FACTORY -
The Incubation Program

FACTORY is our structured 12-month incubation program. It is aimed at innovative, growth-oriented startups that are already founded or about to be founded.

Our add-on FACTORY+ (AplusB South-West) also supports research-, technology-, and innovation-based startup projects with high growth potential – with special additional services and support options.

Our goal: your market entry – solid, guided, and connected.

Apply until September 14th (23:59)!

The Incubation Program FACTORY

• Coaching & Roadmap
  Your personal startup coach will support you over 12 months – along clearly defined goals outlined in your individual roadmap.
• Workshops & Peer Learning
  Regular trainings on business development, go-to-market, legal, investment readiness, and more – combined with learning formats alongside other startups.
• Mentoring
  You will receive individual support from an experienced business leader who will guide you as a mentor over the course of 12 months.
• Access to the startup ecosystem
  Networking with investors, companies, research institutions – including media visibility, event participation, and access to additional startup-relevant benefits.
• State funding up to €25,000
  For eligible projects, the Province of Salzburg provides financial support.

The FACTORY+ add-on

Startups with a strong focus on RTI (research, technology, innovation) receive additional benefits:

• Up to € 10,000 in extra funding (State of Salzburg)
• € 2,000 budget for strategic experts/external consulting
• Access to in-depth RTI-related training (IP, legal, and impact workshops) and the AplusB network (nationwide incubator network with a focus on high-tech innovations)
• Coworking at Startup Salzburg included

Is FACTORY(+) right for you?

You can apply if you…

• pursues an innovative, technology- or knowledge-based business model
• euer Startup vor max. fünf Jahren gegründet habt oder eine Gründung in den kommenden Monaten geplant ist
• You founded your startup no more than five years ago or plan to do so in the coming months.
• formed a founding team and assigned roles
• have your company headquarters in Salzburg or are planning to move here
• are prepared to actively engage in coaching, training, and mentoring for 12 months
• want to intensively promote your startup and have the necessary time resources to do so

You can also apply for FACTORY+ (AplusB) if …

• pursues a research, technology, or innovation-based project
• have sound, defensible core expertise as the basis for the company (e.g., specialized knowledge or patentable technology)
• your business model is geared toward above-average growth and scaling

RTI-based startup projects (FACTORY+) ideally meet one or more of these criteria:

• High level of innovation and unique technological features
• Risk-intensive R&D activities in an academic context
• Intellectual property, technology transfer, or spin-offs from research institutions
• Specialized knowledge gained through scientific experience
• Research collaborations with universities or non-university institutions

Take a closer look

• You’ll find the full list of criteria in the FACTORY / FACTORY+ admission criteria (pdf – German)
• You’ll also find an overview of all terms and conditions (pdf – German)

How to apply

Fill out and submit the application form and the pitch deck (pptx) by Monday, September 14, 2026 (11:59 PM) at the latest! Need a hand with your pitch deck? Check out this guide (pdf).
Please note: all application materials are in German.

Timeline

Any Questions?

We’re offering two online sessions where you can meet us live, get the full picture, and ask us anything:

Info Hour II, Q&A, Monday, September 7th 2026, 4:30–6pm

Join Info Hour II

Recording of Info Hour I, Wednesday, August 5, 2026 (German)

Download the Info Hour I presentation (pdf – German)

Still have Questions? We’re here for you!

Startup Salzburg Team
welcome@startup-salzburg.at
+43 5 7599 722 85

You can of course also find advice and guidance for your application at all Startup Salzburg Service-Points.