Open Austria

The JPM Healthcare Conference is just around the corner, and we are thrilled to announce that we will be hosting a panel on “𝐀𝐈 & 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞: 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐞𝐦𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧” on January 13, 2025. Join us for an engaging discussion and a networking session. Our panelists will explore the latest trends and provide insights in current developments in healthcare.   Meet our panelists: • Sonal Panda, Investor at Tau Ventures • Raoul Scherwitzl, Founder and CEO of Natural Cycles° • Caroline Mitterdorfer, Co-founder and CEO of LEVY Health • Hubert Zajicek, MD, MBA, Co-founder & Partner at Health Wildcatters,  • moderated by Marianna Bonechi, Founder and Managing Partner of Dnipro VC.   📍 Where? SAP Labs, 135 Townsend St 📅 When? Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, 5-6pm  ➡️ What else? The panel discussion is followed by the official Kickoff 2025 of Open Austria with the Co-Directors Isabella Tomás and Michael Dobersberger. Mix and mingle with the Austrian Business Community in the Bay Area.   ‼️This is a private event with limited capacity. We encourage you to register to secure your spot: https://lu.ma/l63fjjef   We are grateful to our partners SAP and ABA - INVEST in AUSTRIA for their support.   We look forward to seeing you and exploring the future of FemTech together!   #JPM2025 #OpenAustria

🤖 Open Austria at the Axios AI SF Summit 2024 🌐✨ Open Austria's Co-Director Isabella Tomás and Silke English attended the Axios AI SF Summit 2024, a gathering of brilliant minds shaping the future of artificial intelligence. This event provided thought-provoking discussions on trust, innovation, and ethical AI development. The agenda was packed with insights from leading voices across the tech industry: 🔹 Clay Bavor & Bret Taylor (Sierra) kicked off the event, offering perspectives on AI’s transformative potential and AI agents. 🔹 David Margines (Waymo) explored autonomous systems and their role in shaping our cities. 🔹 Sue Young (Meta) provided a "View from the Top" on AI-driven social experiences. 🔹 Sravana Kumar Karnati (Walmart) shared how AI is revolutionizing retail operations. 🔹 Katie Zacarian (Earth Species Project) delved into the fascinating intersection of AI and biodiversity. 🔹 Thomas Dohmke (GitHub) discussed the future of AI-enhanced software development. 🔹 Ali Ghodsi (Databricks) tackled the challenges and opportunities of large-scale data and AI models. 🔹 Mike Krieger (Anthropic) addressed building AI that prioritizes safety and transparency. 🔹 Samantha Warren (Adobe) closed the day with thoughts on AI's role in creative industries. Throughout the summit, themes of trust, ethical responsibility, and cross-industry collaboration emerged as key pillars for AI’s success. The networking sessions were equally inspiring, connecting professionals who are passionate about driving AI forward responsibly. It’s clear that the road ahead for AI is as promising as it is challenging, and events like these are essential for ensuring we move forward together. Thank you, Axios and host Ina Fried, for hosting such a powerful conversation on the future of AI! 🤝 #AI #TechSummit #SanFrancisco #AxiosAISF24 #OpenAustria

🇦🇹Austrian innovation takes center stage in San Francisco! 🇦🇹 Yesterday, Open Austria attended the European Innovation Council (EIC) Immersion Landing and witnessing the strides European cleantech innovators are making — with special pride for AVILOO Battery Diagnostics from Austria! 🚀🔋 AVILOO's 3-minute EV battery diagnostic is setting new standards in battery health assessment. Wolfgang Berger, Founder and Managing Director, was pitching at the event as one of 14 selected cleantech startup founders. The event was the highlight of the week-long program, organized by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA), with the support of the EU Office in San Francisco, which offers European innovators a unique opportunity to accelerate their US market entry and foster meaningful connections with partners. In just 4 years, the European Innovation Council has made impressive progress: 🏢 900 companies supported 💶 €10 billion budget (with potential to double!) 💸 €1 billion in equity and €500 million in grants We are thrilled to see European innovation shining brightly in San Francisco. #Innovation #Cleantech #EuropeanInnovation #AVILOO #OpenAustria with: Isabella Tomás, Michael Dobersberger, Silke English

