Being a first-time founder comes with both exciting opportunities and significant challenges. This masterclass will guide you in setting realistic goals as you embark on the journey of starting your own business. Our aim is to equip you with the knowledge to develop clear expectations and leverage the outcomes of your research when taking the leap into entrepreneurship.

Since experience is one of the best teachers, we have invited two founders from TU Wien-affiliated companies (nista, Lignovations) who have walked this path. From writing their first business plan to securing investment and scaling up, Benjamin Mörzinger (CCO nista) and Martin Miltner (CEO & CTO Lignovations) will share their journeys, lessons learned, and practical insights.

Spinning off a company requires time, financial commitment, and a passionate team that truly believes in its technology. This masterclass will help you prepare for what lies ahead—so you can navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities with confidence.

At the end of the talk, you will:

– have gained some insights on how to strategize your next steps into spining off– have a good overview of what obstacles to avoid when founding an academia-derived venture

Benjamin Mörzinger: Benjamin Mörzinger, CCO of nista, specialises in data analysis, energy management, and digitalisation to enhance energy efficiency in industrial enterprises. After conducting research at AIT, University of Bolzano and TU Vienna, he co-founded nista to simplify energy management and drive sustainability in the industry. Benjamin Mörzinger has a rich background in energy data optimisation, with experience at leading institutions, and is passionate about helping industries reduce their carbon footprint through advanced technological solutions.

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Martin Miltner: Martin Miltner is a process engineer and holds a PhD in biomass utilization from the Vienna University of Technology. Together with three colleagues, he founded Lignovations in 2021, a company dedicated to the use of innovative biomaterials in industrial applications. Martin leads the company as CEO and is also its Chief Technology Officer. Lignovations has benefited greatly from the services provided by i²c as part of the TUW i²ncubator.

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