aws Venture Capital Initiative

With the aws Venture Capital Initiative we want to stimulate the financing of research- and technology-oriented start-ups and win international venture capital funds for an increased engagement in Austria.

Deadlines for applications
As a rule, the calls take place once a year. Currently no call is open.

Decision process

aws informs about the announcement of a new call and invites qualified fund managers to apply. Information about the respective call can be found in a guide that is published with the announcement of a new call
Applications must be submitted directly to aws within the open deadline.
aws selects qualified VC funds as part of calls. The selection criteria meet the above requirements and are explained in detail in the guide.
aws concludes an investment agreement with the selected funds
Funds are disbursed and repaid in accordance with this Participation Agreement

Duration of the process
Approx. 3 month

Industry sectors
Venture Capital-Fonds, that invest in research- and technology-oriented start-ups

Company size
SME

Development stage
Companies in the start-up or scale-up stage.

Prerequisites

The VC fund is qualified: "track record" of the management team and investment strategy.
The VC fund invests at least twice the amount of the aws capital commitment in Austrian companies
The VC fund invests in research- and technology-oriented start-ups.

Program Objective
Mobilizing private risk capital to finance research and technology-oriented start-ups.

Success rate
10 %

Type of Financing
Investments in VC funds, which have a focus on investments in technology-oriented Austrian start-ups - at market conditions

Please note:

aws can invest directly in VC funds that invest to a significant extent in Austria
aws participates in VC funds not investing significantly in Austria e.g. via tracking Shares, subfund- or trust solutions.
All investment and exit decisions are made by the VC Fund alone - without the aws involved.

Investment Amount
3 to 10 Mio. Euro per Fund

Investment Term
Equals the term of the investee fund

payout
Drawdowns in the form of capital calls throughout the term of the investee fund

payback
Distribution according to the LPA of the investee fund

Expected return
At market level – pari passu with the private investors of the investee fund

Additional programs
n.a.