Markus Achleitner, Provincial Councillor for Economic Affairs and Tourism: "The program is a springboard for high potentials in the tourism industry"
"Upper Austria's #tourismusinkubator is THE support for innovative, creative people who are enthusiastic about tourism and want to make a career in the industry,"emphasizes Markus Achleitner, Provincial Councillor for Economic Affairs and Tourism. The 38 start-ups supported since 2021 now include a number of successful companies. The next round starts in January. Interested parties can apply until the end of October.
"Start-ups also make an important contribution to digital transformation in the tourism industry and offer solutions for the development of new, creative business models. This is why we have launched our own start-up program for innovative tourism start-ups with the #tourismusinkubator," says Provincial Councillor Achleitner.
The Upper Austrian business location agency Business Upper Austria, tech2b Inkubator GmbH and Oberösterreich Tourismus GmbH support start-ups for a year with advice, network access and resources to help them reach market maturity and promote growth. This includes a non-repayable grant of 10,000 euros and a further training program. An experienced team of mentors from tourism, the hotel industry and the start-up scene supports the founders, who also benefit from the partners' extensive network.
"The initiative is intended to help create innovative, digital and sustainable business models for successful tourism in Upper Austria in the future," explains Achleitner.
Success stories from the #tourismusinkubator
One outstanding example of this is the startup SURFjobs FlexCo. Four students from the Johannes Kepler University Linz have developed a short video platform that helps young people with career guidance. SURFjobs emerged from a project at the university. "We were looking for a possible solution to the problem of the lack of skilled workers in the hotel and catering industry. Our research revealed that Traditional career guidance often no longer reaches young people today. So we came up with the idea of short videos like those on TikTok and applied to the #tourismusinkubator," explains co-founder Florian Girlinger.
Award-winning business model
Around a year after its launch, it is clear that the Upper Austrians have struck a nerve, with many companies looking for new ways to get in touch with young people. The app now also features videos about professions in other sectors. SURFjobs has now won two prestigious awards: the i2b prize for the best business plan by students in 2024 and the PEGASUS 2025 in gold in the Future Hopes category.
Girlinger emphasizes: "The #tourismusinkubator was a real game changer for us. Thanks to the coaching, the network and the critical view from outside, we were not only able to hone our idea, but take it to a whole new level. Without this support, we wouldn't be where we are today."
SURFjobs is about to embark on some valuable collaborations and partnerships. For example, the Upper Austrian Education Directorate supports the short video platform. From the fall, secondary schools will also be integrated into the app. This will give pupils a comprehensive 360-degree insight into all training and further education opportunities.
Further success stories
- RUFF Golf Management GmbH: With its indoor golf course as well as Europe's largest new outdoor mini golf course in Leonding.
- hublz GmbH: Your app offers a modular system for digital cultural and music education.
- worklivery GmbH: A digital platform for companies to easily collectively order lunch to the office.
- TrailPulse: A digital counting system used by tourism boards and trail maintainers to direct tourism flows and better plan maintenance work.
Apply now, get started in 2026 and make a career for yourself
In January, more start-ups will have the opportunity to benefit from the #tourismusinkubator. The application deadline for the new round runs until October. If you would like to take advantage of the exclusive opportunity for know-how transfer, coaching, workshops, access to the tourism network and funding, you can apply via the website www.tourismusinkubator.at to get in touch with tech2b. And this is how it goes from there: "There is an initial meeting to get to know each other and for initial tips, then the startup submits its application. Finally, they have to pitch in front of the advisory board, which decides whether they will be accepted into the program," explains Achleitner. From January, the accepted start-ups are then allowed to learn and grow for 12 months," explains Achleitner.
A network for visionaries
What makes the #tourismusinkubator special is that each startup is backed by a unique team supported by consultants from Upper Austria Tourism, the Business Upper Austria location agency and tech2b. Startups that would normally have to knock on countless doors benefit here from direct access to a strong network. This network opens doors, facilitates cooperation and accelerates the entire innovation process.
"The tourism industry is changing: the focus on sustainability, changing customer demands and the challenge of finding new employees require new business models. We need to be innovative here in order to continue to strengthen Upper Austria as a business location. It is therefore important for us to professionalize the tourism start-up scene and promote it through the #tourismusinkubator," explains Provincial Councillor Achleitner.
Program procedure
- Contact by startup via the website www.tourismusinkubator.at
- Getting to know each other at the initial meeting
- Submit application
- Pitching to the award committee
- Decision of the Advisory Board on inclusion in the program
- 12 months of learning, planning, doing, forging ideas, growing,...
Advantages at a glance
- Business plan coaching
- Three strong partners: know-how, industry network and consulting services from Upper Austria Tourism, tech2b and Business Upper Austria
- Training program with BizTrains
- Personal mentoring
- Intensive networking: tourism industry events, regulars' tables and much more
- Cash grant: 10,000 euros funding as a non-repayable cash grant
"Start-ups and new companies are of great importance for tourism. They make a significant contribution to the development of new tourism offers and contribute to competitiveness and structural change in the industry," Achleitner is convinced.
Image SURFjobs founder (Image copyright: Antonio Bayer)
Image Startup Spotlight in October 2024 (Image copyright: Cityfoto/Pelzl-Mairwöger)
