How does the leap from idea to business success happen? The AWS First Incubator by Austria Wirtschaftsservice (AWS) supports entrepreneurial-minded individuals on their journey to starting their own business, with financial assistance, personalised coaching, an active community, and access to experienced experts.
Included in this support: the Konsultori team offering hands-on workshops on Go-to-Market, HR Toolbox, and Sales. Our three experts provide insights into their work and the typical challenges faced by founders in the early stages.
Go-to-Market with Petra Wolkenstein
Petra Wolkenstein leads a startup expert workshop on Go-to-Market. In this session, founders learn how to leverage new channels and plan campaigns efficiently.
A strong market entry begins with a clear plan and a focus on the right channels.
What specific challenges do startups face in the early stages, and how does your workshop help them overcome these?
Founders face many challenges in the early stages of their journey: from developing an MVP and building a business to learning from their users. The transition from being an employee (or student) to leading one’s own company requires a steep learning curve in finance, team management, product development, and sales. Additionally, self-management, constant prioritisation, and strong communication skills are essential for overcoming this phase.
What successes or milestones have former participants of the AWS First Incubator Programm achieved that you would particularly highlight?
Creating a solid financial plan to attract initial investors and secure public funding has been the foundation for the further development of the supported founders.
How do you integrate feedback from founders into the development of your workshop, and what changes have been implemented as a result?
We have been training founders for 13 years and also run the Konsultori Academy. More than 7,000 founders and startup CEO have taken our training. In our live sessions, we like to adapt our formats to the specific situations of our participants. That ensures highly interactive sessions.
Organisation & HR with Michael Kubiena
Michael Kubiena brings his extensive experience in HR to the HR Toolbox Workshop, where he shows startups how to create a motivating and professional work environment, even without an in-house HR department.
A strong work environment begins with clarity, structure, and a sustainable mindset.
How are sustainability and social responsibility addressed in your workshop, and why should startups focus on this?
Responsible and respectful treatment of current and future employees, as well as issues related to diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI), play a significant role in the workshop. We also examine how various aspects of sustainability (ecological, social, and business) impact “Meaning & Purpose,” and thus the credibility and attractiveness of a company as an employer.
What specific challenges do startups face in the early stages, and how does your workshop help them address these?
Developing and leading oneself, others, and the organisation is a huge challenge, even for experienced leaders. Startup founders often have very high expectations of themselves. Our workshop helps them find balance, prioritise both for themselves and the organisation, and create a work environment that promotes individual and organisational growth, collaboration, and shared success.
Sales with Tim Birdsall
Tim Birdsall guides participants through a practical Sales Workshop, showing how startups can use appropriate tools despite limited resources and maintain motivation in sales.
Sales is 90% discipline and 10% talent. Discipline can be learned, practiced, and perfected.oniert werden.
What specific challenges do startups face in the early stages, and how does your workshop help them overcome these?
Sales can be extremely demotivating, and there is always something more rewarding and creative to do in a startup. When startups realise this, and focus on methods to make sales motivating in day-to-day, then it starts becoming much easier for the whole team.
What common mistakes do you often see from young entrepreneurs, and how can they avoid them?
A typical mistake in sales is to think that “nothing works”. My personal sales guru says: Trust the process, be consistent, never give up!
What role does additional mentoring and coaching play in your workshop, and how do startups benefit from it?
Having the opportunity to receive additional mentoring and coaching means you can bring your “status quo” to the table and get real-time feedback on it from people who have tried, succeeded or failed in different businesses. This exchange is “worth its weight in gold”.
More than Know-How: Practical Support for Startups
The Startup Expert Workshops by Konsultori at the aws First Incubator offer more than just knowledge. They help founders systematically overcome key challenges. Whether it’s market entry, team building, or sales, startups can learn faster, avoid mistakes, and grow sustainably.