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I live in Austria, founded (and sold) a company years ago and have invested in 2 startups (6 figure each) - and I believe this is a misleading PR article. Austr

I live in Austria, founded (and sold) a company years ago and have invested in 2 startups (6 figure each) - and I believe this is a misleading PR article. Austria has lackluster, under-funded universities, unattractive tax rules for companies and higher-paid employees and the country is dropping in most competitiveness, growth rankings that matter for startups. Infrastructure is good, but hiring good developers e.g. is very difficult because salaries are both low and burdened with high taxation, so they look elsewhere. Personally, I wouldn't found another company in Austria. There are many better places in the EU, Ireland is probably the best option right now.

the_mitsuhiko 10y ago
> Austria has lackluster, under-funded universities, unattractive tax rules for companies and higher-paid employees and the country is dropping in most competitiveness, growth rankings that matter for startups. Correct. However I think the hope of many here is that it's going to change now.
- nice__two 10y ago
  Not with this traditional socialist/conservative government keeping everything it's always been. And let's not hope the FPÖ takes over! They've fucked up good back when they had a chance. With their corruption and strong association with the industrial's association (Industriellenvereinigung), they are more interested in not helping start-ups than any other party.
  - the_mitsuhiko 10y ago
    In case you missed it things are already changing. It would be nice if Neos would get support but they will not largely because the population values stability and conservatism. Politics can't change that.
    - lazyjones 10y ago
      Nothing at all has changed. The new chancellor is just trying a new spin to attract younger voters again and part of it is positioning Austria somehow as an attractive country for startups (while at the same time discussing a "machine tax" to please marxist voters). I don't know if paid articles in various magazines are part of the campaign.

the_mitsuhiko 10y ago

> Austria has lackluster, under-funded universities, unattractive tax rules for companies and higher-paid employees and the country is dropping in most competitiveness, growth rankings that matter for startups. Correct. However I think the hope of many here is that it's going to change now.

nice__two 10y ago
Not with this traditional socialist/conservative government keeping everything it's always been. And let's not hope the FPÖ takes over! They've fucked up good back when they had a chance. With their corruption and strong association with the industrial's association (Industriellenvereinigung), they are more interested in not helping start-ups than any other party.
- the_mitsuhiko 10y ago
  In case you missed it things are already changing. It would be nice if Neos would get support but they will not largely because the population values stability and conservatism. Politics can't change that.
  - lazyjones 10y ago
    Nothing at all has changed. The new chancellor is just trying a new spin to attract younger voters again and part of it is positioning Austria somehow as an attractive country for startups (while at the same time discussing a "machine tax" to please marxist voters). I don't know if paid articles in various magazines are part of the campaign.