In Österreich. Dort, wo Scheitern nicht erlaubt ist (zumindest kommt es einem manchmal so vor), spricht Damian Izdebski offen darüber, wie es ist, wenn man plötzlich am Boden der Tatsachen ankommt. Er schreibt sogar ein ganzes Buch darüber.
Als Gründer des Elektronikfilialisten DiTech erfolgreich, bejubelt, ein Liebling der Medien. Izdebski vermarktete sich gern und wurde gern vermarktet. Auch Politiker ließen sich mit dem Unternehmer häufig ablichten. Dann kam die Pleite und DiTech zerbröselte es.
Doch Izdebski machte etwas, was in Österreich nicht üblich ist. Er ging mit seinem unternehmerischen Scheitern offen um, schrieb ein Buch darüber und gründete ein neues Unternehmen. Und erntete damit zaghaften Applaus, aber auch jede Menge Häme, wurde als abgestürzter Highflyer, Selbstdarsteller und Eigenvermarkter kritisiert. Aber: Ist Selbstvermarktung schlecht?
In Österreich ist man es nicht gewöhnt, mit einer Pleite offen umzugehen. Für insolvente Unternehmer heißt es erst mal den Kopf einzuziehen und schön ruhig zu sein. Eine Pleite macht hierzulande förmlich zum Paria. Und belastet das eigene Fortkommen auf Jahre. In der Onlineberichterstattung gehören Artikel über Pleiten oft zu den meistgeklickten Wirtschaftsstorys, vielleicht weniger aus Informationsbedürfnis, sondern mehr wegen des Floriani-Prinzips: “Heiliger Sankt Florian, verschon’ mein Haus, zünd’ and’re an.” Verstecken, Verbergen, Vergessen lautet die Devise. Das ist kontraproduktiv und falsch.
Scheitern darf keine Schande sein. Denn Scheitern bringt Erfahrungen und (hoffentlich) Lehren. Stellt man gescheiterte Unternehmer ins Abseits oder führt sie gar vor, hemmt das. Es hemmt Menschen, sich ins (ohnehin bürokratisch belastete und finanziell riskante) Unternehmertum zu begeben und zu gründen. Es hemmt auch Unternehmer, nach Insolvenzen wieder aufzustehen und weiterzumachen.
Vielleicht liegt es auch an Mentalitäts-und Kulturunterschieden, dass Izdebski als gebürtiger Pole und Österreich-Einwanderer nach seinem Scheitern den offensiven Weg gegangen ist. Auch in den USA ist die wirtschaftliche Kultur eine andere. Hier gehört eine Pleite im Lebenslauf fast schon zum guten (Unternehmer-)Ton. Das können wir lernen. Eine Pleite, sofern nicht in betrügerischer Absicht, darf kein Makel sein.
Übrigens, über ein Jahr nach der Pleite, wagt Izdebski einen Neustart mit Techbold, einer IT-Reparaturwerkstätte in Wien. Startkapital aufzustellen ist fast unmöglich, an Geld von Banken oder Investoren zu kommen – mit seiner Geschichte – ist schwierig.
You are an up and rising FinTech startup based in Austria and are prone to dig into the global digital economy? You are looking for new opportunities and are driven to expand your knowledge, product and purpose to global markets with a focus in Singapore and Southeast Asia? Welcome to GO SINGAPORE 2024!
You are an up and rising FinTech startup based in Austria and are prone to dig into the global digital economy? You are looking for new opportunities and are driven to expand your knowledge, product and purpose to global markets with a focus in Singapore and Southeast Asia? Welcome to GO SINGAPORE 2024!
GO SINGAPORE 2024 awaits you with top-class opportunities for your future in FinTech (c) GIN
GO SINGAPORE 2024 is the ideal preparation for mid- and later-stage Austrian FinTech startups to take the next steps in their Asian expansion. The programme supports startups strategically and financially to provide them the best experience during a one-week ecosystem tour in Singapore.
Strategic support is given through flexible onboarding, IP coaching, workshops, networking as well as pitching events, whilst financial support is ensured by a 10,000 euro travel grant. GO SINGAPORE will take place from November 4th till November 8th 2024 – whilst the Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF) – connecting executives, entrepreneurs, accelerators as well as startups and investors.
GO SINGAPORE 2024 and its benefits for your startup
Flexible onboarding, networking events and a full-hands ecosystem Tour will be provided to all participating startups at GO SINGAPORE 2024.
#1 Onboarding, expert coaching and welcome dinner
The GO SINGAPORE 2024 onboarding is as flexible as it can get: valuable startup ecosystem experts will provide tips for your market entry, including a three hour free IP coaching to set your strategy. On top, you will be invited to a preparation dinner in Vienna to start off your international network experience.
