EY Scale-up Award 2025

Vienna, 4 June 2025 - With the EY Scale-up Award and the associated program, EY and the 32 top partners of the competition support promising Austrian start-ups and scale-ups on a growth trajectory. In total, more than 250 applications were submitted, which were processed via a comprehensive digital assessment for growth companies developed by EY in cooperation with the partners.

The jury selected the Scale-up and Rising Star of the Year in twelve categories. The ten highest-scoring scale-ups and five highest-scoring rising stars across all categories competed in the final for overall victory. In addition, the special prize “Spin-off of the Year” was awarded together with aws (Austria Wirtschaftsservice).

Blockpit was named Scale-up of the Year. Blockpit develops SaaS products for monitoring, analyzing and investigating digital assets and crypto investments. These are based on blockchain transactions with a focus on tax compliance and proof of origin. The scale-up from Upper Austria is one of the leading digital platforms for crypto tax software in Europe.

The “Rising Star of the Year” title was awarded to the start-up Ribbon Bio. Ribbon Biolabs has developed a pioneering DNA synthesis platform that enables the rapid and scalable production of long, complex and precise linear DNA molecules for mRNA therapies, gene therapy and vaccine development.

Special spin-off prizes for Nekonata XR Technologies and Diamens

Nekonata XR Technologies (Scale-up), a spin-off of the St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences, and Diamens (Rising Star), a spin-off of the Kepler University Linz, were awarded the special prize for the “Spin-off” of the year in cooperation with aws. Nekonata XR Technologies specializes in mixed reality solutions for the mobility sector. Diamens is developing a non-invasive test for the rapid and painless detection of endometriosis - based on the analysis of menstrual blood.

69-member expert jury: focus on performance, scaling, diversity and resilience

A total of 65 companies achieved the benchmark required to be awarded a Scale-up badge. 24 awards were presented in twelve categories for the best scale-up and the best rising star. The five Rising Stars and ten Scale-ups with the highest scores across all categories competed for the titles “Rising Star of the Year 2025” and “Scale-up of the Year 2025” in a two-stage Grand Finale - consisting of the Growth Maturity Assessment Day with individual interviews with the specialized and diverse 69-member expert jury and Elevator Pitches at the Award Show.

"Start-ups and scale-ups on a growth trajectory are a key factor for Austria as a business location. They bring innovations into application, create highly qualified jobs and increase the attractiveness of the location - for example by attracting international talent. They are therefore not only a driving force for new technologies, but also important engines for economic growth. With the EY Scale-up Award, we are specifically focusing on this importance - and supporting start-ups and scale-ups on their path to sustainable entrepreneurial success," explains Florian Haas, Head of Start-up at EY Austria and responsible for the EY Scale-up Award.

"It is precisely in economically challenging times that the real potential of start-ups and scale-ups becomes apparent. They not only demonstrate innovative strength and vision - but also the ability to manage their company flexibly, react intelligently to changes and at the same time keep an eye on long-term development. The EY Scale-up Award is therefore not just about growth and performance, but also about entrepreneurial maturity and resilience. The award-winning rising stars and scale-ups have impressively demonstrated how it is possible to develop full potential under difficult conditions - and help shape the Austrian innovation ecosystem," says Haas.

Congratulations to all the winners!

» to the full article