evaluate startups and ask questions. - Participate in a Q&A session to get expert advice on your fundraising journey. 📅 Date: Feb 03, 2025 ⏰ Time: 06:00 pm - 07:30 pm CET 📍 Location: Online Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, network, and get inspired! 👉 Sign Up Now: https://fi.co/e/366040/sf1 #LivePitch #StartupFunding #EntrepreneurshipJourney Stanish GUNASEKARAN Jacqueline Kressner Stephan Kreiger Kasia Sadowska Malgorzata Zofia Goraczek Vladimir Pletyukhin Evelina Lundqvist Alexander Brix Andrei Podlesnyi Jiaran Wang FH-Hon.Prof. Ing.Peiman Zamani

We’re thrilled to announce Hannah Wundsam as one of our Jury members for the upcoming hotseat! 🚀 👩🎓 Hannah’s entrepreneurial journey began with a Master’s degree in Strategy, Innovation & Management Control from WU (Vienna University of Economics and Business), and she’s been unstoppable ever since. She’s passionate about building a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem in Austria, empowering people to turn their ideas into impactful businesses. ♻️ As the Co-Founder of RePhil, a green tech startup revolutionising reusable takeaway packaging, Hannah has already made waves, winning the 2019 Entrepreneurship Avenue Pitch Competition. 📈 In her role as Co-Managing Director of AustrianStartups, Austria’s largest startup platform and think tank, Hannah has been inspiring, educating, and connecting entrepreneurs across the country. 💡 She’s also a Board Member of the European Startup Network and 120 Ventures, as well as a Sigma Squared Society Fellow, making her a true leader in the global startup ecosystem. 🎒 Beyond her entrepreneurial work, Hannah is deeply committed to community building and mentorship. She serves as the Curator of the Global Shapers Vienna Hub (2024/25), where she leads initiatives to empower young changemakers. Previously, she was the Vice Curator (2023/24) and has been a Board Member of the Global Shapers Community since 2021. 🏫 Additionally, as a former Mentor at the female factor, she has proudly supported the next generation of female leaders by sharing her experiences, insights, and network. Her dedication to fostering innovation and leadership extends back to her time with [sic!] - students' innovation centre, where she organized events, led workshops, and provided guidance for socially and ecologically driven projects. This is your chance to get invaluable feedback from Hannah and other ecosystem champions and investors! 📅 Date: Feb 06, 2025 ⏰ Time: 06:00 pm - 07:30 pm 📍 Location: Online 👉 Sign Up Now: https://fi.co/e/366498/sp1 #StartupPitch #Entrepreneurship #Innovation Jacqueline Kressner Kasia Sadowska Ingeborg Gasser-Kriss Lilla Peczely Athanasios T. Ladopoulos Stephan Kreiger

Watch a seasoned HealthTech Entrepreneur Pitch LIVE to a VC! 🚀 What does it take to impress a venture capitalist? Find out at our upcoming online event! Here’s what you’ll experience: ✅ A LIVE pitch session where a HealthTech entrepreneur presents their idea to a VC. ✅ Learn how VCs evaluate startups and ask critical questions. ✅ Discover the best fundraising models and strategies to secure funding. 💬 Plus, participate in a Q&A session with experts to get all your fundraising doubts cleared! 📅 Date: Feb 03, 2025 ⏰ Time: 06:00 pm - 07:30 pm CET 📍 Location: Online This is your chance to learn, connect, and get inspired. Don’t miss it! 👉 Sign Up Now: https://fi.co/e/366040/sf1 #StartupPitch #HealthTech #VentureCapital Kambis Kohansal Vajargah Sara Bentsen Thomas Walbert Fabian Geyrhalter Florian Wimmer Jacqueline Kressner Stanish GUNASEKARAN Michael Schneider

Dear Founder Institute Mentors✨ As we received quite a few questions regarding the modalities of the upcoming program, we’ll be doing a few online sessions together with our colleagues from Switzerland to explain all the details. We will answer: - What to expect from the program - How the sessions work - Types of mentors - How to set up office hours - Any questions you might have If you have open questions you can join any of these three sessions, where we will cover all the details about the program: 📆Thu, 30.01. 12:00 - 13:00 CET 📆Wed, 05.02. 18:00 - 19:00 CET 📆Thu, 20.02. 18:00 - 19:00 CET Kindly drop a comment or a dm to Kasia Sadowska or Stephan Kreiger so we can send you the invite. Excited to have you supporting Founder Institute Vienna and Founder Institute Switzerland Spring 2025 Cohort!

