2017
The Hub opens.
weXelerate opens its doors at Praterstraße 1 – a meeting point between Austrian industry and international technology, two minutes from Schwedenplatz.
9,000 m²In the heart of Vienna
We build the room where Austria’s future gets made.
weXelerate is Austria’s innovation ecosystem – corporates, startups, investors and universities under one roof, on 9,000 m² in the heart of Vienna.
Scroll to explore
2017
Founded in Vienna
9,000 m²
The weXelerate Hub
7
Accelerator batches
45+
Corporate partners
€650m+
Raised by batch alumni
100+
Events a year
Why we exist.
Austria is world‑class. Our job is to keep it that way.
In 2017 we saw two things at once. Austria is a remarkable place to build, work and live – more world-class than the world gives it credit for. And no one is waiting for us while technology shifts hard and fast.
The answer was never a bigger building. It’s a habit: explore together, test small, fail forward – and make sure the right people find each other before the moment passes.
True in 2017. Truer in 2026.
Commitment 01
Be open. Try new things.
Innovation isn’t a department – it’s a habit of exploring, testing, and letting things fail small so they can succeed big.
Commitment 02
Do it together. Be loud about it.
In a noisy world, no single Austrian player gets the signal out alone. Together, we can show what this country actually builds.
2017 → 2026
The story so far.
Scroll through the moments that shaped Austria’s innovation ecosystem – from a single lighthouse project to a connected network.
2017 – 2020
The accelerator years.
Seven accelerator batches, hundreds of startups matched to Austrian corporates – no fees, no equity taken, ever. The network that still powers the ecosystem started here.
7 batchesFounders from all over the world
2020
A deliberate pivot.
After seven batches, weXelerate rebuilds around corporate innovation – from running an accelerator to building the ecosystem the whole country plugs into.
New modelFrom accelerator to ecosystem builder
2022
Five years in.
Half a decade of programs, pilots and 100+ events a year – and a hub that had quietly become the place Austria’s innovators call their own.
100+ events / yearCorporates, startups, investors, universities
2026
An ecosystem, connected.
Today the network spans corporates, startups, investors and universities under one roof – and Future Forward returns on 26 November to look at what comes next.
Future Forward · 26 NovNavigate the Unknown
“Nobody innovates alone. Austria has world-class companies – the question is whether they find each other before the world moves on.”
Awi Lifshitz · CEO & Founder, weXelerate
Ecosystem map.
Financial service.
Heavy industry & Misc.
Energy.
Retail.
Healthcare.
Agrar.
Facility & Construction.
What our ecosystem says.
“We have great memories from our time at weXelerate. A strong ecosystem is vital for founders, and weXelerate continues to be a driving force in fostering that growth.”
Kilian KaminskiFounder, refurbed
“Great location and a great team to organize events and meetings. Has a great price/value proposition. We did several meetings and events and you’ll have everything you need.”
Stefan WinklerUNIQA Sustainable Business Solutions · Google review
“We see innovation as a key element not only in our products, but also in how we manage and structure our processes. Exchanging ideas with companies of different industries and sizes is essential to us.”
Philipp BousaVice President CIO & Digital Office, OMV AG
“Great working space in the heart of Vienna with a big variety of networking events and friendly employees that are always eager to help with anything. We are renting our office there for over 5 years.”
Betty ChalegouaEuropean Law Firm · Google review
“We hosted an event at weXelerate in May 2025 and couldn’t be happier with the experience. The team was incredibly supportive, the venue is world-class, and everything ran smoothly from start to finish.”
Teodor Antonio GeorgievThe Recursive · Google review
“Startups thrive on the right connections, and exchange with founders or mentors who have ‘been there, done that’ is crucial for success. Programs like weXelerate are a golden opportunity.”
Janice GoodenoughFounder, Hydrogrid
“In the program, multiple companies from different industries work on the same challenges. That’s one of the key reasons why the program is so effective.”
