Microsoft invests in local programs that benefit people of all ages. In Austria, our collaborations are organized by our focus areas of Skills for Jobs, Enabling Sustainability, and Empowering Communities.
The following program list contains a sample of the investments Microsoft makes on an annual basis.
Skills for jobs
Microsoft believes everyone should have access to the skills, technology, and opportunity they need to succeed in a changing economy.
Enabling sustainability
Climate change requires swift, collective action and technological innovation. We are committed to meeting our own sustainability goals while helping communities to do the same.
Empowering communities
Microsoft is committed to strengthening communities and empowering the organizations that help them thrive. Whether affected by a recent emergency or decades of challenges, we use data, technology, and strategic investments to restore and support them for future generations.
ChangeX International helps to create thriving communities by democratizing change, ensuring proven innovations and finance are accessible to everyone, everywhere. ChangeX is a community engagement platform that, with Microsoft’s support, has funded more than 500 groups in communities across Europe and the United States since 2015. Funds are repeated often throughout the years.
- ChangeX Austria Community Challenge makes financing, resources, and support available to those who are interested in starting a proven idea, across the themes of community environment and community tech skills, with the aim of strengthening their local community. Key goals are to launch new local projects in the region around environmental sustainability, digital skills, and community prosperity, contributing to more sustainable, livable, and inclusive communities.
Female Founders is on a mission to create equal opportunities for entrepreneurial women in the European tech and innovation ecosystem.
- Lead Today. Shape Tomorrow brings together startups, investors, innovation opinion leaders to create an inclusive future of entrepreneurship. The goal of the event is to redefine the status quo of European tech and make sure that it is diverse and inclusive. The target audience is gender-diverse and female-led startups, female leaders, investors, aspiring entrepreneurs, community partners, and more. The event consists of a digital event platform, an expo area (in-person), main stage (streamed), workshops (only in-person), a startup pitch track, and networking areas (online and in-person).
- The Grow F Startup Accelerator provides guidance, resources, and mentors to female entrepreneurs to encourage diversity in entrepreneurship and drive impact for society and the economy. Together with Microsoft, Female Founders scouted for female-led startups in the area of sustainability in Austria to join the cohort and be guided by experienced experts from Microsoft Austria.
- Female Founders Community Skilling supports and accelerates females in startup foundation, leadership, and technical development. The digital DEI Bootcamp enables business leaders to create a more suitable world of work where all employees can belong. With support from Microsoft, Female Founders provided support for industry certifications (such as Microsoft Cloud, Security & Data Fundamentals, and other LinkedIn courses), and creation of 30 to 50 jobs with a focus on technical roles / businesses.
SIA Social Impact Award gemeinnützige GmbH supports young, early-stage social entrepreneurs in developing and implementing innovative business solutions tackling societal challenges.
- Social Impact Awards Vienna conducted three webinars run by experts from Microsoft Austria. Each webinar focused on a particular key competence at the intersection of digital technology and social entrepreneurship: 1) Cloud computing as a powerful tool to enhance your impact; 2) Cyber security in social enterprises; 3) Sustainability as a joined effort of Microsoft and social enterprises. The webinars targeted social entrepreneurs from all industries and along the variety of venture stages—from idea to growth stage.