Introduction to Advantage Austria, Rafael Rasinger Amilivia interview

Introduction to Advantage Austria, Rafael Rasinger Amilivia interview

Trip to Vienna

Last week in Vienna I was delighted to meet Rafael Rasinger Amilivia the Head of StartUps and New Corporates for Advantage Austria (a section of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, Wirtschaftskammer Österreich or WKO).

We talked over coffee in @cocoquadrat, one of many co-working spaces in the Austrian capital. After moving on from a quick chat on the inexplicable course of Brexit, we got down to business.

Who is Rafael Rasinger Amilivia?

Rafael is a startup expert, a Masters graduate of Entrepreneurship and Innovation from Vienna University, and he holds a Masters in Informatics and Telecommunications from Technikum Wien. At Advantage Austria he is responsible for innovation and technology internationalisation, and leads the Startups and New Corporates section. He is responsible for a range of activities including the ‘Go Silicon Valley’ initiative where – since 2009 – Austrian companies are placed in accelerator programmes in Silicon Valley. A frequent speaker at Austrian and international startup events, Rafael has been involved in a range of projects including a mentoring programme for migrants, harnessing the potential of people fleeing to Europe from war and civil strife in their home countries.

And what is Advantage Austria?

Advantage Austria is the internationalisation and innovation agency for Austria. With a worldwide network of over 110 offices in 70 countries, it is one part of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ). Its primary aim is to support Austrian businesses to grow in international markets.

Build a bridge to the world

We offer comprehensive programmes that assist domestic companies “build a bridge to the world” explains Rafael. A range of business development services are on offer for both Austrian companies and their international business associates. Advisers around the globe assist in locating Austrian suppliers and business partners. About 1,200 events a year are organised bringing business contacts together for network events, including “curated visits” to research best practice elsewhere.

In Austria, by law all businesses must be members of the Federal Chamber, and pay a membership fee. This income funds Advantage Austria activities, and enables enterprise supports to be independent, and more “hands-on” than state managed schemes in other countries.

Two particular points of interest I note from the interview. Firstly, the proactive promotion and recognition of companies that incorporate globalisation into their business strategies from an early stage of planning. Check out Austria’s Born Global Champions, and Born Global Innovators – I came across the founders of one of these companies, Newsadoo, on their stand at the Dublin Tech Summit in 2018.

And secondly the role of the Austrian “Mittelstand”, medium sized companies, in the Austrian economy.  There are 200 or more of these “hidden champions” in Austria. Businesses that are among the top three companies in the world in their market niches, are frequently family owned and have a turnover of less than €200 million. These significant companies are mostly not listed and often face cultural challenges when planning to scale.  In Austria, 190 companies fall into this category. A challenge for business owners is how to grow from SME to being a “hidden champion” in an increasingly globalised economy.

And finally, what is the advantage of Vienna and Austria?

After a week in Vienna I could understand why the Economist has just named it the most liveable city in the world. A city gilded with the remnants of empire, palaces, museums and great art works. An excellent transport system, a competitive cost of living and a tradition of coffee houses (started well before Starbucks!). With lively startup eco-systems in the major Austrian cities, regular startup events are held, and nearly all conducted in the international language of startups, English.

Austria is a prime location in Central Europe, for attracting talent and to gain access to huge B2B and B2C markets, in fact bordering 8 countries. “We are the springboard for ambitious companies,” affirms Rafael as we exchange our farewells.

Find out about Advantage Austria here https://www.advantageaustria.org

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