Two Lower Austrian Founders Set Course for Silicon Valley

St. Pölten, August 6, 2026 – At the Lower Austria-wide Demo Day of the Creative Pre-Incubator programme, 18 teams pitched their ideas to a distinguished jury. In mid-August, the two winning founders, Adam Brestovanský and Julian Pecho, will travel straight to the heart of the global startup ecosystem: Silicon Valley. As part of the Berkeley Entrepreneurship Summer School in California, they will take part in workshops and seminars while gaining first-hand insights into some of the world's most innovative companies.

The best ideas often emerge when young people have the courage to take new paths. This is exactly the entrepreneurial spirit we want to foster in Lower Austria. Through our partnership with Berkeley, we are opening the door to Silicon Valley for our talented innovators and creating international opportunities. Our goal is clear: the innovations of tomorrow should be developed in Lower Austria and create jobs in our region,” emphasizes Governor of Lower Austria Johanna Mikl-Leitner.

The platform TRAINR, developed by Adam Brestovanský, a student at IMC Krems, supports fitness coaches and their clients in digital training management while reducing administrative workload. The first version of the application is already being successfully tested.

Julian Pecho, a student at St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences, is developing Esports Broadcasting, a platform for the rapidly growing e-sports industry. Real-time data, personalized viewing options, and improved tournament overviews aim to take the spectator experience to a new level.

The trip to Berkeley is part of the long-standing partnership between the State of Lower Austria, tecnet equity, accent Inkubator, and the University of California, Berkeley. Since 2017, this initiative has provided students and graduates from Lower Austria with access to international entrepreneurial expertise and valuable networks in Silicon Valley.

"The trip to Berkeley is a unique opportunity for us to learn from international experts, gain new perspectives, and take our ideas to the next level. At the same time, we are excited to represent Lower Austria in Silicon Valley," say the two winners, Adam Brestovanský and Julian Pecho.

"These two projects clearly demonstrate the innovative potential that exists within Lower Austria’s universities. Our goal is to support young talents early on in their entrepreneurial journey and open international opportunities for them," says Doris Agneter, Managing Director of tecnet equity.

"Berkeley gives young founders the opportunity to experience entrepreneurship in the place where many of the world’s most successful startups were born. They bring these experiences and networks back to Lower Austria, strengthening our innovation ecosystem in the process," says Michael Moll, Managing Director of accent Inkubator.

With initiatives such as the Creative Pre-Incubator, Lower Austria actively strengthens the entrepreneurial culture at its universities and lays the foundation for the technology companies of tomorrow.

The Creative Pre-Incubator (CPI) was established jointly by accent Inkubator and St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences. The program supports students, graduates, and university staff with innovative business ideas. Through workshops, coaching sessions, and connections to the startup ecosystem, participants further develop their ideas and prepare for potential business creation.