Connect Day 26

19 May 2026 | Vienna, Austria

Connect Day 26

19 May 2026|


1040 Vienna, Austria

Wiedner Hauptstrasse 63

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Registration starts on 20 Feb 2026

APPLICATIONS OPEN: February 20, 2026

All applications, for participating and pitching at Connect Day 26 will open end of February.

TOPICS CONNECT DAY 26

  • FrontierTech & AI

  • GreenTech & Manufacturing

  • MedTech & LifeScience

  • UrbanTech, Mobility & EnergyTransition

THIS WAS CONNECT DAY 25

EVENT APPLICATION

All free participant types will ONLY be able to attend Connect Day 26 if:

  1. you meet the admission criteria
    AND

  2. your profile has been **activated/**approved by the joint controller team

For more information check out the dropdown menu "Essentials".

ADMISSION CRITERIA

STARTUP PITCH CALL: Feb 20 - April 12

Apply during the application process for Connect Day 26 for the pitching opportunities on Connect Day 26. This year's topics are:

  • FrontierTech & AI

  • GreenTech & Manufacturing

  • MedTech & LifeScience

  • UrbanTech, Mobility & EnergyTransition

MORE INFORMATION FOR STARTUPS

PROGRAM 2026

Apply for the CORPORATE REVERSE PITCH - prepare for networking

group picture of 10 people on stage infront of screen showing "Corporate Reverse Pitch"

Corporate Reverse Pitches - apply until March 1

The tables are turned: instead of Startups, Corporates/SMEs will be pitching their cooperation opportunities to Startups.

Corporates apply now to:

  • Present your innovation challenges, strategic focus areas, and concrete collaboration needs directly to a curated startup audience.

  • Attract the right startups by clearly showcasing where you are actively looking for solutions and partners.

  • Gain high-impact visibility and kick off targeted collaborations based on real business needs.

APPLY NOW HERE

2 men networking on a matchmaking table, many people and countdown in the background

B2B Matchmaking 1:1

The heart of Connect Day 26 will again be the 1:1 Matchmaking taking place throughout the day: Startups, Corporates/SMEs, Investors and Austria's & Europe's dynamic innovation ecosystems meet with each other - all in one location & one day.

This "speed dating" format offers a unique opportunity to connect with numerous professionals in just 15-minute intervals, fostering discussions on collaboration and potential partnerships.

Pitching man on stage pointing in audience - (c) Marko Kovic

4 topics - same format on stage

4 new topics, more focused for the stage program. Each topic block will be set up in the same format:

  • 5 minute intro into the topic

  • Interactive panel with experts & audience exchange

  • 6 Startup pitches, each followed by questions from the jury

Topics Connect Day 26:

  • FrontierTech & AI

  • GreenTech & Manufacturing

  • MedTech & LifeScience

  • UrbanTech, Mobility & EnergyTransition

woman pitching infront of sitting and standing audience

Pitching Room

There will be even more opportunities for startups / scaleups from different countries and industries to pitch at Connect Day in this years' bigger pitching room.

ORGANIZER

Austria Wirtschaftsservice Gesellschaft mbH (aws)
part of ViennaUP

MAIN PARTNERS

Global Incubator Network Austria (GIN)
Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG)
Erste Bank
WKO Aussenwirtschaft Austria

PROGRAM PARTNERS

Austrian Business Agency (ABA)
Vienna Business Agency
Green Tech Valley

SUPPORTING PARTNERS

Enterprise Europe Network
Born Global Champions

PARTNERS

AplusB Academia plus Business
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