Mission: KMU

On May 29, 2026, the stage was once again opened to dedicated entrepreneurs, creative founders, and courageous visionaries. The program featured inspiring presentations, high-profile keynote speeches, and valuable exchanges.

Entrepreneurship often begins with a single step — a thought that won’t let go, an idea that grows and demands to be brought to life. The »Mission: KMU« at the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences captured precisely this moment and placed the next generation of entrepreneurs at the center.  Under the guiding principle »Visionen.Mut.Machen« a space was created where new approaches meet real-world experience and continue to evolve. Thoughts became tangible, conversations gained depth, and initial concepts gave rise to concrete prospects. The focus was on inspiring presentations, innovative projects, and dialogue. Ideas were refined, experiences were shared, and new perspectives emerged.   From sketch to implementation, ideas become reality.

Our speakers:

Speaker 1: Martin Kaswurm, Chaka2
Speaker 2: Carina & Simone Meissl, Meissl Open Air-Solutions
Speaker 3: Lukas Wieser, myflexbox

On June 6, 2025, it was time once again to say: »The stage is set for the Salzburg SME World!« This year, the »Mission: KMU« event took place for the first time at Techno-Z Urstein in Puch - bringing new perspectives to a fresh setting.

The »SME Management & Entrepreneurship« program at the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences invites entrepreneurs, founders, and industry leaders to share their experiences and perspectives. The focus was on the themes of expertise, innovation, and living tradition.

Under the motto »Rollen brechen, Wege schaffen« the speakers provided authentic insights into their entrepreneurial journeys - inspiring, practical, and forward-looking.

The speakers:

• Hubert Berger, co-founder of the renowned Berger Feinste Confiserie: Together with his wife Christine, he started the business in 1994 in a 25-square-meter garage in Lofer and grew the company into an internationally acclaimed chocolate manufacturer with about 100 employees and several branches. Berger embodies the fusion of traditional craftsmanship with innovative ideas, with sustainability and Fair Trade principles at the core of his values. His commitment to training young talent and integrating people with disabilities demonstrates how entrepreneurial success and social responsibility can go hand in hand.
• Manuela Lindlbauer, founder and owner of LINDLPOWER Personalmanagement GmbH: With over two decades of experience in human resources consulting, she has made a name for herself as a dedicated networker and advocate for gender equality in leadership positions. In 2013, Lindlbauer launched the Female Capital project, Austria’s first database for highly qualified female managers at the first and second levels of management. The goal of this platform is to connect companies with women ready for leadership roles, thereby increasing the proportion of women in top positions. More than 10 years ago, she recognized that women in top positions are not only a social necessity but also a business necessity.
• Victoria Neuhofer and Stephanie Sinko, the founders of Damn Plastic:
  These two entrepreneurs aren’t just performing as a comedy duo on our show. With their Salzburg-based impact startup, they’ve made it their mission to make sustainability practical and appealing for everyday life. The idea for Damn Plastic was born after a night of partying, when the two friends saw the mountains of trash at the festival grounds. They decided to take active steps against the throwaway culture and founded their company in 2019. Damn Plastic offers so-called »Impact Products« - products that are either plastic-free or made from recycled materials. Their product range extends from household and beauty items to fashion and sports gear. They also advise restaurants and event organizers on how to make events more sustainable. With its franchise model, Damn Plastic is now expanding into Germany and Switzerland. For their innovative business model, they were honored with the »Great Companies Global Business Award 2023« in the »Retail« category.

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»Lasst doch die Unternehme(r)n im Dorf« – Focus on Local Entrepreneurship

On May 3, 2024, »Mission: KMU« was all about regional economic strength. Under the motto »Lasst doch die Unternehme(r)n im Dorf« entrepreneurs, students, and guests discussed how local businesses form the backbone of our communities - economically, socially, and culturally.

