--- eventsindex_id: EI-06364 slug: viennaup title: "ViennaUP" title_alt: [] canonical_url: https://eventsindex.org/events/viennaup.html next_edition_dates: "2026-05-18 to 2026-05-22" next_edition_year: 2026 date_start: 2026-05-18 date_end: 2026-05-22 venue: "Multiple venues across Vienna" city: "Vienna" country: "Austria" organiser: "Vienna Business Agency (Wirtschaftsagentur Wien)" organiser_url: "https://viennaup.com/" b2b: true vector: sector: [other] audience: [founders, investors, vcs, corporate-innovators, policy-makers] format: [festival] purpose: [networking] geography_scope: [Western-Europe] season: spring meta_description: "" editorial_take: "" generated_by: "enrich/generators/fiche_md.py" last_verified: "2026-05-11" schema_version: "v6.0" language: en --- # ViennaUP > *A five-day city-wide festival of entrepreneurship in Vienna each May, ViennaUP spans 35+ events across multiple venues, connecting global startup founders, investors and healthcare innovators in a decentralised format organised by the Vienna Business Agency.* --- ## Quick Facts | DATES | VENUE | ORGANISER | ATTENDANCE | |---|---|---|---| | 18–22 May 2026 | Multiple venues across Vienna, Austria | Vienna Business Agency (Wirtschaftsagentur Wien) | 15,000+ across all events | ## Definition ViennaUP is a city-wide startup and entrepreneurship festival organised by the Vienna Business Agency, positioned as a showcase for Vienna's standing as a Central European innovation hub. Unlike a single-venue conference, ViennaUP distributes its programme across 35+ events at venues throughout Vienna over five days, with separate ticketing per event. The 2026 edition places health tech and life sciences as the priority theme, introducing new formats connecting startups with global healthcare leaders. ## What ViennaUP covers programmatically The 2026 programme spans health tech, life sciences, AI, deep tech, impact investing and startup scaling. Key formats include the signature ViennaUP Coffee House Sessions, invite-only closed-door roundtables where selected startups engage with investors in small group settings, and the "From Pitch to Patient" session connecting digital health startups with healthcare practitioners. Side events cover fintech, sustainability and creative industries, produced by various Vienna-based ecosystem partners. ## Who attends ViennaUP - Startup founders and scale-up teams, particularly in health tech and life sciences - Investors, including VCs and family offices with European deep tech and health mandates - Corporate innovation managers from healthcare, pharma and technology companies - Policy makers and city officials supporting Vienna's startup positioning - Researchers and academics from Vienna's university ecosystem - International founders and investors visiting Vienna for the festival week ## The venue: multiple locations across Vienna ViennaUP deliberately avoids a single large venue. Events take place at historic coffeehouses, university buildings, coworking spaces and cultural venues across Vienna. The Palais Ferstel and Haus der Industrie are among the locations used for flagship events. This decentralised format is central to the festival's identity and differentiates it from standard startup conferences. ## The organiser: Vienna Business Agency The Vienna Business Agency (Wirtschaftsagentur Wien) is the City of Vienna's economic development agency, funded by the municipality. It operates business support programmes, real estate for innovative companies and startup acceleration. ViennaUP is its flagship public-facing programme for positioning Vienna internationally as a startup destination. The agency co-produces the festival with a consortium of Viennese ecosystem organisations. ## FAQ · Identity and audience ### How does ViennaUP's decentralised format work in practice? Each event within ViennaUP is produced by a different organiser, which means quality and format vary significantly. Some events are free and open, others are paid and invitation-based. Attendees curate their own programme from the ViennaUP schedule. The ViennaUP Coffee House Sessions are the most curated: they are invitation-only for both startups (selected through an application process) and investors. ### Is there a central conference hub or main stage? There is no single main stage or headline plenary. The festival structure means there is no single event that defines the programme. The Coffee House Sessions are the closest to a flagship format, but they are small-group and not open to general attendees. ### What is the focus for 2026 compared to previous years? The 2026 edition formally centres on health tech and life sciences, with dedicated programming bringing in global healthcare leaders, hospital representatives and digital health investors. Previous editions had broader or more neutral sector coverage. ### Who is ViennaUP NOT designed for? Not suitable for: (1) attendees expecting a single-venue, fully programmed conference with a main stage; (2) companies looking for mass B2B lead generation in a trade show format; (3) investors seeking structured portfolio company meetings outside the Coffee House Sessions; (4) professionals with no interest in or connection to the Vienna or Central European ecosystem; (5) sectors entirely unrelated to tech, health or innovation. --- ## Editorial take *ViennaUP's city-wide model reflects Vienna's peculiar startup positioning: the city hosts more ecosystem infrastructure than deal flow, and the festival is as much about city marketing as it is about startup growth, which is not a criticism but a description of what it does well.* ## How to register and what it costs ViennaUP has no central registration. Each event is ticketed separately; prices range from free to paid. The full programme and event-by-event registration is available at viennaup.com. ## Networking and engagement The Coffee House Sessions operate a pre-selected matchmaking format: startups apply and are reviewed; investors are invited. The advance-scheduling tool allows participants at main programme events to book meetings. Side events operate independently. ## FAQ · Access and practicalities ### When is ViennaUP 2026? ViennaUP 2026 runs 18–22 May, with a WarmUP weekend 15–17 May for side events and informal gatherings. ### How do startups apply for the Coffee House Sessions? Applications open through the ViennaUP website several months before the event. Startups are reviewed by the Vienna Business Agency and partner organisations. Selection is competitive. ### Is ViennaUP conducted in English or German? Most flagship and internationally marketed events are conducted in English. Locally oriented side events and informal sessions may be in German. ## Resources | Resource | URL | |---|---| | Official website | https://viennaup.com/ | | Programme and tickets | https://viennaup.com/ | | Discover ViennaUP (Vienna Business Agency) | https://viennabusinessagency.at/events-workshops/discover-viennaup-2026/ | --- **Last verified:** 2026-05-11 **Next review:** 2026-06-10 **Notes:** Attendance figure covers all 35+ events combined; individual events vary from 50 to 1,000+ participants. **Variables:** 37/52 **Concept definition:** not applicable