aws Preseed – Innovative Solutions
Open continuously
No deadline — apply whenever you are ready.
'The maximum possible grant amounts to EUR 100,000' with the gender bonus; otherwise EUR 89,000. Funding rate is 80% of eligible costs (10% equity from shareholders, 10% from other defined monetary sources); with the gender bonus 90% (5% equity, 5% other sources).
You must co-fund 20%.
Austria Wirtschaftsservice GmbH (aws)
public · national
Deadline: rolling — Ongoing submission with several decision dates per year.
This funder does not publish a success rate. We rank it using the rate observed across similar programmes and label it as an estimate rather than implying we know.
Major bid — written case, budget, possibly partners.
You fund 20% yourself.
Who can apply
- Under 1 years old
- micro enterprises
- Sectors: deeptech, any
- Stage: idea, pre_seed
- Locally registered entity required
Applicants may be 'natural persons (start-up teams before the company is established)' or companies within 6 months of Commercial Register registration; also 'already established independent partnerships or corporations (limited to micro and small enterprises according to the SME definition)'. A gender bonus raises the rate and ceiling. De minimis is not stated on the page.
How to apply
- Check the target group: start-up teams before incorporation, or companies registered in the Commercial Register no more than 6 months ago (micro and small enterprises). — link
- Prepare the project and financing plan showing the required equity and other own contributions.
- Submit through the aws Fördermanager; applications are decided at one of several decision dates per year. — link
What you will need
- Business plan / project description
- Financing plan evidencing the equity contribution by shareholders
- Commercial Register extract (if already incorporated) (if applicable)
Source. https://www.aws.at/en/aws-preseed-innovative-solutions/ — checked 2026-08-14
"The maximum possible grant amounts to EUR 100,000 ... 80 % of eligible costs, with 10 % to be contributed as equity by shareholders ... max. 6 months after their registration in the Commercial Register ... Ongoing; several decision dates per year."