Vienna, Austria: A delegation of Indian startups, including eight from Meghalaya, is making waves at ViennaUP 2025, one of Europe’s most diverse and forward-thinking startup festivals.

Held from May 8 to 16, ViennaUP transforms Austria’s capital into a global hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and cross-sector collaboration.

Organized in partnership with international and local stakeholders, ViennaUP is a decentralized festival comprising hundreds of events across Vienna. From innovation hubs and co-working spaces to corporate headquarters and cultural venues, the festival provides a unique, city-wide platform for startups, investors, tech leaders, and policymakers to connect and grow.

Throughout the festival, the Indian startups have been actively involved in curated sessions spread across Vienna’s key business and innovation centers, gaining first-hand exposure to Austria’s thriving startup ecosystem. They have engaged in interactive discussions, industry-specific networking events, and pitching workshops designed to enhance their global outlook.

The participating Indian startups had the opportunity to:

* Showcase their local innovations and products, including unique offerings from Meghalaya, which have garnered significant attention from European buyers.
* Engage with international investors, venture capitalists, and startup mentors.
* Participate in high-impact pitching sessions, receiving feedback from global experts.
* Network with thought leaders and professionals from sectors, including tech, tourism, sustainability, agri-tech, and creative industries.
* Explore strategic collaborations and market-entry pathways into European markets.

A standout highlight of the delegation’s presence has been the enthusiastic response to indigenous products from Meghalaya, such as handcrafted textiles and traditional beverages, which have drawn the attention of European stakeholders interested in ethical, handmade, and culturally rooted products.

Founder Highlights:

Kong Iaishah Rymbai, founder of EriWeave, expressed excitement after a strong initial interest in her eri silk garments. “It’s not official yet, but I’m very excited about the opportunity. I’ve already had customers from Hungary, and this could open the door to a wider European market,” she said. “One of the buyers told me I was underselling my work — that I could earn a hundred times more here because of the high value placed on handmade garments.”

Keenan K Marak, founder of 7 United Rice Beer from the Garo Hills, proudly brought samples of his traditional rice brew to the ViennaUP Startup Festival, where it was warmly received. “This isn’t just a beverage, it’s a piece of our culture,” Marak shared. “People here have a refined palate for wine and craft drinks, yet they were amazed by the unique taste of our rice beer, saying it was unlike anything they’ve ever had before.” The experience not only highlighted the rich heritage of Northeast India but also strengthened Marak’s commitment to bringing his community’s age-old brewing traditions to a global stage, one can at a time.

Gerald Duia, founder of Duia Trailblazers, reflected on the power of cross-sectoral networking: “So far, it’s been an eye-opening experience. I’ve met people from tech, art, design, and many other sectors. I never imagined that tourism could be linked to so many industries. I’m looking forward to applying what I’ve learned and building future collaborations.”

Khrawborbha Kharpuri, founder of The Chicken Wagon, noted key learnings from Vienna’s food industry. “One major takeaway is how many food trucks here are rented rather than owned, which significantly reduces startup costs. I’m grateful to the Meghalaya government for this opportunity. I plan to go back and share these insights with my young team, so we can improve our service and expand our brand.”

Meanwhile, IAS Saloni Verma from the Government of Meghalaya, termed the event as one of the most vibrant startup festivals. It is being organised by the Vienna Business Agency. It brings together over 90 startups. “The point is to create networking, elevation, and opportunities for our startups, connecting with the best on the scene; it is also an exposure that can ignite a spark in them which is in line with our Chief Minister’s vision,” she said.

She further stated that Meghalaya startups can learn a lot from this festival. “Meghalaya as a state, we have many opportunities – of course, some challenges as well – what we can learn from here is how to be broad-minded. We should push forward things that are unique to us – like diversity, our unique handcrafts, spices or cuisine, and culture. It is a mix of both retaining our strength and looking forward to Austria in terms of scale, and technology – those are the things we can learn,” she added.

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Similarly, Ajay Singh, Head of Technology and Innovation at the Austrian Embassy expressed his contentment over how the entire exercise has unfolded.

“We want everybody from India, including Meghalaya, to connect, get funding, mentorship, support, and represent your state and your unique cultural and technological values and solutions to this festival – We want India to cater to the European Market via Austria,” he said.

When asked about the goals, Singh said, “I think, we are already surpassing our goals. Last year, we thought that maybe companies would come, enjoy their time, and leave but many companies made connections, got inspiration, met investors, and received funding. It has been very successful. I think we have increased our goals for the next five years.”

Furthermore, he said that entrepreneurs in Meghalaya -should reach out to PRIME and keep an eye on the Government of Meghalaya’s initiatives.

The Indian delegation’s presence at ViennaUP 2025 is a testament to the increasing emphasis on global partnerships and cross-border entrepreneurship. With Austria’s focus on green innovation, inclusive growth, and startup-friendly policies, the event serves as a launchpad for Indian entrepreneurs seeking global reach.

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As the festival continues, the startups will further deepen their engagements, participate in more industry-specific sessions, and build long-term relationships with stakeholders from across the world.

ViennaUP 2025 remains a celebration of global innovation, and the enthusiastic participation of Indian startups marks yet another step towards building a globally connected entrepreneurial future.