Start-ups and scale-ups are the yeast that makes a national economy grow – they come up with innovative ideas, try out new processes and spark enthusiasm with their products, services and technologies. They are shining examples of a business location’s dynamism and help to enhance a country’s international visibility and competitive edge.
And for this precise reason, ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA has been bringing a select few up on stage to honour a new generation of fast-growing firms as Born Global Champions. This year’s ceremony saw prizes awarded to 10 Austrian scale-ups that from the outset have thought beyond national borders and successfully planted a flag on international markets with innovative, scalable business models.
The Born Global Champions 2026 are…
The event in Vienna also gave all ten the opportunity to pitch live for the Export Prize 2026 in a special “Born Global Champion” category. The audience and judging panel votes plumped for the following top three:
| Gold | NovoArc GmbH |
| Silber | CyberACI GmbH |
| Bronze | Dishtracker GmbH |
Internationalisation is part and parcel of a start-up business, and Born Global Champions have an international mindset from the very outset, demonstrating the strengths of Austria’s innovation ecosystem; enthused and driven by innovation, they have a strong orientation and motivation towards export business and a clear focus on future technologies. Such attributes offer attractive opportunities for international cooperation and investment.
The Austrian Startup Monitor investigates and observes the Austrian start-up scene, summarising developments and trends in an annual report. These findings provide important insights into the dynamics of innovation and internationalisation triggered and driven by start-ups:
Artificial intelligence as a key technology
- 70% of start-ups use AI in product development, while
- 84% use it in process optimisation.
- Some 50% integrate AI directly into their products or services.
International alignment as a pre-requisite, international expansion as a driver of growth
- The average turnover achieved abroad has risen to 42%.
- 82% of start-ups plan or are preparing a launch on new international markets, with some three-quarters having the EU in their sights.
Sustainability and impact are of growing importance: Companies are forging closer links between commercial success and social impact, and this is also evident in the start-up sector: the proportion of green and social start-ups has been continuously rising. Some 62% of start-ups are currently pursuing social and/or environmental objectives.
Focus on future technologies: In addition to AI, cybersecurity, quantum computing, robotics and defence tech are all growing in importance.
Start-ups are key to a country’s economic and social future; they are central drivers of technological transformation and make a significant contribution to progress and development. ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA extends its hearty congratulations to all the Born Global Champions 2026.