🚀 Think you’ve got the next big startup idea? Pitch it to real investors and experts! On February 6th at 18:00 CET, Founder Institute Vienna and Founder Institute Switzerland are hosting a live online pitching event—your chance to present your startup idea to a panel of investors, mentors, and industry experts for real-time feedback and ratings. 🎯 Meet the Jury: 👨💼 Ivo Ronner – Founder of Ronner Ventures Ltd and global VC expert With years of venture capital experience across Europe and the Americas, Ivo has helped countless startups succeed in their investment and growth processes. As a founder, advisor, and board member, he brings a wealth of expertise in building and scaling startups. Pitching in front of Ivo means gaining insights from someone who truly understands how to create value and secure funding. 👩💼 Hannah Wundsam – Managing Director of AustrianStartups As the leader of Austria’s largest startup platform and think tank, Hannah is dedicated to creating an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem. With a background in founding her own green tech startup and inspiring others to pursue impactful ideas, Hannah will provide invaluable feedback to help founders sharpen their vision and strategy. 👨💼 Pouria Kay – Entrepreneur, Venture Builder, and Executive Coach Pouria has over 15 years of experience transforming innovative ideas into scalable ventures, working with more than 300 companies globally. Recognized as a Top Mentor in Europe by the FounderX Awards, his expertise spans leadership, product strategy, and venture building. Founders will gain actionable insights on building high-performing teams, refining strategy, and overcoming early-stage challenges. 👩💼 Natasha Drapeau – Senior Executive and Board Member With extensive experience in family office investment strategies and scaling technology-enabled businesses, Natasha has successfully driven sustainable growth through strategic planning, M&A, and business transformations. Pitching to Natasha offers founders a unique opportunity to gain feedback from someone who has scaled several businesses and understands the intricacies of investment and international expansion. Whether you’re a founder looking to get some feedback on your startup idea from experienced investors and experts or you’re just interested in what’s currently hot, be sure to sign up! 📈 Ready to make your mark? Register now! (No pitch deck needed) 👉 https://fi.co/e/366498/sp1 🤔 Not sure on how to craft a perfect pitch? We got you covered! Check out our Madlibs format at https://lnkd.in/e2W4zYU9 or get some genAI- powered help from our partner PitchBob.io #Startups #Pitching #Entrepreneurship #Innovation Ingeborg Gasser-Kriss Lilla Peczely Athanasios T. Ladopoulos Kasia Sadowska Stephan Kreiger Jacqueline Kressner Stanish GUNASEKARAN

Experience a Live Startup Pitch to a Venture Capitalist! 💡 Are you ready to take your entrepreneurial journey to the next level? Join us for an exclusive online event where you'll: ✨Learn about top fundraising models for startups. ✨Get insider tips on attracting investors and building a winning pitch. ✨Witness a LIVE pitch by a HealthTech entrepreneur to a real venture capitalist! 📅 Date: Feb 03, 2025 ⏰ Time: 06:00 pm - 07:30 pm CET 📍 Location: Online This is your chance to see how VCs evaluate startups and ask questions. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain actionable insights and network with like-minded entrepreneurs! 👉 Sign Up Now:  https://fi.co/e/366040/sf1 Jacqueline Kressner Stanish GUNASEKARAN Kasia Sadowska Stephan Kreiger #StartupFunding #LivePitch #Entrepreneurship

