Wiener Startup EDDI Bike startet mit erstem Fahrrad-Abo für Wien
Das Wiener Startup EDDI Bike startet am kommenden Mittwoch in Wien mit seinem neuen Mietkonzept für Fahrräder. Im jährlich kündbaren Abo können Nutzer dauerhaft ein Rad mieten. Neben dem Fahrrad beinhaltet das All-Inclusive-Abo auch Wartung, Reparatur und Ersatz bei Diebstahl innerhalb von 48 Stunden.
Anfang des Jahres kündigte das Wiener Startup Eddi Bike an, im Frühjahr 2021 auf Wiens Straßen mit einem neuen Mietkonzept für Fahrräder starten zu wollen – der brutkasten berichtete. Nun ist es soweit: Ab kommenden Mittwoch steht das Fahrrad-Abo in der Bundeshauptstadt zur Verfügung. Die Anmeldung für ein EDDI Bike funktioniert zunächst nach einem Invite-System. Interessierte können sich bereits auf der Website des Startups anmelden.
All-Inclusive Fahrrad-Abo
Das Jahresabo beträgt 24,90 Euro pro Monat mit einer einmaligen Anmeldegebühr von 15 Euro. Neben dem Fahrrad beinhaltet das All-Inclusive-Abo auch Wartung, Reparatur und Ersatz bei Diebstahl innerhalb von 48 Stunden. Das Geschäftsgebiet umfasst dabei ganz Wien.
Mit dem Rollout steht zunächst ein Modell zur Verfügung. Dabei handelt es sich um ein “Urban Bike”, das durch seinen dezenten schwarzen Rahmen und seine weißen Reifen besticht. Später sollen laut Eddi Bike weitere Modelle folgen.
(c) Markus Fruehmann / Eddi Bike
Abgrenzung zu Free-Floating-Systemen
Mit seinem All-Inclusive-Abo möchte sich Eddi Bike bewusst von altbekannten Free-Floating-Systemen abgrenzen, die in der Vergangenheit des Öfteren in der Kritik standen.
Die Räder bleiben nämlich in der Zeit des Abos dauerhaft im Besitz der Nutzer. Dadurch soll laut Stephan Ziegler, Co-Founder und CEO von Eddi Bike, die Awareness gegenüber dem Produkt gesteigert und ein klares Zeichen für mehr Nachhaltigkeit gesetzt werden.
“Im Gegensatz zu Free-Floating Systemen werden defekte Fahrräder nicht weggeschmissen, sondern von EDDI repariert”, so Ziegler. Das vierköpfige Gründer-Team kooperiert hierfür mit sozialen Werkstätten wie Wien Work und Jugend am Werk.
Eddi Bike zu Gast bei One Change a Week | (c) der brutkasten
Flexibilität: Nutzung und kein Eigentum
Mit dem Fahrrad-Abo sollen laut Ziegler zudem die klassischen Probleme des Fahrradeigentums der Vergangenheit angehören. Dazu zählen die Anschaffungskosten, der Wartungsaufwand oder die Angst vor Diebstahl. Die “48-Stunden-Mobilitätsgarantie” soll zudem ein weiterer Anreiz für die Fahrrad-Flatrate sein, um sich möglichst sorgenfrei durch den Großstadtdschungel zu bewegen.
In diesem Zusammenhang verweist der Gründer darauf, dass die Zukunft in der Nutzung und nicht im Eigentum liegt und zieht einen zu Vergleich Streaming-Services wie Netflix oder Spotify. “Warum kann man sein Fahrrad nicht streamen? Diese Frage war unsere Motivation, das Radfahren ins 21. Jahrhundert zu befördern”, so Ziegler über das neuartige Leihkonzept.
aws First Incubator: Austria as a Launchpad for International Startup Teams
Austria is becoming a hub for international startup teams. The aws First Incubator, starting again in spring 2025 with a special focus call for international founders, offers financial support, mentoring, and networking to help them succeed — as proven by success stories like the Styrian startup Redeem Solar Technologies.
aws First Incubator: Austria as a Launchpad for International Startup Teams
Austria is becoming a hub for international startup teams. The aws First Incubator, starting again in spring 2025 with a special focus call for international founders, offers financial support, mentoring, and networking to help them succeed — as proven by success stories like the Styrian startup Redeem Solar Technologies.
