xista science ventures

🇦🇹 Business Meets Diplomacy – Life Sciences made in Austria How do you explain Austria’s life sciences edge to an international audience? You show it in action. Last week, we had the pleasure of joining Business Location Austria, hosted by the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bundesministerium für europäische und internationale Angelegenheiten (MFA Austria) ReFocus Austria to welcome 60+ diplomats for a deep dive into one of Austria’s most innovative sectors. We were proud to have Ingrid Kelly Spillmann represent xista science ventures at Business Location Austria — sharing why Austria’s exceptional R&D intensity isn’t just fueling Nobel-level science, but creating fertile ground for globally competitive biotech ventures. A big thank-you to the organizers for convening such an inspiring exchange between diplomacy and innovation! pictures (c)BMEIA/ Auer-Grumbach Let’s keep building bridges — from science to venture, and from Austria to the world. #xistascienceventures #lifesciences #deeptech #rd #austria #BusinessLocationAustria #diplomacymeetsbusiness #innovationecosystem

Innovation needs champions! That’s why our team at xista science ventures showed up (twice) as jury members at this year’s Connect Day at #ViennaUP Startup Festival , helping evaluate and guide Austria’s most promising startups. With over 1,400 attendees, Connect Day has become Austria’s largest startup-investor matchmaking event and a key driver of early-stage innovation across GreenTech, DeepTech, Life Sciences, and AI. We’re proud that Ingrid Kelly Spillmann (Partner) and Annu Gmeiner (Principal) joined this year’s expert juries - bringing deep sector knowledge and honest feedback to bold new ideas. “Through events like Connect Day at ViennaUP we have the opportunity to provide early guidance to young local startups to help them succeed on their entrepreneurial journey.” - Ingrid “I’ve always believed that innovation isn’t just about technology—it’s about people coming together to solve real problems.” – Annu Austria’s startup ecosystem: it’s full of smart, driven individuals, being there, surrounded by people who genuinely care about the startup community, is a reminder of how much energy and creativity exists when we give it the right platform. Thank you to Ingrids and Annus fellow jury members at both the Green Tech pitching session and the finals: Firas Saedaddin and Ann-Kathrin Mayrhofer, Isabella Frey, Reginald Vossen ,Eva Schlintl and Bernhard Nussbaumer Curious what it takes to fund and grow a deep tech startup? Let’s talk. We’re always open to conversations with ambitious science founders, researchers, and ecosystem partners. #ViennaUP #ConnectDay25 #InnovationEcosystem #ScienceToStartup #VentureCapital #StartupAustria #Startups #VC #Founders #ScalingScience

🎥 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐗 2025 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞! Relive the highlights from the xista science ventures portfolio and investor day. In an uncertain world, science is our strongest bet. At xista science ventures, we are doubling down on what delivers: Venture investments in science that create impact. That belief powered deepX, where investors, scientists, and science-entrepreneurs came together to explore how deep tech is tackling the biggest challenges of our time. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧: 🔸 Stealth-mode startups from Fund II revealed 🔸 Honest conversations about scale, timing, and risk in science investing 🔸 Live startup pitches from companies redefining neurotech, urban design, and mental health treatment. Big thanks to our speakers, founders, panelists, investors, and the broader innovation ecosystem that joined us at deepX. ▶️ 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: https://lnkd.in/duCXZ_Ww We're already thinking ahead to deepX 2026, but for now: 𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬.🔗 www.xista.vc #deepX2025 #ScienceToStartup #ImpactInvesting #DeepTech #VentureCapital #InnovationEcosystem Markus Wanko | Alexander Schwartz | Ingrid Kelly Spillmann | Ines Méhu-Blantar | Bernhard Petermeier | Florian Resch | Annu Gmeiner | Valentina Caradonio | Alexander Fischl | Melanie Leisser | Stephan Huber | Sophia Hannes | Edmundo R. Sánchez Guajardo | Sophie-Charlotte Bundle | Francesca Besostri | Prudence Donovan Gregory Vladimer | Ketil F. Widerberg | Michaela Fritz | Jodi Barrientos | Michael Lukesch | Maria Teresa Ferretti | Christof Goetz | Angelos Chronis | Curt Bilby | Ariel Bensimon VALANX Biotech | Syntropic | infrared.city | Brainhero | Ribbon Bio | Solgate (c) MotionManager