The event provided a space for personal success stories, forward-thinking ideas, and valuable dialogue. Students presented their innovative business concepts, while the speakers offered inspiring insights:

• Josef Sigl (Trumer Bier) – on the Economy for the Common Good, the art of brewing, and the importance of independent craft breweries
• Andreas Diesenreiter (Unverschwendet) – on food rescue as a business model and its social impact
• Stefan Niedermoser (regio³) – on regional development, LEADER projects, and smart funding strategies

»Mission: KMU« was launched by the »SME Management & Entrepreneurship« program at the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences and took place on June 24 at the university. »Roots & Wings« was the theme of the first event, which focused on promoting and fostering entrepreneurship in the region.

Attendees were treated to presentations by the following speakers, among others:

• The Riklin Brothers: The brothers advocate against narrow-minded thinking and for pushing boundaries, and they presented their project »BigNik«.
• The Thurner Family: They spoke about their company »VAS«, a technology leader in the field of energy production with roots in Salzburg.
• Nadina Ruedl: The founder of »Pflanzerei« took us on a culinary journey with her vegan Leberkäse called »Guschtl«.

The innovative business ideas of the students were also presented at »Mission: KMU« and opened up for discussion.

Of fairy tales, legends and funny unicorns. The SME Day 2022 invited - after a two-year break due to corona - to dive into the personal story(s) of the entrepreneurs. On June 17, 2022, at the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences, participants were able to learn how complex family businesses can be, which visions are needed and which learnings from experiences made are helpful.

On the podium:

• Christine Vallaster (FH Salzburg): From going away - to arriving - and finding together.
• Daniel Rhomberg (Lanser See): A fairy tale from a thousand and good nights
• Verena Wieser (Die Papeterie Ernst Schmid): About writing and storytelling - and how patient paper can be
• Jakob Deutschmann (Fanzy Bikes): Of going away - about being an entrepreneur - and finding home.

On May 9, 2019, the degree program SME Management & Entrepreneurship invited to the fourth SME Day at the Campus Urstein of the FH Salzburg. Guests included:

•     Marc Wittmann (Institute for Frontier Areas of Psychology and Psychohygiene, Fribourg).
•    Tobias Schubert (Farmy.ch)
•    WUUX Surfboards
•    Wurmkiste
•    Salzburger Getreidemühle

Student projects of the SME study program: Keto Fabrik, Greentainer, Alumni of the SME study program

At the third SME Day on May 15, 2018, guests were:

• Claus Hipp from»HiPP«: Ethics in business life - the honorable merchant.
• Roland Lauxand Christoph Anrig from »BBACKSOON«: Surprisingly new things are not created in well-planned workshops
• Nicola and Christoph Rath from »Die Meisterstraße«: Passion for master achievements
• Marie-Luise Dietrich of »Pfanner Fruit Juices«: Today's laurels are already tomorrow's compost

At the second SME Day on May 4, 2017, the Riklin brothers from Switzerland, owners of the »Atelier für Sonderaufgaben« (www.sonderaufgaben.ch), were present. They showed how, as »art economists«, one can provide marketing support to companies in a wide variety of fields by means of art. Hermann and Markus Zebisch of Hennlich GmbH & Co KG (www.hennlich.at) spoke on the subject of corporate handover. Heinrich Prokop and Marloes Voermans of Clever Clover (www.cleverclover.nl) explained the world of the Start up financing to the public.

The conclusion made Edelgreißler Herwig Ertl (www.herwig-ertl.at) with a cabaretistic lecture the public to the topic »value of food« captivated. The event was rounded off by presentations of business projects of the SME students. During a pleasant get-together, the outcome of some of these projects (e.g. the Mühltal beer brewed by our students) could then also be tasted directly.

The first SME Day at the FH Salzburg took place on March 16, 2016.

Guests on the podium were:

• Mag.a Barbara Brandner: »Challenges of a modern passenger shipping company in the change of generations using the example of BRANDNER Schiffahrt.«
• Erich Stekovics: »Diversity creates innovation«
• Martin Oliva: "beelocal - life as a honey lick".
• Josef Zotter: »Is the market the deity... - or is it me as an entrepreneur?«

Panel discussion on the topic »Competence - Innovation - Tradition«.