Gudrun M. MatitzHead of Digital Sales, BKS Bank
“Great experience to run a strategy day within the weXelerate HQ in Vienna. Meeting rooms are stylish, modern equipped, entrepreneurial flair and the team is highly engaged.”
Peter HochleitnerFinmatics · Google review
“Innovation is becoming increasingly complex – which is exactly why a strong innovation ecosystem is essential. weXelerate brings together companies across the entire value chain to jointly tackle challenges.”
Andreas MühlbergerStrategic Partner Management, Infineon Austria
“Startups need more than just ideas – they need a strong ecosystem, and weXelerate is building exactly that.”
Domagoj DolinsekFounder, PlanRadar
“It’s extremely important for us to connect with similarly sized organizations that bring strong experience in innovation management. The exchange across sectors helps us move forward significantly.”
Florian PomperHead of Innovation, Caritas Österreich
The people behind it.
A small team runs a big building.
Programs, offices, 100+ events a year and a hub that never quite sleeps – kept moving by a team small enough to know by name.
Awi LifshitzCEO
Clemens BöhmerCo-CEO
Anna ErnstInnovation Program Lead
Lisa WolfBrand & Communication Manager
Lukas KomornyikHub Manager
Rahul SharafIT Manager
Elena LöscherAccounting Manager
Srecko ZivicFacility Manager
FAQs.
The short answers. For anything else, get in touch →
- Start with the building: 9,000 m² at Praterstraße 1 where corporates, startups, investors and universities work side by side, day to day, instead of meeting for an appointment. Around that we run the innovation programs our corporate members come for, and the formats that put founders in front of them – with offices, desks and event spaces keeping everyone in the same place long enough for it to work.
- No equity and no fee – that was true of the accelerator and it is still true today. We ran seven batches between 2017 and 2020, and those alumni have since raised more than €650m. In 2020 we rebuilt around corporate innovation, and founders now plug in through the 10X STARTUP CLUB, events and the network.
- It depends on the event. Public events are open to everyone and most of those are free – the upcoming events page lists what is on. Membership events are for our corporate members, and a few formats, like the Fellows Club dinner, are invite-only.
- Through one annual membership – no tiers, no per-seat menu. It covers more than ten programme formats a year across AI, quantum and innovation, four AI Solution Days, conference tickets, access to partner events and a 20% rate on our event spaces, for up to three people from your organisation at €9,900 a year. The detail is on Corporate Innovation.
- Praterstraße 1, 1020 Vienna – two minutes on foot from Schwedenplatz (U1/U4). The free way in is to come to a public event. If you are considering a desk, an office or a space for your event, ask for a viewing – also free. Guided Hub tours for universities, companies and delegations are a chargeable format, from €1,000 for two hours.
- Yes, and you do not need to be in a programme for it. Desks start at €350 a month and private offices are quoted on request – both on 3, 6 or 12-month terms, with 24/7 access and no agency fee. See co-working or private offices. All prices are net, excl. VAT.
- Through the 10X STARTUP CLUB, our curated registry of B2B startups from Austria, CEE and beyond. You apply with a short form and we follow up with a video interview of about 30 minutes; from there you sit in the pool our corporate partners scout from, with speaker and pitch slots, invite-only workshops and free tickets. Applying and membership are both free – For Startups.
- It is – our own flagship conference, held in this building. The next edition is on 26 November 2026 under the theme Navigate the Unknown, with 1,000+ attendees, 50+ speakers and 40 startups pitching live. Tickets and the programme are on futureforward.at ↗︎.
Get involved.
Tell us which part of the hub you are asking about and you reach the person who runs it – usually within one working day.
- Programs & partnershipsCorporate Innovation, startups, AI, quantum – talk to sales
- Viewings & Hub toursSee the building yourself, or bring a group
- Hosting an eventFour rooms in the hub, with a quote within 24 hours
- Desks & officesCo-working and private offices from €350 a month
- Press & mediaInterviews, speaker requests and the press kit
weXelerate Hub · Praterstraße 1, 1020 Vienna
Two minutes from Schwedenplatz (U1/U4)
office@wexelerate.com
