Deep tech & spin-offs

We focus on academic spin-offs and deep tech startups with a strong innovation based on science, engineering and technology.

Early-stage investment

We invest as lead investor in pre-seed and seed stages with initial tickets starting at 150k EUR and have the ability to follow on in later rounds.

Austria and beyond

We focus on Austria, but have the ability to invest beyond our geographical sweetspot into exceptional teams located anywhere in Europe.

Proximity to scientific research

Supported by a strong partner – yet fully independent as a VC firm. Thanks to our close affiliation with the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), our portfolio companies can benefit from this partnership in various ways. Our mission is to bring the same level of excellence to business as ISTA is bringing to research.

IST campus

ISTA research

Nature has classified ISTA as a rising star and has ranked it globally #3 in the “Nature Index” normalized ranking, and #8 in the “Nature Index Top 30 under 30”.

  • ISTA research
    • IST Lab

    ISTA infrastructure

    • Life science and pre-clinical facility
    • Nanofabrication facility
    • Bioimaging and microscopy facility
    • Machine shop
    • Scientific computing infrastructure

  • ISTA infrastructure
    • IST PARK

    ISTA PARK

    From a single coworking desk to a full fledged biotech lab: ISTA PARK offers various accommodation options for startups and high-tech companies.

  • ISTA PARK

      • Our Portfolio

      Find out what our portfolio companies are working on and you will catch a glimpse of the future. From biologists working on programming the elements of life, to computer scientists exploring the possibilities of machine learning in healthcare and business, to material scientists manipulating the very objects we are in touch with every day. The spectrum of our portfolio is as broad as science itself.

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      With friendly support from aws – The Austrian promotional bank

      aws PreSeed finances costs incurred by doing scientific work for and preparing the commercial utilisation of an innovative project. Such costs include expenses for studies and concepts, consumables and human resources. The maximum grant is € 200,000. It is paid out in performance-related tranches based on a milestone concept. Repayment terms normally range from 18 to 24 months. For more information on aws Preseed, please consult www.preseed.at.

      aws - Austrian Promotional Bank
      European Commission and EIF Logo

      IST cube is supported by InnovFin Equity, with the financial backing of the European Union under Horizon 2020 Financial Instruments and the European Fund for Strategic Investments (“EFSI”) set up under the Investment Plan for Europe. The purpose of EFSI is to help support financing and implementing productive investments in the European Union and to ensure increased access to financing.

      Looking for funding?

      Send us your pitch deck if you're a science driven, European startup or university spin-off.

      Pitch us!