𝗚𝗼𝗨𝗦𝗔 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗻 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 In October/November, a great group of Austrian startups embarked on a journey to be challenged in San Francisco and prepare their startup to scale in the US market. In workshops, the startups explored the differences between the European and US market, had numerous pitch training sessions and individual consultations with industry experts. Through mentors and our network, they got valuable feedback and insights into the Silicon Valley ecosystem. The GoUSA program ended with our traditional highlight, the GoUSA Demo Night. In front of an audience of founders, VCs, investors and friends of Austria, all startups pitched their company in 3 minutes. The audience chose Georg Molzer, CEO of Shadowmap, as the winner of the popular vote. One thing for sure: This evening produced only winners and all pitches advanced to a new level. Special thanks to our great partners from Silicon Valley in Your Pocket - Kal Deutsch & Jeff Wallace - you guys were the best coaches and "partners in crime" anyone could wish for! It was an honour for Open Austria to host such an amazing crowd of innovative and passionate founders. All the best for your future – which will be a bright one, for sure. Starring: Asetila & Lusine from BeVi AI, Miladin from BIMEXPERTS, Tobias from XBuild, Matthias from Carbony, Georg from Shadowmap, Carina & Christian from paiper.one, Robert from sendance GmbH

🚀 Welcome Willow 🌌 On Tuesday, Google presented its latest quantum processor, 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸, at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, CA. 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 is a 105-qubit chip that marks a monumental step forward in the quest for scalable and error-corrected quantum computing. 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄'𝘀 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵? An innovative approach to quantum error correction (QEC), where error rates decrease as more qubits are added - an achievement that brings us closer to practical, large-scale quantum applications. 🌟 In benchmark tests, 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 performed computations in just five minutes that would take the most powerful classical supercomputer 10 septillion years to solve. 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 🤯 This could unlock advancements in fields like pharmaceuticals, battery design, and materials science. Exciting times for quantum computing! What are your thoughts on this leap toward a quantum future? Link in the comment for more information. #OpenAustria #QuantumComputing #GoogleAI #Innovation #TechNews with: Isabella Tomás and Silke English

🇪🇺 On December 5th, Ambassador Jovita Neliupšienė, Head of the EU Delegation to Washington, D.C., visited San Francisco alongside her Deputy, Michael Curtis. Upon arrival, they met with the heads of EU Consulates, including Consul Isabella Tomás, at the local chair, the Netherlands, for an in-depth exchange. Key topics of discussion included: 🔹 California's relationship with the federal level post-elections 🔹 Preparations for the new presidential administration 🔹 The tech sector's stance toward president-elect Trump before and after the elections This ongoing dialogue is important for navigating the evolving political landscape and understanding the impact on transatlantic partnerships and the tech ecosystem. #OpenAustria #EUDiplomacy #SanFrancisco #TechDiplomacy #TransatlanticRelations

Yesterday, Open Austria's Co-Director Isabella Tomás and Silke English attended the insightful event "Tech, venture, and human rights: why human rights risks are material for venture investors, and how to address them." hosted by the United Nations B-Tech Project in cooperation with The Westly Group, Pinegrove Capital Partners, and Silicon Valley Bank. The discussion centered on the intersection of technology, venture capital, and human rights—highlighting why addressing human rights risks is critical for the tech ecosystem. We explored UN B-Techs tools designed to help investors and startups integrate human rights considerations into their strategies, ensuring ethical innovation and reducing risk. It was great to see industry leaders come together to prioritize responsible tech development. Find the B-Tech VC guidance below: • 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹, 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: a Primer for General Partners and Limited Partners, which explains how startups can pose risks to human rights and why these risks are material for investors. Link: https://lnkd.in/eT4YHeyy • 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝗸𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀, which provides GPs with a six-step framework for identifying startups’ human rights risks and helping startups address them. Link: https://lnkd.in/eRMBzdjS • 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝗸𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀, which provides LPs with a six-step framework for identifying and addressing human rights risks linked to venture investments. Link: https://lnkd.in/emBg5GEB A big thank you to the organizer Stephanie Linden Seale and speakers Dave Mullen, Shaun Chaudhuri, Danielle Conkling for advancing this important conversation! #OpenAustria #HumanRights #TechForGood #VentureCapital #TechAndHumanRights