🎥 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐗 2025 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞! Relive the highlights from the xista science ventures portfolio and investor day. In an uncertain world, science is our strongest bet. At xista science ventures, we are doubling down on what delivers: Venture investments in science that create impact. That belief powered deepX, where investors, scientists, and science-entrepreneurs came together to explore how deep tech is tackling the biggest challenges of our time. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧: 🔸 Stealth-mode startups from Fund II revealed 🔸 Honest conversations about scale, timing, and risk in science investing 🔸 Live startup pitches from companies redefining neurotech, urban design, and mental health treatment. Big thanks to our speakers, founders, panelists, investors, and the broader innovation ecosystem that joined us at deepX. ▶️ 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: https://lnkd.in/d-fpd2Rh We're already thinking ahead to deepX 2026, but for now: 𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬.🔗 www.xista.vc #deepX2025 #ScienceToStartup #ImpactInvesting #DeepTech #VentureCapital #InnovationEcosystem Markus Wanko | Alexander Schwartz | Ingrid Kelly Spillmann | Ines Méhu-Blantar | Bernhard Petermeier | Florian Resch | Annu Gmeiner | Valentina Caradonio | Alexander Fischl | Melanie Leisser | Stephan Huber | Sophia Hannes | Edmundo R. Sánchez Guajardo | Sophie-Charlotte Bundle | Francesca Besostri | Prudence Donovan Gregory Vladimer | Ketil F. Widerberg | Michaela Fritz | Jodi Barrientos | Michael Lukesch | Maria Teresa Ferretti | Christof Goetz | Angelos Chronis | Curt Bilby | Ariel Bensimon VALANX Biotech | Syntropic | infrared.city | Brainhero | Ribbon Bio | Solgate (c) MotionManager

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬, 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭. That was the central message at deepX, our annual Investors & Portfolio Day at the ISTA campus, where science, startups, and investors came together to discuss and connect. We opened the event with one question to the audience: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡? The resounding answer: Talent. And we saw plenty of it on stage, in the audience, and at our startup booths. ▶️ 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭: 🔸 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐤𝐞𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞: Managing Partner Markus Wanko introduced xista science ventures Fund II and outlined our vision for the next chapter of science-driven investing. 🔸 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐈: 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 Two stealth-mode companies in AI and laser technology gave the audience a glimpse of what’s to come. Watch this space to stay up to date! 🔸 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞: 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 Moderated by Alexander Schwartz, with Jodi Barrientos (Ribbon Bio), Ariel Bensimon (Solgate), and Michael Lukesch (VALANX Biotech). Key takeaway: Growth means not just scaling your company, but shifting the market mindset as a whole. 🔸 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩 𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬: 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 Startups Brainhero, infrared.city, and Syntropic showed what science-driven impact looks like: 📌 Supporting neurodivergent children through accessible neurofeedback. 📌 Designing AI-powered, climate-resilient cities. 📌 Pioneering non-drug, light-based treatments for depression. 🔸 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐭: 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐬 Led by Ingrid Kelly Spillmann, with Ketil F. Widerberg (Oslo Cancer Cluster), Michaela Fritz (Medical University of Vienna), and Gregory Vladimer (Graph Therapeutics). As Michaela put it: “It takes experienced people to get it right.” We couldn’t agree more, and we are proud to build this journey together with our network. At xista science ventures, we back founders turning scientific breakthroughs into businesses that matter. Thank you to all speakers, participants, our talented moderator Ines Méhu-Blantar and partners who made deepX such a success. 🔗 Learn more about our work and portfolio: www.xista.vc #deepX2025 #DeepTech #ScienceInvesting #Biotech #ImpactInvesting #InnovationEcosystem (c) MotionManager

𝐖𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐮𝐬! Our recap of the 5th Edition of the OCCIDENT Pitch Event 2025 in Munich. At xista science ventures, we believe that true innovation doesn’t happen in isolation—it takes bold ideas, strong execution, and the right partners. That is why we were thrilled to cohost the OCCIDENT Pitch Event 2025, celebrating the power of early-stage science-driven startups together with OCCIDENT and Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft / Helmholtz Association. 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲-𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐧-𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐬 are at the heart of what we do at xista science ventures. During the event, 18 inspiring founders pitched game-changing ideas, including some from our own portfolio: 🔹 Daniela Buchmayr from Sarcura 🔹Tomaz Bizjak from ReCatalyst In uncertain times, 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 between investors, founders, and the ecosystem is more critical than ever. We believe that funding innovation, empowering teams to succeed, and creating sustainable value for society are the cornerstones of rewarding investments. 𝐀 𝐡𝐮𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨-𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 and everyone who joined and contributed to such a high-impact day. Austria’s innovation landscape is more energized than ever, and xista is excited to be at the heart of it! #VentureCapital #Investment #AustriaInnovation #Deeptech Photos: OCCIDENT