The team around Redeem Solar Technologies Co-Founder Florian Ehrlich-Sommer benefited from the aws First International Incubator
Austria is increasingly positioning itself as an international hub for innovative entrepreneurs. A significant contributor to this development is the aws First Incubator, which will kick off a new round with a special focus call for international founders in spring 2025. This program, run by the Austria Wirtschaftsservice (aws), is designed for startup founders and founding teams, and students who want to establish a startup in Austria or have recently done so.
The aws First Incubator offers a combination of financial support, targeted mentoring, and a dynamic network – a package that helps international founders integrate into Austria’s vibrant startup ecosystem.
Financial Support for Early-Stage Startups
Financial barriers are among the biggest challenges for early-stage founders. The aws First Incubator addresses this by providing monthly personnel cost subsidies and grants for project, rental, and travel expenses. This financial support allows founders to focus fully on developing their business ideas.
However, the program goes beyond financial aid. It offers a comprehensive package of workshops, project-specific mentoring, and specialized coaching sessions. These resources ensure that startups receive not only financial support but also strategic and operational guidance.
Knowledge Transfer Through Practical Workshops
The program’s workshops deliver targeted knowledge on topics critical to startups, such as business model development, marketing strategies, patent law, and funding planning. The practical approach ensures that the content is directly tailored to the needs of the founders.
A key highlight of the program is the direct access to experts and mentors who share their years of experience in the startup and business world. This individualized support helps participants overcome specific challenges and refine their business ideas.
Success Story: Redeem Solar Technologies
An example of the program’s success is the startup Redeem Solar Technologies. Founded by Florian Ehrlich-Sommer (COO) and his international team, the company develops photocatalytic reactors for sustainable hydrogen production. Ehrlich-Sommer explains how the program helped his team sharpen their vision and gain new perspectives: “Interacting with founders from different industries and countries gave us fresh perspectives and helped refine our business model. As engineers, we tend to communicate in technical language. Through the program, we learned to present our idea clearly and understandably.”
The international team of Redeem Solar Technologies | (c) Redeem Solar Technologies
Redeem Solar Technologies uses light energy to enable chemical reactions, in order to produce hydrogen in an environmentally friendly way. The startup’s solutions are particularly relevant to the pharmaceutical and fine chemicals industries. Through the aws program, the team not only secured financial support but also made valuable connections in the Austrian startup scene.
Interdisciplinary and International Exchange
One of the most significant benefits of the aws First Incubator’s special international call is the interdisciplinary and international exchange. The participating teams come from various industries – from software startups to sustainability technologies and innovative food products. This diversity allows founders to gain insights beyond their own fields and learn from each other.
Ehrlich-Sommer highlights this exchange as a critical factor: “It was fascinating to talk to founders developing completely different solutions. This helped us question and improve our own approaches.”
Program Structure
The program lasts up to 12 months and includes regular workshops and coaching sessions. Participants meet in Vienna to attend these sessions and learn from experts. Teams rooted outside the city will need to commute to attend the program. This, however, is far worth the effort, as co-founder Ehrlich-Sommer emphasizes: “Being in Vienna helped us get to know the local startup scene and establish valuable connections.”
An essential part of the program is the intensive selection process. During this phase, founders work with mentors and experts to refine their ideas and prepare for the program. This preparation is crucial for consecutive success.
Austria as a Startup Hub for International Founders
The aws First Incubator plays a significant role in positioning Austria as an attractive destination for international founders. The combination of financial support, targeted knowledge transfer, and a dynamic network creates optimal conditions for innovative business ideas.
The program not only supports the individual development of participating startups but also strengthens Austria’s startup ecosystem as a whole. International founders bring new impulses, ideas, and perspectives to Austria, helping to enhance the country’s innovation potential.
Applications for 2025
The next round of the aws First Incubator’s international call starts in spring 2025. Founders with an international team who want to establish their startup in Austria or have recently done so should not miss this opportunity. Applications will soon be open – a chance that could be a crucial step for a startup’s future.
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