Launched in 2021, the Tourism Incubator is aimed at innovative and creative people who want to make a career in the industry. Nine start-ups successfully completed the program last year. "The third round is currently underway, in which a total of 30 new projects are to be developed to market maturity. The first four start-ups for round three have already been selected. The Upper Austrian Department of Economy and Tourism, the Business Upper Austria location agency, Oberösterreich Tourismus GmbH and tech2b Inkubator GmbH will advise and support the projects over a period of twelve months," explains Markus Achleitner, Provincial Councillor for Economy and Tourism. Interested parties can apply for the next places at www.tech2b.at/gruenden-tourismus until November 30.
On October 19, the graduation ceremony for the participants of the second round took place in the RUFF Indoor Golf Lounge, where Markus Achleitner, Provincial Councillor for Economic Affairs and Tourism, presented the certificates. These nine start-ups successfully completed the Tourism Incubator and were supported until July 2023:
- Streuobstwerkstatt / Zell an der Pram (Schärding district) - own distribution in the tourism industry as a contribution to the preservation of the cultural landscape of meadow orchards and against food waste
streuobstwerkstatt.at - Crowddriving / Steyr - E-taxi & e-delivery service for tourism businesses
https://crowddriving.at/ - RUFF Indoor Golf Lounge / Leonding (Linz-Land district) - low-threshold entry for those interested in golf
https://ruffgolf.at/ - Hotel König - Königsallee / Kremsmünster (Kirchdorf district) - multifunctional hotel
gasthof-koenig.at - Knödlerei / Linz - traditional dumplings are combined with popular desserts and food trends
- MAVIS / Schlierbach (Kirchdorf district) - DIY conversion system for a "next generation adventure van"
mavis.one - Natur Brauerei Almtal / Scharnstein (Gmunden district) - Beer experience in the Almtal valley
naturbrauerei-almtal.at - Robotic Kitchen / Neuzeug (Steyr-Land district) - Equipment for automation in the catering industry
dinnity.com - SBÄM / Linz - international music festival in Upper Austria with exclusively regional partners
https://fest.sbam.rocks/
From crowd recruiting tools to mobile wooden huts
A jury has already selected the first four projects for the third round. The Upper Austrian Department of Economic Affairs and Tourism, the Business Upper Austria location agency, Oberösterreich Tourismus GmbH and tech2b Inkubator GmbH have been supporting and advising these start-ups and ideas since the beginning of October 2023:
- FOX & EAGLE / Engerwitzdorf (Urfahr-Umgebung district)
The crowd recruiting tool is designed to enable a "Fox" - i.e. a company - to find new employees largely on a success-based and budget-friendly basis. The Talent Scouts, also known as "Eagles", form the recruiting community, discover vacancies on the "Fox & Eagle" platform and recommend them to suitable applicants. Employers can also use the platform to manage applications and start the selection process. The focus is currently on companies in the tourism industry.
foxandeagle.com - Josefine Köstlich. We bake it together / Linz
At Josefine Köstlich, pensioners cook and bake together to combat poverty in old age and loneliness. They not only revive the Austrian pastry culture, a recognized UNESCO World Heritage Site, but also reinterpret some recipes to meet the wishes of the health-conscious and people with allergies or intolerances. The headquarters with production and café is planned in a residential area of Linz with a high proportion of older people. The city center is to be supplied with pop-up cafés, a Mehlspeis truck and cooperating bakery branches. - "Liabs Platzl" - where fox and hare say goodnight / Freistadt district
"Liabs Platzl" stands for retreats in nature: smart huts far away from the city with a uniform look made from Mühlviertel wood. The plan is to set up the mobile units along leisure trails near attractive places and tourist infrastructure. The focus is on environmentally friendly production, construction and operation. The huts function both independently and with existing infrastructure. They can also be used to revitalize vacant properties. It is not necessary to seal off new areas. - City / Linz
The tastemy.city map is a self-guided tasting tour that turns eating into a personal experience, independent of restaurants and reservations. Guests get to know culinary insider tips off the beaten tourist track and go on a discovery tour with audio-visual bonus material. For the participating culinary stations (restaurants, street food, markets, farm stores, etc.), the specially developed, automated and digital billing system offers an attractive sales channel with little additional effort.
https://tastemy.city/
Cross-industry exchange
"Innovations make a location attractive - both for companies and for employees. Promoting this is therefore one of our core tasks as a location agency. In cooperation with tech2b and Upper Austria Tourism, we have already supported many ideas in the tourism sector to market maturity. The young entrepreneurs also benefit from the exchange with other sectors thanks to our network of more than 2,200 partners," emphasizes Werner Pamminger, Managing Director of Business Upper Austria.
Building synergies and expertise
"After two years of the Tourism Incubator, we recognize more than ever what an important pioneering role the start-up programme plays for a sustainable and innovative tourism and start-up landscape in Upper Austria. In view of the increasing shortage of skilled workers, inflation and structural change in tourism, it is crucial to promote innovative solutions and strengthen the tourism sector. All the more reason for us to look forward to the pioneering ideas and solutions of the participants in the third round. The synergies with other start-ups, partnerships and the expertise gained will be invaluable in shaping the future of tourism in Upper Austria together," explains tech2b Managing Director Raphael Friedl.
Expansion of the start-up culture
"Upper Austria's tourism and leisure industry needs dynamic start-ups with creative and innovative ideas in order to drive forward the sustainable and digital transformation of the sector. The state tourism strategy 2030 focuses on promoting and expanding this start-up culture. However, such ventures require know-how and staying power. That is why we accompany entrepreneurial ideas in the Tourism Incubator with long-term support and mentoring in order to provide targeted support for these projects right from the start. This creates a fruitful exchange and learning process for both sides, which has already led to long-term collaborations with Upper Austria Tourism," says Andreas Winkelhofer, Managing Director of Upper Austria Tourism.
The services of the Upper Austrian Tourism Incubator
Start-ups are supported in the implementation of their idea, the development of a sustainable, future-oriented and at the same time financially viable business plan and a business concept tailored to it, as well as in applying for further funding. They receive twelve months of industry-specific and strategic start-up advice and support from the experts at tech2b, Business Upper Austria and Upper Austria Tourism as well as a non-repayable cash grant of EUR 10,000. The young entrepreneurs and founders can also take part in a specialist and start-up-relevant training program. A top-class team of mentors accompanies the start-ups. The founders benefit from the extensive tech2b partner network as well as the industry network of Upper Austria Tourism and Business Upper Austria. Regular exchange meetings are also held. Interested parties can apply for the next round at www.tech2b.at/gruenden-tourismus until November 30.
Success thanks to incubator
hublz GmbH has already passed through the Tourism Incubator in the first round and has been a success story. "Without the Tourism Incubator, we wouldn't be where we are today. We have completed major projects with strong partners such as the European Capital of Culture Bad Ischl Salzkammergut 2024, the Mozarteum Salzburg and the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra and won international competitions. Thanks to the cultural and tourism expertise of Oberösterreich Tourismus, the business and economic expertise of Business Upper Austria, the support of tech2b in areas such as finance, sales development and marketing as well as coaching from two mentors, we have really arrived on the market," explains CEO and founder Barbara Pölzleithner.
