Berkeley Summer School

 St. Pölten, July 22, 2025 – At CPI Demo Day 2025 at the University of Applied Sciences in Wiener Neustadt, nine teams from universities of applied sciences and colleges of applied sciences in Lower Austria presented their innovative projects – with one big goal in mind: to participate in the renowned Berkeley Entrepreneurship Summer School in Silicon Valley. The program is organized as part of the spin-off initiative of the province of Lower Austria by tecnet equity and the accent incubator. For the first time, two teams were selected for the coveted stay:

• Pegasox by Annabell Eder (University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt Campus Wieselburg): A form-knitted textile with special coatings that reliably protects horses' hooves – comfortable, easy to use, and particularly effective.

• Dokupass by Solomon Nadar (IMC Krems): A digital solution that meets the requirements of the digital product passport – secure, confidential, and sustainable.

Johanna Mikl-Leitner emphasizes the added value of the program: “This gives our students direct access to one of the world's most dynamic innovation hubs. Not only does this strengthen their entrepreneurship, it also brings fresh impetus to Lower Austria.”

The August stay not only gives the selected students insights into the start-up culture of Silicon Valley, but also visits to top companies such as Google and Meta. The international exchange inspires and strengthens the entrepreneurial mindset of the young founders from Lower Austria.

"I was really overwhelmed and never dreamed that my PEGASOX hoof boot, as a non-tech startup, would receive such recognition. The invitation to Berkeley is a unique opportunity for me to learn and further develop my project in one of the most innovative startup hotspots in the world. I am looking forward to meeting inspiring people, gaining new perspectives, and finding inspiration for further ideas," says Annabell Eder, founder of Pegasox.

Dokupass founder Solomon Nadar adds: "I was really surprised, as a first prize had already been awarded! That's why I'm still totally excited – just like my colleague in India.

As for Berkeley, I want to present the software we've developed, get feedback, and find potential corporate customers or recommendations. Also, even though it may be early days, I'd like to find out if there are any investors who might be interested.

“We see international networking as a key lever for the successful establishment of technology-based start-ups in Lower Austria. For many, the Silicon Valley experience is the starting point for an ambitious start-up,” explains Doris Agneter, Managing Director of tecnet equity.

 “We are delighted that two promising teams, Pegasox and Dokupass, are making the trip to Silicon Valley this year. Direct insight into international tech companies and exchanges with local experts provide important impetus that will certainly support them effectively on their entrepreneurial journey,” explains Ursula Steiner, project manager of the Creative Pre-Incubator.

“We are working to ensure the best future for our children – and that is precisely why we are investing specifically in education, innovation, and entrepreneurship,” concluded Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner.

Background information: Berkeley Summer School

Since 2017, there has been close cooperation with the Berkeley Entrepreneurship Summer School as part of the SCIENCE TO BUSINESS spin-off initiative of the province of Lower Austria. The Summer School offers students the opportunity to get a taste of the international start-up scene and exchange ideas with leading minds in the field of entrepreneurship. The initiative is organized by tecnet equity and accent and is a key instrument for promoting technology-oriented start-ups in Lower Austria.

Nine teams from Lower Austrian universities of applied sciences took part in the Demo Day competition at the University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt.

Pegasox is a form-knitted textile with different coatings for protecting horses' hooves. In addition to maximum comfort for the horse, Pegasox offers a hoof care solution that is quick and easy to apply and also provides optimal hoof protection.

Dokupass: The business idea offers secure solutions for achieving compliance with the digital product passport while protecting trade secrets. A streamlined process ensures sustainability and confidentiality without compromising competitive advantage.

Creative Pre-Incubator (CPI)

The international flagship project Creative Pre-Incubator (CPI), a program for innovative founders, is a collaboration between the universities of applied sciences in Lower Austria and the accent incubator. The CPI has been successfully implemented for years at the St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences, the IMC University of Applied Sciences, the Wiener Neustadt University of Applied Sciences, and the FHWN Campus Wieselburg, and is part of the SCIENCE TO BUSINESS spin-off initiative of the province of Lower Austria.