Stronger together

Anyone who has founded an EdTech company in Austria may know the feeling: You spend a long time working on a vision, get caught up in the details and eventually realise that you are moving almost exclusively within your own bubble. This is exactly what the EdTech Austria Stammtisch (meet-up) aims to counteract – a community that emerged in spring 2026 and has already developed into a real movement.

It all started in February 2026 at a kick-off weekend of the EdTech Austria Fellowship Program in Salzburg. For Alina Taborsky and Maxim Dvoynishnikov, founders of Alimax, the event was a real eye-opener. “The exchange and the community – it was so encouraging,” says Alina. Back in Vienna, however, a question arose: Why was there no regular format in the Austrian capital where people could connect?

At the same time, Ursula Neulinger and Andreas Hörfurter, founders of competence works – both with more than 25 years of experience in the national and international e-learning sector – were asking themselves exactly the same question. Their shared view: Compared to Salzburg, Vienna lacked a central platform connecting the established education sector with the vibrant, young startup scene.

So, in March 2026, the four of them simply decided to launch a regular meetup, initially called EdTech Vienna Stammtisch. Their original concern – “In the worst case, we’ll be sitting there on our own at the first meetup” – quickly proved unfounded. More than 40 registrations and around 30 participants at the very first event exceeded all expectations. It seems that this kind of informal, personal exchange was exactly what Vienna’s EdTech scene had been missing.

A meeting place with heart and vision

The regular meetup is deliberately not a formal business event, but an open and free space for everyone who wants to actively shape education – whether startups, established companies, teachers, students or school pupils.

Once a month, interested members of the community meet at TOP-Lokal in the heart of Vienna. “The choice of venue is no coincidence. As a social enterprise, the venue works closely with the Austrian Public Employment Service (AMS) to help people return to the labour market. It’s an inclusive concept that fits perfectly with the education sector’s sense of social responsibility,” says Ursula.

While open and informal exchange is always at the heart of the Stammtisch, once a quarter the meetup focuses on a specific topic. At the first themed Stammtisch, for example, an expert shared practical insights into “Sales for EdTechs”.

Locally rooted, internationally connected

The third Stammtisch already showed that this relaxed atmosphere can also provide fertile ground for new ideas: A delegation of around ten startup founders from Togo joined the meetup and sparked lively discussions and conversations. This not only opened doors to new contacts and friendships, but also to new collaborations.

Startups also benefit from being in direct contact with their target groups. “Lecturers from universities and universities of applied sciences regularly join us. At one Stammtisch, we also had school students who are working on an EdTech solution themselves and were very interested in exchanging ideas with the community,” says Alina. Ultimately, it is this diversity of people that defines the sector. “We’re genuinely happy to welcome anyone who wants to help move the conversation about education forward,” says Ursula.

Moving forward with EdTech Austria

Following this successful first phase, the Stammtisch is now reaching its next major milestone: It is becoming part of the EdTech Austria family. The aim is to further develop and strengthen Vienna’s EdTech community and increase the visibility of the Stammtisch. At the same time, EdTech Austria is expanding its presence in Vienna. “A classic win-win,” say Ursula and Alina, who are already looking forward to working together.

“With the EdTech Austria Stammtisch – Vienna Edition, we want to establish a regular meeting point for the EdTech community in Austria’s capital. We are very pleased to offer this new service and to encourage personal exchange, new connections and collaboration. At the same time, we want to take the format beyond Vienna,” says Eva Nittmann from EdTech Austria.

Several joint events are already planned for autumn 2026. There are also initial plans to take the format to other Austrian federal states as a roadshow.

One thing is clear to everyone involved: With plenty of momentum and growing enthusiasm within the community, it may only be a matter of time before political stakeholders and representatives of the Ministry of Education also become regulars at the table. “We’re definitely ready to help shape Austria’s education landscape!”