I help founders get ready and connect with investors • Seasoned entrepreneur • Building tech startups for 25yrs (zero→£mil ARR, twice)

With 30 years in startups, I now run the Gipity AI Dev Studio: Expert help to launch your MVP in 30 days. www.gipity.com

𝐌𝐲 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲... 👇

1968 BC (Before Computers): Born into analogue world

1982-86: Discovered computers! Vic 20, BBC micro, ICL 2900 mainframe & more

1986-89: Computation degree, UMIST (University of Manchester, Institute of Science & Technology)

1989-99: IT consultant/project manager: Logica, IBM, Reuters, Bankers Trust & Deutsche Bank

1994-97: first side hustle: scuba diving instructor & own London dive school

1996: published first website & first ever disk-mounted website on a UK magazine cover

1999: developer/project manager at 2 early London digital agencies

1999: vision/architect/investor. created first UK under-a-tenner domain name business, Easily

1999: built+launched early/successful dot-com: domain/email/web hosting ISP

1999-2001: ceo. managed growth from 0 to 2,000 daily domain sales & 30+ staff in under 2yrs

2000: invented the web-based DNS dashboard for domains

2000: created early no-code solution for one-page websites: £100k ARR

2000: highly commended "Entrepreneur of the Year": European E-commerce Association E-business 2000 awards

2001: 64th in Sunday Times "Top 100 pre-IPO e-businesses in Europe" E-League

2001: ran one of the first successful web affiliate schemes, generating 40% of rev

2004: hit 400,000+ domain registrations, 30,000+ websites & 40,000+ email accounts

2004: 3,500 commission earning affiliates & word of mouth to 100,000+ customers

2004: negotiated successful multi-million pound dot-com exit/sale of Easily

2002: vision/investor. launched one of the first ever B2B mobile text marketing services: SMS Expert

2007-11: early digital nomad: B2B Saas startup from beach/desert

2007-19: ceo. ran leading text marketing B2B Saas: zero to multi-million turnover

2007-19: cto/architect. developed 850k lines of code & supported 1mil daily transactions/API calls

2020... consultancy/advice/support for early-stage tech startup founders

2022... helping hand-picked founders find the right investors

• 2018: vision/architect/investor/cto...
Clickacall: instant video calls from anywhere with single click
Nearevo: proximity discovery for internet of things
Scan+Click: contactless business cards
Secly: personal online security

• 2021 l2o: supporting next generation of startups
• 2022 Venture Cards: all startups, in one place • connecting the right founders and investors

• 2024 The Gipity AI Dev Studio: Expert help to launch your MVP in 30 days

Steve Procter

After 30 years in startups, with the last 5 helping other founders, I've realised there are other more established businesses out there. Who knew! Apparently, some even have actual budgets to get stuff done 🤣

So, as much as I love founders, it's time to spread my wings and help build apps, tools, AI agents and lots more useful stuff for all these other exciting companies and business people. (founders still very welcome, obvs)

And of course, doing it all using my new found love of AI-assisted development for speed and power. Plus 44 years of coding and engineering experience to guide things along the way.

A year ago, tech cost the earth to create, and developers would take 3-6 months to give you something basic. But with AI, the world has moved on.

What kind of app, internal tool or AI agent could you use today to save a tonne of time and money in your business?

DM, or comment below. I'll provide a free evaluation to get things started.

I’ll build your AI agents & apps | 44yrs in tech | Exited founder (0→£mil * 2)

"Code" is sooooo old fashioned. I've got an old web app I built 10 years ago. just got 1 client who uses it these days. I only think about it for 10 mins every year when I send him an invoice.

A server update created a bug today. I had to go into the code and debug. It was really, really weird - not seen this code in over 5 years.

It felt like walking through a museum.

Did people really used to write this weird language called "code" to make their computers do things in the olden days.

Startup ideas that are too early are brutal. I've been there several times and got the t-shirt. Quite literally, as back in the noughties, printing t-shirts and business cards, and paying for fancy logo designs before you'd even launched was just what you did.

