St. Pölten, May 23, 2024 - The success of Lower Austria's start-ups is also reflected in Austria's largest business plan competition, i2b, in which Lower Austria has delivered outstanding performances in recent years. Following the victories of Hydrosolid in 2021 and Gate Space in 2022, NOSI is now continuing the impressive trend and won last year. In addition, Louie & Friends, two students at the University of Applied Sciences Wr. Neustadt/Campus Wieselburg, secured second place in the student category. Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner and Lower Austrian Chamber of Commerce President Wolfgang Ecker congratulated the best Lower Austrian startup NOSI and the students on their successes.

“The success of our local start-ups in the i2b competition impressively underlines the innovative strength and entrepreneurial potential that exists in Lower Austria. These successes are not only of great importance for the founders themselves, but also contribute significantly to strengthening our business location, emphasizes Johanna Mikl-Leitner. I am particularly pleased that NOSI founder Patrik Aspermair and his team were also able to win the #glaubandich challenge this spring.”

Patrik Aspermair, founder of the start-up NOSI based in the accent Makerspace in Tulln, combines scalable organic and printed electronics technology with advanced AI-based machine learning and pattern recognition techniques to create a revolutionary solution for odor sensing. Through material optimization and a scalable printing process, NOSI aims to introduce a scent-enabled world.

“Only with a great team were Klara, Johannes and I able to found this company and it's fun to continue working on our idea here in Lower Austria, because there are so many applications for our technology right on our doorstep, explains NOSI founder Patrik Aspermair.”

Lower Austria's commitment to start-ups is reflected in the dynamic support landscape provided by the state of Lower Austria, the Chamber of Commerce and tecnet equity and accent. These partnerships make it possible to promote innovative ideas and support entrepreneurs on their path to success.

WK-NÖ President Wolfgang Ecker: “Lower Austrian start-ups and company foundations show that the region is an attractive breeding ground for innovation and entrepreneurship. The support of programs such as i2b and the partnership-based cooperation with tecnet and accent are crucial to continuing this successful course.”

With around 1,500 business plans on the platform each year and prizes worth over 200,000 euros in total, i2b is the largest business plan competition in Austria. The main partners in Lower Austria are the Lower Austrian Chamber of Commerce, Sparkasse, venture fund tecnet equity and accent Inkubator.

Emanuel Bröderbauer, Managing Director of i2b, explains: “The quality of the submissions from Lower Austria is impressive and reflects the high innovation potential of the region. We are delighted with the outstanding achievements of NOSI and Louie & Friends and are looking forward to their further successes.”

“The successes of NOSI and Louie & Friends show that the support programs and financing opportunities for start-ups in Lower Austria are bearing fruit,” emphasizes tecnet Managing Director Doris Agneter and Michael Moll, Managing Director of accent Incubator, adds: ”We are proud to be part of this success story and will continue to accompany and support innovative founders on their way in the future.”

Louie & Friends is the sustainable, multifunctional 3in1 play bag Ruckzuck, which can be used as a changing mat, play board and rucksack. Interchangeable game boards increase the added value of the product.

Leonie Kaiser and Klara Lurger are students at the University of Applied Sciences Wr. Neustadt, Campus Wieselburg (Product Marketing and Project Management).