From Engineering to Entrepreneurship: the 13th i²c ESI DEMO DAY
On the 25th of June, the TU Wien Innovation Incubation Center (i²c) hosted the much-anticipated DEMO DAY of its Extended Study on Innovation (ESI), a year-long program where entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship aren’t just taught, but practiced.
Already in its 13th edition, the ESI program gives selected master’s and PhD students from across TU Wien the chance to go beyond science and engineering, learning the ABC of business and coming up with their own venture ideas, shaping them into validated, impact-driven business models. Over the course of two semesters with more than 350 hours of hands-on training and workshops, the students dive deep into the world of entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship, working in teams, supported by expert lecturers. This year, our program’s brand got updated to reflect its core: how combining engineering with business creates a superpower, visually brought to life through a bold, comic-style identity that celebrates the inner hero in every aspiring innovator.
The grand finale? Demo Day — where projects are pitched and progress is showcased after a year full of deep dives and sharp insights. In a room full of proud family members, friends, important ecosystem stakeholders, and talent scouts, the next generation of “starTUppers” takes their first public step into turning bold ideas into real-world impact.
This year, 7 teams pitched their ventures, developed by 16 students representing 14 different study programs and 6 nationalities. The concepts tackled a wide range of sectors – from digital health, mobility, construction logistics, HR modernization, to fashion sustainability and social impact – reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of the program and the challenges of our time.
Hosted by Daniel Cronin, known for his energetic stage presence and deep roots in Austria’s startup scene, the event started with “right chemistry” on stage. Stefie Allworth, an ESI alumna and representative of “Chemie On Tour”, guided us through her journey, using the visually striking iodine clock reaction to draw a clever parallel between chemistry and entrepreneurship: it’s all about timing and the right ingredients.
A high-profile jury provided valuable feedback and awarded prizes, drawing from deep expertise across startups, media, health innovation, public funding, and venture capital. This year’s jury included:
- Gabriele Tatzberger, Director Startup Services | Vienna Business Agency
- Caroline Klinger, Project Director Entertainment 2M2M | ProSieben Sat.1 PULS 4
- Melanie Hartl, Entrepreneurship Lead | EIT Health
- Sophia Lang, Program Manager | aws First Incubator | aws
- Philipp Stangl, Investment Lead | Noctua Science Ventures
In total, 12 awards were handed out, offering students real momentum for their next steps. Among others, the prizes included:
- A wildcard on stage at the prime time PULS4 TV show “2 Minuten 2 Millionen” and an unexpected additional invite to the casting for the show
- Legal advice package worth €2500, by Wolfgang Graf
- Individual coaching sessions from Vienna Business Agency and EIT Health
- A wildcard to the AWS First Incubator program selection
- Acceptance into the TUW i²ncubator, including 1-year free office space while attending the program, and a potential “Jumpstart” funding
These are the kinds of opportunities only a well-connected academic institution like TU Wien can make possible — bridging the gap between research, real-world application, and Austria’s innovation ecosystem.
While the 13th batch of freshly trained entrepreneurs is ready to take off, we are preparing to welcome the new cohort of innovators starting September 2025. Known as the competence center for entrepreneurship and innovation, i2c offers various opportunities for TU Wien students and scientists to enrich their skills and knowledge beyond the standard curricula. Here are our offers in a nutshell (all free of charge):
- Pioneer Tomorrow Talk Series: brings top voices from business and innovation to share sharp insights on personal and venture growth — free and open to all. The next talk is set for October 2025.
- Aptitudes Lab: a workshop series where TU Wien, WU, and BOKU students team up to explore core business topics, from branding to IP and investment, led by industry experts. Kicking off again in October 2025. Join the waiting list: https://i2c.tuwien.ac.at/aptitudes-lab/
- TU Wien i2ncubator: offering tailored support to promising research results, helping them to become impactful solutions to our society. From office space, topic-specific mentoring from experts, to access to a catapulting network, this program helps scientists and engineers take their research from the lab to the market.
- “Entrepreneurship For Scientists” and “Engines of Innovation” Masterclasses: for all TU Wien scientists and PhD students who would like to develop business competencies or broaden their horizons in the field of innovation and healthy high performance. The masterclasses take place once a month during the semester.
- Extended Study on Innovation: a 30 ECTS one-year international curriculum providing a premium, hands-on education on intra- and entrepreneurship for students of TU Wien. The program fosters innovative thinking and offers a solid education and network for entrepreneurial spirits, business developers, and/or innovation managers. Interested? Find out more: https://i2c.tuwien.ac.at/esi/
Looking for your next step? You might just find it at the i²c.