#2 Networking at its best
All participating startups can profit from on-site activities, networking and pitching events – such as the Singapore
#3 One-week ecosystem tour
With the GIN batch, you are going to be given the opportunity to tour through the Singapore ecosystem for a week, including a grant covering 80 percent of the costs up to EUR 10,000 (hotel, flights, entry tickets) per startup.
This is what to expect at GO SINGAPORE 2024
PART I – GO SINGAPORE Onboarding
The first part of GO SINGAPORE 2024 provides a variety of flexible trainings to prepare all participants for their expansion journey. Startups will get first-hand insights into the Singapore market and benefit from a flexible digital onboarding to prepare their internationalization strategy.
On top of that, participating startups will receive a three hour free and individual IP coaching session with experts to discuss and prepare an optimized market entry strategy.
Part I furtherly includes a preparation dinner and kick-off event in Vienna – happening in the month of September with exact date and time to be announced. During this preparation dinner, participating startups will receive first market insights and valuable last-minute preparation for their stay in Singapore. Networking and getting to know the GO SINGAPORE startup batch will not come short.
PART II – GO SINGAPORE Physical
After all preparations have been successfully concluded, startups will be ready to dig into a one-week ecosystem experience in Singapore. Participants will be given the opportunity to connect with Asian and international stakeholders and participate in various events such as pitching nights and VC speed dating rounds.
Participating startups will furtherly be given the opportunity to interact with potential investors and corporates at the Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF), where finance, policy and technology converge. Lunch get-togethers will build bridges between important ecosystem players dn local startups. On top: GIN refunds 80 percent of all program relevant expenses, including travel and accommodation costs.
SPECIAL EVENT at GO SINGAPORE 2024: The Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF)
Taking place from November 6th to 8th, GO SINGAPORE 2024 will attend the ultimate networking event and a global nexus to FinTech experts: The Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF).
Insights into last years Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF).
As a hub to changemakers in policy, finance and technology, SFF is designed to foster impactful connections and collaborations and serve as a platform to explore the intersections of cutting-edge financial solutions, evolving regulatory landscapes and the latest technological innovations.
Every participating startup will be given the opportunity to gain insights by an esteemed Content Advisory Panel of industry experts, presenting strategic perspectives on market trends, technologies and policy shifts. Dialogues with international experts and impactful leaders will not come short.
The SFF provides insightful sessions such as roundtables, workshops and exhibitions following one major goal: To revolutionize the overarching digital transformation and reshaping global economies.
Requirements: How to apply for GO SINGAPORE 2024
The program GO SINGAPORE 2024 is most suitable for Austrian startups in the mid- or later-stage sector – beyond PoC and seed stage. You should have at least raised a seed-stage investment. Furthermore, you should consider yourself as a FinTech business and should have established your business within the last seven years.
GO SINGAPORE looks for unique products/solutions and innovative startups that are already on the market. Furthermore, your business should be ready and thriving. Proven business models with traction such as clients or revenue are beneficial. Furthermore, your business should be ready and thriving to connect to relevant stakeholders such as corporates and business partners – with a focus to develop further internationally in the Singapore and Asian markets.
The GO SINGAPORE 2024 program perfectly suits you and your expanding plans for your business? Apply now in only three steps:
Application on aws Connect until June 9th, 2024: Log in on aws Connect or register and create an account. Fill out the outline form and upload your recent pitch-deck.
Online Pitch Event on June 25th, 2024: The GIN-Team will inform all applicants whether or not they are chosen for the Online Pitch one week before the event via email. All pre-selected startups will receive an email with log-in details on May 25th, 2024 as well as a 10 minute time-slot. Each startup has 4 minutes to pitch in English – no screen or presenting the pitch deck allowed – followed by a Q&A session by the jury of national and international GIN partners.
Final decisions: After the Online Pitch Event, the jury will select the finalists for GO SINGAPORE 2024. The winners will receive an email with all necessary information for the next steps – latest within a week after the Online Pitch.
GO SINGAPORE 2024 Organizers
This unique accelerator program is organized by GIN Austria – Global Incubator Network Austria – in cooperation with AUSSENWIRSCHAFT AUSTRIA Center Singapore and ACE – Action Community for Entrepreneurship in Singapore.
GIN is the connecting link between Austrian and international startups, investors, incubators and accelerators with a special focus on selected hotspots in Asia.
The Global Incubator Network Austria (GIN) is the connecting link between Austrian and international startups, investors, incubators and accelerators with a focus on selected hotspots in Asia (Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Mainland China, Singapore and South Korea).
GIN is a program initiated by the Federal Ministry of Austria for Labour and Economy, managed by the public funding agencies Austria Wirtschaftsservice GmbH (aws) and Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft (FFG), and financed by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Labour and Economy (BMAW).
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