Fluxo: Smarte Designer-Lampe aus Wien startet auf Kickstarter
Die Wiener Robert Kopka und Lukas Pilat wollen auf der Crowdfunding-Plattform bis zu 300 Lampen verkaufen. Ihre Lampe hat Ende November einen Londoner Design-Award gewonnen.
Nächsten Sommer ist es wahrscheinlich so weit: Fluxo, die smarte Design-Lampe aus Wien, wird ausgeliefert. Wahrscheinlich, weil die schicke Alu-Leuchte zuerst über die Crowdfunding-Plattform Kickstarter finanziert werden soll. Am heutigen Mittwoch startet die Kampagne, die bis Ende Jänner bis zu 90.000 Euro einbringen soll. “Damit wäre die Produktion von etwa 200 bis 300 Lampen finanziert”, sagt Gründer Robert Kopka im Gespräch mit dem Brutkasten.
Silber beim London Design Award
Gefertigt wird Fluxo in Österreich, lediglich das aufwändige Aluminium-Element kaufen die beiden Gründer im Ausland – wahrscheinlich in Asien, meint Kopka: “Aluminiumguss ist in Europa unerschwinglich”. Gestaltet wurde die Lampe von einem Berliner Jung-Designer und “LukeRoberts”, so heißt das Wiener Startup, hat sich die Schönheit ihrer Lampe auch schon bestätigen lassen. Ende November wurde Fluxo mit dem “Silver Award” beim London Design Award prämiert.
Patent soll gegen Klage von Philips helfen
Auf Kickstarter können Early Adopters die Lampe zu einem vergünstigten Preis von 300 Euro kaufen, später soll sie bis zu 600 Euro kosten. Die Hardware ist aber bereits bei dieser ersten Tranche final, verspricht Pilat: “Es müssen ja bereits die gesamten Werkzeuge hergestellt werden und alle Zertifizierungen eingeholt werden”. Sollte es also zu Komplikationen oder Engpässen kommen, wird jedenfalls die endgültige Hardware geliefert und höchstens noch bei der Software gespart: “Es kann sein, dass wir manche Funktionen nachliefern”. Die Technologie haben sich LukeRoberts patentieren lassen, um später möglichen Klagen größerer Hersteller wie Philips vorzubeugen.
“Man kann quasi mit dem Licht malen”
Die Lampe besteht aus zahlreichen LEDs, von denen jede mit einer eigenen Linse ausgestattet ist, um das Licht punktgenau zu lenken. Über eine App kann am Smartphone-Display mit dem Finger der Bereich markiert werden, den Fluxo in einem bis zu 30 Quadratmeter großen Raum ausleuchten soll: “Man kann quasi mit dem Licht malen”, erklärt Kopka. Dass das gut funktioniert beweisen bereits einige Prototypen, mit denen die beiden Wiener ihr Produkt bereits auf einigen Messen beworben haben. Am Web Summit Anfang November in London ist LukeRoberts bis ins Semi-Finale im Pitch-Wettbewerb gekommen.
Kickstarter-Tipps von den Profis
Am gleichen Tag startet auf Kickstarter noch eine andere österreichische Kampagne und zwar von Sunnybag. Kopka, Pilat und Stefan Ponsold von Sunnybag haben dem Brutkasten verraten, worauf man bei Kickstarter-Kampagnen achten muss, um erfolgreich zu sein und was passiert, wenn es schief geht. Ihre Tipps werden wir in den nächsten Tagen veröffentlichen.
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.
Aktuelle Nachrichten zu Startups, den neuesten Innovationen und politischen Entscheidungen zur Digitalisierung direkt in dein Postfach. Wähle aus unserer breiten Palette an Newslettern den passenden für dich.