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐞, 𝐚 𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚 𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲, 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚! What started as a Technische Universität Wien research project is now a €63M-backed AI powerhouse, helping companies like Audi, BMW, and Lufthansa predict supply chain risks before they happen. Now making headlines in DER STANDARD and Trending Topics, Prewave’s journey proves that deep-tech innovation from Austria can go global—and we’re proud to support them every step of the way! From bold ideas to global impact—that’s what we invest in at xista science ventures. 🔗 Read more about our investment: https://lnkd.in/dFZUFJYd 🔗 Read more on Der Standard: https://lnkd.in/d5YhCsM6 🔗 Read more on Trending Topics: https://lnkd.in/dkUMBAnc #DeepTech #AI #SupplyChain #StartupSuccess #VentureCapital #Globalimpact

𝐇𝐄𝐏𝐇𝐀𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐒-𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐚 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨 𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞! 40,000 applications. 80 finalists. 10 track winners. And HEPHAISTOS-Pharma, one of our portfolio companies, is among them, securing the top spot in Medical Biotech & Pharmaceuticals. The Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge is a leading competition for deep-tech startups transforming industries with breakthrough science. Winning a track is not just an achievement, it’s validation of the scientific and commercial potential behind a truly disruptive innovation. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐇𝐄𝐏𝐇𝐀𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐒-𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐚’𝐬 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: 🔹Developed ONCO-Boost, a novel TLR4 immunotherapy. 🔹Secured several million Euro to reach clinical stage. 🔹Recognized as a track winner at Hello Tomorrow. 𝐇𝐄𝐏𝐇𝐀𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐒-𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐚 HEPHAISTOS-Pharma is developing next-generation immunotherapies for cancer. Their lead drug candidate, ONCO-Boost, activates the patient’s innate immune response, training the body to recognize and attack non-responsive tumors and offering new hope where standard treatments fail. At xista science ventures, we invest in breakthrough science with real-world impact—backing visionary teams like HEPHAISTOS to bring pioneering research out of the lab and into the clinic. Big congratulations to founders Martine Caroff, Charles Dumontet, CEO Frederic CAROFF and the team 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭? 🔗 Discover our portfolio: xista.vc/portfolio 🔗 Learn more about HEPHAISTOS-Pharma: https://lnkd.in/e4ffNCAc #DeepTech #Biotech #Immunotherapy #VentureCapital #HelloTomorrow #LifeSciences #CancerTherapeutics

𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝. 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚 𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬: 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 2024 was a tough year for venture capital - market uncertainty, scarce exits, and a challenging fundraising landscape. While some funds struggle, others push forward. A recent trend. article highlights how Austrian VCs are adapting: expanding into emerging markets, doubling down on healthtech and femtech, and responding to the demand for alternative financing models. 𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩. 🔹 The fund xista science ventures II launched last summer. With a first close secured in December, we ensured a seamless transition, growing our capacity to invest in breakthrough lifescience- and deep tech startups. 🔹 Our second fund will be even bigger and goes beyond Austrian spin-offs, backing cutting-edge science ventures across Europe. 🔹 Austria’s VC market still lags behind the EU average, but this only strengthens our mission: turning scientific innovation into impactful startups. Innovation doesn’t wait. And neither do we. 🔗 Want to know more? Join us at our Portfolio & Investors Day in April. ➡️ Learn more about our vision: xista.vc #VentureCapital #DeepTech #Biotech #Innovation #Austria

𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭. This is why, yesterday, we broke ground on the newest expansion of the xista science park. 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 4,060 𝐦² 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠-𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐛 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞, this new facility will give science-driven startups the infrastructure they need to turn their scientific breakthroughs into real-world solutions. Since 2019, the xista science park has provided state-of-the-art labs and offices for startups at the intersection of research, technology, and entrepreneurship as part of our xista innovation ecosystem. Demand keeps growing and so does our commitment to supporting the next generation of innovators. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐲 €22 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 to expand the park and create new, fully equipped lab space alongside flexible office areas. Markus Wanko, 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐭 𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚, comments: "The xista science park addresses a central challenge of the Austrian biotech scene: there is excellent research, but in comparison, too little implementation in start-ups. Especially for young biotech companies, the search for suitable laboratory infrastructure is a major hurdle. By expanding the park, we are offering existing companies opportunities for growth, creating additional labs for start-ups and thereby strengthening our position as an attractive location for biotech and deep tech companies.” This milestone was made even more special by the presence of Federal Minister Martin Polaschek, Martin Hetzer, President of Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Member of the Lower Austrian Parliament Mayor Christoph Kaufmann (representing Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner) , Helmut Miernicki, Managing Director of ecoplus. Niederösterreichs Wirtschaftsagentur GmbH, and Markus Wanko, Managing Director of xista science park. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭? This is just the beginning. xista’s vision is to grow into a hub for science-driven startups, bridging the gap between research and application. ▶️ Read more on our website: https://lnkd.in/d9mua9c2 ▶️ Looking for lab or office space to build your biotech or deep tech venture? Let’s talk. Rendering © F+P Architekten ZT GmbH Photographs © ISTA #Biotech #DeepTech #Innovation #Startups #ScienceToImpact