In February, Erste Bank and i2b awarded prizes to the best business plans from Bachelor students in the Management – Entrepreneurship study program. In addition to exciting pitches, tips from experts, and success stories from graduates, there was prize money totaling EUR 1,200 to be won.
This afternoon was all about start-ups and entrepreneurship. Manuela Schröder, financing specialist at GründerCenter der Ersten Bank, gave tips on financing a new company. Nicole Kus presented i2b, Austria’s largest business plan initiative: i2b supports founders together with a network of experts, partners and sponsors in the creation of business plans for the commercialization of innovative product and service ideas. Graduate Beniamino Grossrubatscher talked about the founding of his start-up Business & Biceps FlexCo, one of the first companies to be founded as a flexible corporation, a new form of company since January 1, 2024.
Pitches & awards for the best business plans
Then it was the students’ turn. The five best teams of the year presented their business ideas. And there were some particularly creative approaches: from a meal kit and an online psychotherapy platform to Austrian tapas and two teams dedicated to the distribution of high-quality spirits, a wide range of business plans was presented.
First place, with prize money of EUR 500,- sponsored by Erste Bank, went to the Peek Spirits team, which presented a business plan for the distribution of high-quality spirits from the Alpine region. Second place went to the Culinary Companions team, which presented a service that connects enthusiastic foodies via app and cooking. And the third best business plan was also about culinary delights: The WAPAS team presented an innovative restaurant concept. The audience award for the best pitch went to Team Wiener Wind with their vision of the world’s best-selling peppermint liqueur.
Manfred J. Schieber, Head of Management & Entrepreneurship Study Programs, was very satisfied with his students’ performance: “The ideas were creative and were very well reflected in the business plans. It’s always nice to see how theoretical knowledge is immediately applied in practice. The feedback from our experts at Erste Bank and i2b was very valuable for the students and motivated them to start a business after graduation – just like our graduate Beniamino Grossrubatscher did.“
>> More about the Bachelor’s Program in Management & Entrepreneurship