🎉 The Viennese sausage stand ("Wiener Würstelstand") has been officially recognized as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage! 🌭🎖️ This iconic street food institution is more than just a snack stop – it’s a vital piece of Vienna’s culture and social fabric, just like the city’s coffeehouses and wine taverns. From the unique vocabulary to the vibrant atmosphere, sausage stands are an irreplaceable part of everyday life in #Vienna. Curious to learn more? In our "Hungry for More" YouTube series, star chef Lukas Mraz dives into the history and flavors of Vienna’s sausage stands – a must-watch for every foodie! 🎥 https://lnkd.in/dXYzat-B © Paul Bauer #UNESCO #CulturalHeritage #VienneseCulture #WienerWürstelstand #HungryForMore #FoodieVienna #ViennaNow

⚡Open Austria attended the Silicon Valley November Summit 2024 at Plug and Play Tech Center! ⚡ More than 3,500 innovators, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders came together to shape the future of technology, showcasing over 300 startups and hearing from 75+ speakers across 20+ industries. Christoph Schmidt, CFO and Head of Business Development and Innovation at Vienna Airport, shared valuable insights as a panelist on "Concept to Compass: Innovating in Travel." It was also a pleasure to catch up with our friend Stefan Faistenauer, Ventures Senior Associate at Plug and Play Tech Center in Sunnyvale. The event offered inspiring pitches, insightful breakout sessions, and valuable networking opportunities. A big thank you to the organizers and everyone we connected with for an inspiring glimpse into the future of innovation! #Innovation #Startups #OpenAustria #SiliconValley Isabella Tomás Silke English

#OrangeTheWorld: 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗩𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 Violence against women and girls has no place in our world—there is #NoExcuse for it. This year, Open Austria joins the global #16DaysOfActivism and #OrangeTheWorld campaign again to raise awareness and call for action to end gender-based violence. Over the next 16 days, we’ll share resources and ways to support survivors. Did you know that 𝟭 𝗶𝗻 𝟯 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲 experiences physical, psychological, or sexual violence in her lifetime? Every victim is one too many. 🚫 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 Austria is making significant strides at the national level in violence prevention and protection: 🔶The national budget for women and gender equality has more than tripled since 2019. 🔶 Existing services for counseling and victim protection have been expanded. 🔶A comprehensive Violence Prevention Strategy has been developed. Initiatives like the UN’s UNiTE by 2030 campaign aim to: 🔶 Prevent violence by challenging harmful norms. 🔶 Support survivors with services and safe spaces. 🔶 Strengthen laws to hold perpetrators accountable. 𝗦𝗮𝗻 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 If you or someone you know needs help, these local resources provide vital support: 🔶 San Francisco Women Against Rape (SFWAR): Crisis hotline, counseling, and advocacy. 🔶 La Casa de las Madres: Emergency shelter and survivor services. 🔶 Riley Center: Housing, counseling, and advocacy for survivors. 🔶 COOPERATIVE RESTRAINING ORDER CLINIC: Free legal aid for restraining orders. Find more support: SF Gender-Based Violence Resources at sf.gov. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 🔶 Advocate for strong protections and survivor-centered policies. 🔶 Educate yourself and others on recognizing abuse and supporting survivors. 🔶 Donate to organizations fighting to end gender-based violence. Let’s take action—online and offline, in Austria, San Francisco, and worldwide. 𝗧𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲. #OrangeTheWorld #16DaysOfActivism #NoExcuse #EndViolence