Entrepreneurial Leadership Program
Turning Austria's brightest minds into future founders
What can you expect?
The Entrepreneurial Leadership Program is a community for those who go and build rather than complain about problems. It’s a one-year immersive program centered around startup-skills, leadership development and mutual support.
The fellows participate in 8+ hands-on workshops where they are able to learn relevant startup skills ranging from growth hacking, business model development to funding.
Startup Skills
In the second semester of the program, every fellow gets a mentor from the Austrian startup scene. We carefully select and match mentors and mentees, according to ambitions and interests of both parties. Through the mentorship program as well as community events, fellows get introduced to the Austrian startup ecosystem and are enabled to start building their own network.
Mentoring Program
During the one year program, fellows take part in at least 8 Thinker's Lab sessions, where they engage in discussions on controversial topics entrepreneurs are regularly confronted with. In the past we covered topics such as 'Where is AI Heading?', 'the Metaverse' or 'Corporate - Startup Partnerships'.
Discussion Labs
With 8+ workshops on personal development, we want to enable our fellows to grow also on a personal level and address important topics such as building a team, getting what you want or personal reflection.
Personal Development
During their first semester the fellows work in small teams on entrepreneurial projects for the Austrian startup ecosystem. This year fellows have supported our Future Weekly podcast production, organised 2 hackathons and monthly growth stage breakfasts and many more.
Community Projects
Your commitment
Weekly meetings
Active participation in weekly workshops & discussion sessions on Thursdays from 6pm onwards.
Hands-on involvement
Project work that demonstrates positive impact on the ecosystem and working on your own startup.
Focus weekends
Full commitment to the whole program including two kick-off and two hack weekends.
Save the date!
October
21-23
Kick-off Weekend
Start your entrepreneurial journey.
December
2-4
Hack Weekend
Dive into the big challenges of our time.
What you should bring
Program
Mentors & Speakers
Learn it first-hand from the people who’ve done it themselves.
Claudia Falkinger
Co-Founder Punkt vor Strich
Claudia Falkinger
Co-Founder Punkt vor Strich
Adrian Zettl
Partner, TheVentury
Adrian Zettl
Partner, TheVentury
Nina Wöss
Co-Founder & COO, Female Founders
Nina Wöss
Co-Founder & COO, Female Founders
Felix Fein
Associate, Speedinvest
Felix Fein
Associate, Speedinvest
Michael Ionita-Ganea
Co-Founder, RealLifeConnect
Michael Ionita-Ganea
Co-Founder, RealLifeConnect
Constanze Stockhamer
Managing Director, Social Entrepreneurship Network Austria
Constanze Stockhamer
Managing Director, Social Entrepreneurship Network Austria
Kambis Kohansal Vajargah
Head of Startup-Services, WKÖ
Kambis Kohansal Vajargah
Head of Startup-Services, WKÖ
Rudolf Dömötör
Managing Director, WU Entrepreneurship Center
Rudolf Dömötör
Managing Director, WU Entrepreneurship Center
Alexander Brix
COO, Kaleido AI
Alexander Brix
COO, Kaleido AI
Esther Hummel
Co-Founder & CEO, eiria
Esther Hummel
Co-Founder & CEO, eiria
Raphael Thonhauser
Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer ZIRP
Raphael Thonhauser
Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer ZIRP
Michael Schramm
Head of Digital & Emerging Tech Austria, EY
Michael Schramm
Head of Digital & Emerging Tech Austria, EY
Eric Weisz
Co-Founder, Circly
Eric Weisz
Co-Founder, Circly
Gabriel Heiml
Co-Founder, Seedback
Gabriel Heiml
Co-Founder, Seedback
Sophie Pingitzer
Head of Quality & Regulatory Affairs, XUND
Sophie Pingitzer
Head of Quality & Regulatory Affairs, XUND
Jakob Reiter
Partner & Head of IT, The Ventury
Jakob Reiter
Partner & Head of IT, The Ventury
Michael Lukesch
Founder & CEO, VALANX Biotech
Michael Lukesch
Founder & CEO, VALANX Biotech
Clemens Wasner
Founder & CEO, EnliteAI
Clemens Wasner
Founder & CEO, EnliteAI
Philipp Stangl
CEO & Founder, RebelMeat
Philipp Stangl
CEO & Founder, RebelMeat
Lena Hödl
Venture Architect at trive studio
Lena Hödl
Venture Architect at trive studio
Elisabeth Sabeditsch
Co-Founder, palamo
Elisabeth Sabeditsch
Co-Founder, palamo
Eva Keiffenheim
Co-Founder, Phocus
Eva Keiffenheim
Co-Founder, Phocus
Maggie Childs
Co-Founder, Metropole
Maggie Childs
Co-Founder, Metropole
Nina Hödlmayr
Co-Founder, yodel.io
Nina Hödlmayr
Co-Founder, yodel.io
Alyssa-Ninja Weis
Creative Entrepreneur & Author
Alyssa-Ninja Weis
Creative Entrepreneur & Author
Daniel Cronin
Co-Founder, AustrianStartups
Daniel Cronin
Co-Founder, AustrianStartups
ELP Success Stories
Birgit Van Duyvenbode
ELP Intake Summer Semester 2021
Founded REEDuce, aiming at mitigating noice in an effective, sustainable and ecological manner.
Read more
Krystian Stankov
ELP Intake Winter Semester 2020
Co-Founded adorares, a platform for unique craftmenship.
Read more
Alexandra Brandl
ELP Intake Winter Semester 2020
Co-Founded Hero Box (acquired by Vytal).
Read more
Julia Kruslin
ELP Intake Winter Semester 2020
Co-Founded beatvest, the Duolingo for finances.
Read more
Leo Sulzmann
ELP Intake Winter Semester 2021
Founded SennSenn, producing vegan cheese from local vegetables.
Read more
Oliver Alf
ELP Intake Summer Semester 2020
Co-Founded enlivio, enabling digitally supported physiotherapy for a sustainable rehabilitation.
Read more
Matthias Gruber
ELP Intake Winter Semester 2021
Co-Founder Circly, no code AI-algorithms for production and trade.
Read more
FAQs
How can I apply?
Applications are already closed for Autumn, but you can preregister for spring via this form.
Does this program involve any costs?
No. The full €5.000 program fee is currently covered for all participants through scholarships from Markus Wagner, Hansi Hansmann and AustrianStartups.
Where will the meetings take place?
Our meetings will take place physically in co-working spaces around Vienna. Depending on covid and space availability some meetings might also take place online.
How many applicants get selected for the program?
Around 30 fellows are selected each semester.
Do I need to have a business idea to join?
No, you don't need to have a business idea to become part of the program.
Do I need to be a student to apply? Is there an age limit?
No. While the average age group of our fellows is between 25-35, we encourage all age groups to apply. In any case, we strongly recommend you read through the program (see above) and individually decide if it is a fit for you.
I don't have time on Thursday evenings, can I still join?
Unfortunately not - the workshops and the discussion groups always take part on Thursday evening. As they are the main part of our curriculum it is not possible to complete the Entrepreneurial Leadership Program without attending these sessions. However, if you are interested in getting involved with AustrianStartups you can still come to our monthly Stammtisch events.
Do I need to have a business background?
No, definitely not - we encourage people from all different backgrounds to apply.
I am going abroad in the second half of the year. Can I continue with the second part of the program afterwards?
Unfortunately this is not possible.
What happens when the program is over?
After this one very intensive year, you will be ready to join the ELP alumni group. This network of 90+ curious minds will be your life long entrepreneurial community. Through various workshops and social events you will be able to engage and connect with your former peers and active intakes.