But I'd never put a founder off trying if you have a mad idea in your head.

Because very often, nobody really knows. After 30 years in startups, I've realised that timing is just plain weird.

Something can appear in the zeitgeist on a random Tuesday that wasn't there last week, and will be gone again if you don't launch for another 3 months.

The difference now is you don't need permission, investment, or 6-12 months to build and test it.

It has never been cheaper or faster to build a small, real app and put it in front of people.

Don't overthink it. Cut it down. Ship something real. Then let the market slap you (gently) across the face and tell you what it thinks.

Your gut matters. But the market is the only judge that counts.

If you're sitting on an idea right now, stop polishing it and let's get the first real version built and launched.

You never know.

I heard a very powerful line yesterday, by Olivia Moore at a16z:

"Humans Are for Ideas, AI Is for Execution"

As long as we, as individuals and societies, hold to this belief, then we will continue to have purpose.

The moment we start letting AI take control of the creative juices, it's game over.

Pure chat-based GPT usage in businesses will begin a steady drop. AI agents are where it's at - always on, always working for you, 24/7. Not just politely responding if you ask it stuff, otherwise sitting silently in the corner.

What are AI Agents and Automations? To answer, let me ask you a question:

If you are a business owner, consultant, operator or founder, what's one recurring job you'd like taken off your plate?

Something repetitive, annoying, time-consuming, easy to get wrong, or just plain old boring.

• Not "run my whole business".
• Not "take over my entire marketing outreach".
• Not "do everything".

One thing.

If you claim to love every single task you do (really?), ask a colleague or your assistant. I bet there is something.

That "something" is the best way to understand what an Automation is:

It's simply a workflow that you already have in your business, and currently driven by a human. You know the steps or can easily define them, and you have instructions, a system, and a set of tools that execute them.

And that's what we can automate using technology, removing or hugely reducing the need for that human involvement at every time-consuming step. By the way, these tech-driven automations often don't require AI.

An AI Agent on the other hand, takes your automation and does a lot more. It can execute your workflow with its own judgement. Driven by AI means you can give it an objective, let it figure out the steps (within constraints), use tools, and adapt when things change.

Neither are magic robots. They're just tools (AI-powered or not) that can sit in the cloud, connect to the right systems (docs, email, calendars, call transcripts, your CRM or other internal systems, or whatever), and take over the mundane in your business.

A few years ago, they were out of reach of many small businesses. But with AI-assisted development, experienced builders can now create these at a much lower cost and faster than ever before.

For now, it is likely they will still be overseen by a human supervisor. But think of the hours saved every single week, and imagine what you or your team could do with that time back.

Yes, you can make AI a grand vision. But in the real world you and your business occupy, it often starts with one annoying task that quietly drains your time and energy.

Tell me the task you want to get rid of, and I'll tell you if it's actually a good candidate for tech automations and AI agents.

🌍 (Fractional) CFO ♦ Helping Raise Seed to Series C funding ♦ Value Creation ♦ SaaS, ClimateTech & DeepTech Advisor

I began my entrepreneurial journey in 2010 and have since taken on nearly every role in the startup ecosystem, from (exited) founder and early-stage operator to corporate venture builder, mentor, advisor, VC scout, and venture partner. 

My core expertise spans Business Development, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy, PR & Marketing, Fundraising, Investor Relations, B2B Sales, and Event Management.

I actively mentor startups through programs such as Techstars and Tech2Impact, scout for companies such as EWOR, Flashpoint & Santa Barbara Venture Partners, and serve as a venture partner at CCV Group and HotStart VC.

🤝  Want to collaborate with AustrianStartups & the local ecosystem: michael.schneider[at]austrianstartups.com

💰  Looking for fundraising support as a startup: https://tally.so/r/3EE6bq

🔍  Looking for highly curated startup deal flow as an investor: https://seedraisr.com/dealflow

📬  Interested in fresh VC & PE funds: https://fundmomentum.vc

Michael Schneider

🇦🇹 Looking to raise capital in Austria?

