Challenge the Status Quo -
Workshop series
Challenge the status quo!
Why wait for a better future when you can help shape it?
Our world is facing profound systemic crises such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource scarcity. These challenges are structurally entrenched—those who want to create sustainable solutions must be prepared to think beyond short-term measures.
This is exactly where Challenge the Status Quo comes in. In this series of workshops, you will learn from top experts and serial entrepreneurs how to recognize systemic connections, question them, and transform them into sustainable solutions with an entrepreneurial mindset and self-efficacy.
Whether you have initial ideas or are just starting out, we will accompany you on your journey from vision to implementation. With proven methods, practical tools, and a dedicated community, we will support you in developing your project with a real social and environmental impact.
Short Facts
- 1 series of workshops
- 4 federal states (Salzburg, Tyrol, Carinthia, and Vorarlberg)
- Program duration: October 13 to November 14, 2025
- Online workshops and concluding in-person ideas workshop (workshops can be booked as a series or individually)
Who is the Challenge the Status Quo workshop series for?
It is the perfect opportunity for students, graduates, and professionals from all disciplines who are interested in starting their own business and want to make an active contribution to a better world. You don’t need any prior knowledge of entrepreneurship or business model development to participate in this workshop series. If you are interested in sustainable ideas with impact and want to meet like-minded people, Challenge the Status Quo is the right place for you!
We are looking for you as:
- Idea Developers: You don’t have an idea yet but want to work on a problem and develop ideas together with other participants.
- Aspiring Entrepreneurs: You already have an idea and want to further develop it? Apply with your team or find new team members!
Overview Dates
- Online Workshop 1: Entrepreneurial Spirit
with Günes Seyfarth, speaker and serial entrepreneur for impact businesses
Monday, October 13, 2025 | Online | Time: 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. - Online Workshop 2: Transition to an Impact Economy – A Systemic Perspective
with Charly Kleissner, impact investor and serial entrepreneur
Monday, October 20, 2025 | Online | Time: 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. - Online Workshop 3: Regenerative Business Models
with Simon Tumler, endlich
Monday, October 27, 2025 | Online | Time: 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- In-person ideas workshop
Track 1: Environment, climate, sustainability
Track 2: Innovate Mobility – Salzburg on the move
Monday, 14.11.2025 | Churfürststrasse 1 (Rooms 202 and 207), University of Salzburg – Faculty of Law | Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Registration for ideas workshop
Costs & Language
Participation in the workshop series is free of charge for all participants from the federal states. As places are limited, we ask that you make a strong commitment and attend all sessions.
The online workshops and the ideas workshop will be held in German.
About the Challenge the Status Quo workshop series
The workshop series is being run by the AplusB South-West centers Startup Salzburg, Startup.Tirol, the University of Innsbruck, the build! Start-up Center Carinthia, and Startup Vorarlberg.
Your contact in Salzburg
Michael Kurz
Startup Salzburg / Innovation Salzburg
michael.kurz@innovation-salzburg.at
