Founding a Deeptech startup

Founding a Deeptech startup

Deeptech – also known as deep technology – has the potential to change entire industries. This requires intensive research and development work. Whether AI, biotechnology, quantum computing or the Internet of Things and Industry 4.0, accent supports your innovation.

As accent, we support founders in the Deeptech sector with individual coaching, know-how and a broad network as well as our accent Makerspace.

The founding of a Deeptech startup focuses on a technical innovation – at the same time, aspects must be taken into account, ranging from financing and the legal framework to the specific technological challenges. Product development, business development, on-boarding of pilot customers, investor search, intellectual property protection, marketing, supplier search – a variety of topics that challenge the founding team.

When founding a Deeptech startup, both the general aspects of each company foundation and industry-specific characteristics must be taken into account.

The main challenges lie in the long development cycles, the high capital requirements, the uncertainty of commercialization and talent acquisition. Unlike software startups, which can iterate quickly, Deeptech products often require years of intensive research and development (R&D) before they are ready for market. The R&D phase and the construction of prototypes are capital-intensive. Startups have to raise significant financial resources over a longer period of time, often without short-term guarantees of success.

In addition, the technologies are often groundbreaking and new to the market. There may be no existing customers or comparable products, so the startup must first educate the market about the benefits and applications of the technology.

accent is the technology incubator of the province of Lower Austria. In addition to its competence and many years of experience, the accent team also brings a high degree of commitment and passion for accompanying the founding team on their way to becoming the next business champion.

Selected experts will provide input on various startup-related topics such as marketing and sales, corporate law, financial planning, storytelling, trade law and the commercial register or dealing with financial investors.

Annual highlights include the accent Cross-Innovation Summit and the accent Boot Camp with Gigi Wang (University of Berkeley), during which founders spend a full week working on their business model, strategy, storytelling and presentation.