Here's your cheat sheet.

Austria's angel ecosystem is more active than most founders think. Between angel collectives, family offices, and funds — there's serious early-stage capital ready to deploy.

𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗟 𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗦 & 𝗡𝗘𝗧𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞𝗦: 

→ invest.austria — 350+ members, angels + VCs + PE combined 
→ Founders of Europe (FOE) — Founder-led, B2B focused, pre-seed/seed 
→ Angels United — 150+ investments, pre-seed/seed tech
→ Female Investors Network (FIN) — Women-focused angel community 
→ European Super Angels Club (ESAC) — HQ Vienna, HNWIs & family offices, €1-15M 
→ Austria Wirtschaftsservice i2 Business Angels — Gov-backed, 400+ angels, ~700 startups screened/yr 
→ InnovaticGroup — Angel group, 27+ investments, cyber/AI/e-commerce

𝗙𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗬 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗦: 

→ Hans(wo)men Group — Johann 'Hansi' Hansmann's FO, €120M AUM, 50+ startups 
→ Peak Pride Invest GmbH — Haselsteiner family office, PropTech/Health/Sustainability, €200K-1M
→ Triple Impact Ventures — Single FO, climate-focused pre-seed/seed 
→ F-Technologies — FO, B2B tech, €50-500K tickets, industrial/embedded systems expertise
→ CoastCap — FO (Moritz Thiele/Finanzcheck exit), seed to growth, 26 portfolio companies

𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗬-𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗙𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦: 

→ ROI VENTURES — B2B tech & SaaS, up to €100K 
→ Calm/Storm Ventures — Founder network, health & wellbeing focus 
→ PUSH Ventures — €100K-1.5M, high-growth early stage
→ Female Founders Fund — Female-led early-stage fund
→ aws Gründungsfonds — Austria's €140M public VC
→ Speedinvest — Europe's most active early-stage, €1.2B+ AUM, HQ Vienna
→ Elevator Ventures — Raiffeisen Bank International AG CVC, €100M+, fintech/beyond banking 
→ XISTA Science Ventures — ISTA-linked deep tech/life science seed fund, ~€100M, 40+ investments
→ VERBUND X Ventures — VERBUND's €30M CVC, energy transition, seed/Series A up to €2.5M
→ APEX Ventures — deep tech & medtech, €100M AUM, 80+ investments
→ New Renaissance Ventures — €20M micro fund, cultural & creative tech, pre-seed/seed 
→ WaVe-X — logistics/mobility/proptech/contech, tickets from €200K
→ Plug and Play Tech Center Austria — Global accelerator & VC platform, smart cities/travel/CEE focus
→ Blum Ventures — Blum Group CVC, smart living/industrial tech/green building, €0.5-3M
→ Red Bull Ventures — New CVC launched 2025, ~€200M, sports/media/sustainability focus
→ Noctua Science Ventures — Speedinvest x TU Wien, academic spin-off fund
→ WU Ignite Ventures — WU Vienna's pre-seed fund, €50K tickets, university spin-offs

𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗦𝗬𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗠 & 𝗙𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦:

→ Entrepreneurial Future Foundation — Promoting entrepreneurship
→ AustrianStartups — Austria's leading startup community hub, events & ecosystem building
→ World Venture Forum (Foundation by Venionaire Capital AG) — Kitzbühel-based, connecting investors & founders globally

⚠️ This is a personal, curated, and non-exhaustive list.
💡 Missing someone?
♻️ Share this with your network.

Exited Founder I Venture Partner & Scout | Fundraising & Startup Advisor

🇦🇹 Looking to raise capital in Austria part I went viral — so here's Part II.

This time: grants, accelerators, incubators, and the regional investors you probably missed.

Austria has one of Europe's most generous non-dilutive funding landscapes. More options than most founders realize.

