aws Founders Fund (aws Gründerfonds)

aws Founders Fund is an Austrian venture capital fund. As co-investors, they invest in high-growth start-ups in their later seed and early stage phase. As a long-term partner, they offer both start-up and follow-up financing.

As a subsidiary of Austria Wirtschaftsservice Gesellschaft mbH (aws), aws Founders Fund has EUR 68.5 m under management.

The objective of aws Founders Fund is to establish a partnership among equals with portfolio companies and to offer a supportive role in establishing a market position as well as achieving and maintaining sustainable growth. 

Companies they invest in:

-Companies headquartered in Austria 

-No revenues required, max. EUR 10m 

-Less than 50 employees 

-Founders must hold equity stakes in the company of at least 25 %  

-The company was founded up to 6 years ago respectively first sales were generated no more than 6 years ago. In this case, the following size criteria are reduced to 70 % of the above-mentioned figures: number of employees, turnover, balance sheet total

-Management team with strong execution skills 

-Highly scalable business model with clearly recognisable benefit to the customer and documented proof of concept or proof of market 

-Target market with considerable volume and high growth potential 

-Investment amount between EUR 100,000 and EUR 3m (flexible contract structures) 

-For mezzanine investments: the company already generates revenues in its core business

Applicants willing to apply for the fund can fill out this form.

Portfolio: Gourban, App Radar, Greenpass, Innerspace.