CultTech Summit Returns: Startups, Investors, and the Future of Culture Tech
This autumn, Vienna will once again become a global epicentre where culture and technology join forces to bring positive societal changes. From 22nd - 23rd October, the CultTech Summit returns for its highly anticipated second edition. Set in the Aula der Wissenschaften, the Summit will transform this historic venue into a high-energy hub for startups, investors, and innovators at the cutting edge of culture and technology. Following last year’s sold-out debut with over 650 attendees, the 2025 edition will host 1,000+ participants ready to explore how emerging technologies are reshaping the creative industries – and how startups can lead the charge.
The nexus of creativity, tech, and society
From unlocking new monetization models and scaling cultural products, to leveraging AI, blockchain, and immersive tech for creative impact, CultTech Summit 2025 is a launchpad for innovation where purpose-driven startups connect with investors, collaborators, and global visibility. Venture capital firms focused on the creative sector will also be present, including Speedinvest, 528Hz, Connect Ventures, IPR, Atlantic Labs, and Best Nights Ventures.
Organised by the CultTech Association, the pioneering force behind the emerging CultTech industry, the 2025 CultTech Summit will bring together an extraordinary mix of visionaries, founders, investors, cultural institutions, artists, policy-makers, and corporations. With 70+ world-class speakers, an international startup pitch stage, and nearly 100 investors confirmed, the CultTech Summit is fast becoming the global launchpad for early-stage ventures building the future of creative technology.
“AI entered the game and is fundamentally rewiring our creative workflows. The CultTech Summit dives deep into how creative entrepreneurs and institutions can thrive in this new Renaissance”, says Severin Zugmayer (Founder, New Renaissance Ventures).
Inside CultTech 2025: The Big Ideas Driving Change
The two-day program is built around three core pillars: Tech for Cultural Impact, Sustainable Revenue Models for Culture, and Democratising Culture. From AI’s role in shaping Europe’s cultural agenda and innovative audience engagement strategies for museums, to sustainable investment in the arts and new models of cultural access, CultTech Summit 2025 will spotlight the most urgent topics and transformative ideas shaping the global culture-tech ecosystem.
This year’s summit also hosts the Demo Day of Batch 6 of the CultTech Accelerator, where 17 startups will pitch their ventures. Across six cohorts, CultTech has supported startups from over 20 countries – with leading alumni from Germany, the UK, Austria, Spain, and Italy – spanning verticals such as:
- Music & Audiovisual (34.3%)
- Content, Gaming & Publishing (24.3%)
- Visual Arts (18.1%)
- Cultural Heritage & Architecture (3.7%)
- Emerging Frontiers including Performing Arts, Digital Tools, NFT & Metaverse
CultTech startups leverage cutting-edge technologies including AI/ML, Blockchain/NFT, and AR/VR, reflecting the accelerator’s core focus on transformative innovation in the cultural sector.
CultTech Global Expo: Exhibition at the core of Summit
The CultTech Global Expo is an integral part of the Summit and will bring together 40 partners showcasing their work, ranging from cutting-edge startups like Artivive, Histify, as well as companies such as Orpheo, Tonwelt, MuseArta, Frank Europe, to renowned cultural institutions. This diverse setup highlights the growing momentum of the CultTech ecosystem, while providing exhibitors with the opportunity to present their solutions to industry leaders and innovators, and connect with a curated network of C-level executives and top decision-makers across culture and technology.