💰 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗦: 
→ Austria Wirtschaftsservice — €55K to €1M+ (Preseed, Seedfinancing, Deep Tech, Creative Impact) 
→ FFG Austrian Research Promotion Agency — €75K to €3M in R&D grants + loans, up to 70% funding rate 
→ Wirtschaftsagentur Wien — €8K to €600K (Startup Grant, Innovation, Climate Fund) 
→ Steirische Wirtschaftsförderung SFG — co-investment equity up to €1.5M alongside private investors 

🚀 𝗜𝗡𝗖𝗨𝗕𝗔𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗦 & 𝗔𝗖𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗦: 
→ AplusB — national incubator network, 9 centers bridging academia & startups 
→ aws First Incubator — 12-month program, up to €55K grant for pre-founders
→ INITS — TU Wien + Uni Wien, up to €100K funding, 350+ alumni 
→ accent Inkubator GmbH — Lower Austria, deep-tech, 18-24 months support 
→ tech2b Inkubator GmbH — Upper Austria, 40+ startups/year → Science Park Graz — Styria, tech/research, ESA BIC partner 
→ build! Gründerzentrum Kärnten! — Medtech/Bioeconomy focus → InnCubator — Innsbruck, 6-month program, co-working + prototyping 
→ weXelerate ft. Venturecake — 9,000m² multi-corporate accelerator 
→ Gründungsgarage — Aacademic accelerator (TU Graz + Uni Graz), pre-seed
→ TECHHOUSE - where innovation happens — Corporate-startup matching 
→ ELP by AustrianStartups — 1-year founders course & mentorship
→ Global Incubator Network Austria (GIN) — aws + FFG, Asia internationalization 
→ Next-Incubator — Sustainability hub (Energie Steiermark AG) 
→ greenstart — climate-focused acceleration, Ministry-backed

🏛️ 𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗦𝗬𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗠 & 𝗕𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗔𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗜𝗘𝗦: 
→ ABA - INVEST in AUSTRIA — federal agency, free consulting for international companies setting up in Austria 
→ AUSSENWIRTSCHAFT AUSTRIA — internationalization agency, 100 offices in 70+ countries, Born Global programs for scaleups 

Every Bundesland has its own startup agency: 
→ Wirtschaftsagentur Wien
→ ecoplus. Niederösterreichs Wirtschaftsagentur GmbH (NÖ + riz up)
→ Business Upper Austria - OÖ. Wirtschaftsagentur GmbH
→ SFG (Steiermark)
→ Standortagentur Tirol
→ Innovation Salzburg GmbH
→ Wirtschafts-Standort Vorarlberg GmbH
→ BABEG | Success in Carinthia (Kärnten)
→ Wirtschaftsagentur Burgenland

All offer funding, coaching, infrastructure & networking.

🏔️ 𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗜𝗡𝗩𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗦 (𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗜 𝗔𝗗𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗨𝗠): 
→ tecnet equity — NÖ, seed/early-stage, up to €3M, 45+ investments 
→ OÖ HightechFonds — Upper Austria VC, €100K-€1.5M, 22 investments, tech2b partnership
→ Carinthian Venture Fonds — Carinthia's public VC, €100K-€1.5M, co-invests with private partners

⚠️ Curated list — not exhaustive.
💡 Missing something? Drop it in the comments.
♻️ Save this. Tag a founder who needs it.

🇦🇹 Looking to raise capital in Austria - This is your cheat sheet - Part I & II.

View newsletter: Cutting through the Noise

🇦🇹 Looking to raise capital in Austria? Here's your cheat sheet. Austria's angel ecosystem is more active than most founders think. Between angel co

Open article: Cutting through the Noise #1 - Austrian Edition by Michael Schneider • 4 min read

Cutting through the Noise #1 - Austrian Edition

taplio

The Battle

Steve Procter

Michael Schneider

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreSteve Procter's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreMichael Schneider's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Steve Procter

Michael Schneider

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Steve Procter's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreMichael Schneider's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreSteve Procter's LinkedIn Performance