Partner (Kimolian Innovations) Free Webinaire Announcement! Unlock the Power of AI for Your Startup 🚀 🚀How to leverage AI tools to accelerate innovation 🤔Why AI is the great gender equalizer in tech 💡Actionable steps to bring your ideas to life 📅 When: Monday, 3rd February ⏰ Time: 11:00 AM GMT #AIStartups #Innovation #MVP

🚀 We’re Joining Forces with Founder Institute Switzerland for a Joint Spring 2025 Program! 🚀 We’re thrilled to announce that the Founder Institute Vienna and Founder Institute Switzerland chapters are coming together to run a combined cohort for Spring 2025! This collaboration emphasizes one of the strongest aspects of the Founder Institute network: #Internationalization. By joining forces, we’re creating an even larger international network of founders and mentors, offering unparalleled opportunities for collaboration and growth. 🌍 Meet the amazing FI Switzerland team: 👩💼 Ingeborg Gasser-Kriss– Experienced leader in the food industry and FI Switzerland Director for 5 years 👩💼 Lilla Peczely – Expert in event management and community building 👨💼 Athanasios T. Ladopoulos – Serial startup founder with a strong background in biotech The FI Switzerland chapter is one of the most consistently high-performing in the FI network, with: - 60+ Startups created - 90+ Mentors supporting founders - 3 Local Directors running the program for 6 years This partnership means that founders will gain access to a broader, more diverse network spanning Vienna, Switzerland, France, and Benelux—offering more connections, resources, and market entry opportunities. For mentors, it’s a chance to collaborate with an international cohort of talented founders and expand their reach across multiple ecosystems. We’re excited to work with such a brilliant team and look forward to seeing the incredible value this collaboration will bring to our community. Let’s make Spring 2025 the start of something extraordinary! Join our event tomorrow to meet Mentors & Directors for the spring 2025 cohort. #Startups #Internationalization #FounderInstitute #Collaboration

Founder Institute Vienna #Mentor #Series! continues into the #NewYear! 🚀2025 is gearing up to be a very exciting year for the Vienna ecosystem as we prepare to launch the Founder Institute Vienna and Founder Institute Switzerland Spring '25 cohort across Austria, Switzerland, Benelux, and Paris, bringing together a diverse network of founders and mentors. 🚀 🎉We are extremely excited to share our latest mentor who joins us, Steven Desmyter, President of Man Group, a leading global investment management firm.🎉 💫Steven Desmyter oversees the firm’s Solutions division, drives its global sales and marketing strategy, and leads its responsible investment initiatives. A seasoned leader in the financial industry, he is a regular contributor to Forbes Magazine, writing numerous publications including AIMA, the Financial Times, Fundfire and Nordsip. Welcome Steven Desmyter!💫   💡💡What #advice do you have for startups seeking #international #investors? International investors bring capital but early stage companies should always ask of their investors: what benefits are conferred beyond mere investment? International capital in particular can deliver new networks, perspectives and credibility that can accelerate global growth. The first rule for startups is to choose investors whose strategic goals align with their own. A misaligned investor - a fund driven by a purely financial orientation versus a strategic one, for instance - can lead to short-term pressures that conflict with the business’s long-term goals. Startups should also craft their narrative to highlight the scalability of their model and the global resonance of their product or service. For example, pitching a fintech product with universal appeal (like payments infrastructure) is easier to contextualise for global investors than a highly localised solution. 💡💡 How can startups maintain their #core #values and #culture during rapid international growth? It’s particularly the case with startups that they are defined by their values and culture: a way of being that feels almost intuitive in their founding environment. But it’s also the case that these values can erode as expansion introduces new cultural and operational challenges, as well as the inevitable dilution of impact and influence that comes with any corporate growth. To maintain their core values, startups must codify them early in a way that transcends the personalities of their founders. Values need to be documented and embedded in systems, recognising what it is that is both unique and cherished about your business and make preservation a priority. The founders must also serve as relentless stewards of culture, consistently communicating and embodying those principles. That said, flexibility is crucial. Culture must adapt at the margins to accommodate the norms of new regions without losing its essential ethos. The goal is to balance coherence with contextual nuance: global consistency without cultural imperialism.