A helping hand for founders: from the initial idea to business success
We’ve made it our business to help your business get off to a successful start.
We can advise you on the start-up process and funding opportunities, open doors in the start-up community and provide you with state-of-the-art office infrastructure. The university supports start-ups with the Founders Lab, the Creative Pre-Incubator programme and the office facilities available for rent at the IMC Co-Working Space.
Give your imagination free rein
Our start-up services are designed to create a secure environment in which you can try out your business ideas.
It’s no coincidence that an above-average proportion of our graduates – between 6% and 8% – work as freelancers or are self-employed. Compared with the national average of 2%, this goes to show that with an IMC Krems education, you’ll be especially well prepared if you want to go freelance or start your own business.
Our services are aimed at both students and alumni of the university, who we support by providing consultation and support programmes. We have relationships with companies in a wide range of sectors which might be interested in your business idea. Let us put you in touch.
The first step towards founding your start-up: Playground Ideation
Playground Ideation takes place twice a year and is an opportunity to workshop ideas (including business proposals) in collaboration with about 20 other students. It’s an exciting experience, especially if you don’t have a specific concept in mind at the start of the process – because during the weekend the ideas start to flow!
As a group, we home in on the best approaches, and you get valuable feedback from your peers and the IMC Career Center team. We work on the product and on defining the target groups for potential customers. The aim is to plan your start-up as effectively as possible on paper.
Afterwards, you continue the development work on your own. It goes without saying that you can call on us at any stage if you require additional support. On Demo Day you present your start-up idea to a larger audience and an independent panel, who’ll give you feedback.
Applying for Playground Ideation
We’re looking for students from all departments who
- want to develop new ideas and businesses, and/or
- continue working on an existing business idea
Send us your application, telling us in your own words why you’d like to participate.

How it works
We bring together interesting people who would otherwise be working in isolation at home and throw in a range of attractive benefits. The result is fresh ideas and new partnerships.
The IMC Co-Working Space is open to everyone: young entrepreneurs, freelancers, start-ups and students. You benefit from working in a fully-equipped office environment with a range of amenities. There’s WiFi, printers, scanners, meeting and event rooms, and even a small kitchen.
The ideal conditions for a relaxed working environment and a great place to welcome your customers. You can also use the IMC Co-Working Space as the postal address for your business.
Get started right away – stay for as long as you want
All you need is a laptop; we take care of the rest. Your workspace is ready and waiting. You can rent space on a monthly basis – if you decide you want to change your pricing plan, simply cancel your current contract at the end of the month.
- Your benefits
- Flex desk workstation
- Wi-Fi, printer/scanner
- Networking events
- Dedicated postal address
- Phone boxes
- Meeting rooms
- Creativity and media labs
- Seminar rooms
- Event rooms
- Fair Trade coffee/tea in the Co-Working kitchen
- Prices
- Flex desk, daily rate – EUR 37.50 per day
- Flex desk, founders/students – EUR 80 per month
- Flex desk, regular – EUR 150 per month
- Flex desk, consulting partner – EUR 250 per month
- Seminar room only – EUR 175 per half day, EUR 250 per full day (not including EUR 5 coffee cover charge/person)
- Network partner – EUR 4,000 per year
- Premium partner – EUR 7,000 per year
Additional information in our info brochure. Please contact us for a quotation tailored to your particular requirements. Prices do not include 20% VAT.

Benefit from the IMC network
Co-Working Space users benefit in a variety of ways. They are invited to IMC Krems events and gain access to the university’s network of contacts and partners. Take advantage of the IMC Founders Lab, which offers support in the shape of coaching as well as contacts to the regional start-up and funding community.
Contact us
The IMC Founders Lab is located at our IMC Gozzoburg site. Questions? Don't hesitate to contact us: founderslab(at)fh-krems.ac.at