Business & Entrepreneurship in Vienna: EUCFI and Vienna Business Agency hosted event for Ukrainian women professionals

3/9/20264 min read

Vienna, March 4, 2026 — The European Centre for Freedom and Independence (EUCFI), with the support of the Vienna Business Agency (VBA), hosted an open event “Business & Entrepreneurship in Vienna: Women Building Sustainable Businesses.” The gathering brought together over 60 participants at the Expat Center of the Vienna Business Agency for an afternoon dedicated to practical learning, professional exchange, and community building.

Context

Austria hosts over 94,000 Ukrainian citizens as of 1 January 2026, with women comprising 61% of this population and about half residing in Vienna (Austrian Integration Fund study, reported by Kurier via Euromaidan Press). Employment among Ukrainian women in Austria has surged from 10% in 2022 to 48% by 2026, yet challenges persist with an unemployment rate of 19% compared to 7% for Austrian nationals (Austrian Integration Fund). Women drive entrepreneurship in Vienna, representing 42% of founders and 38% of the self-employed, bolstered by high education levels — 72% of female entrepreneurs hold university degrees — which aligns with the qualifications of many displaced Ukrainian professionals (Vienna Business Agency/WKO data via KMU Forschung Austria). These trends highlight entrepreneurship and self-employment as vital pathways for integration and economic independence (IAB-Forschungsbericht).

Supporting Ukrainian Women Entrepreneurs in Vienna

The event took place in parallel with Vienna Women's Week, when the city highlights women’s leadership and contributions to society. The discussion focused on supporting Ukrainian women who are rebuilding their professional lives in Austria, emphasizing entrepreneurship and self-employment as meaningful pathways toward independence, professional development, and economic participation.

The event opened with welcoming remarks from Tülay Tuncel, Expert for Founders and Startups at the Vienna Business Agency, who spoke on behalf of the Vienna Business Agency. In her opening address, she highlighted the importance of supporting women and professionals with an international background who are interested in establishing businesses in Vienna, emphasizing the role of the agency in helping founders navigate the Austrian business ecosystem and access advisory services, funding programs, and startup support initiatives.

Practical Insights into Entrepreneurship in Austria

Participants received practical guidance on starting a business in Austria from Evgeniya Chulis, Business Consultant and Coach, who presented the Austrian business landscape and explained key steps for entrepreneurs — from legal forms and licensing to taxation, social security obligations, and support programs in Vienna, including the Founders Lab incubation initiative.

The discussion was complemented by Yuliia Kadibash, a Ukrainian professional and YOU!Community member who has been working as a self-employed expert in Austria since 2022. Sharing her personal journey, she outlined the practical process of registering as self-employed person with institutions such as GISA, WKO, Finanzamt, and SVS, and offered valuable advice on navigating bureaucracy, financial planning, and building a professional reputation in a new environment.

Building Community and Professional Opportunities

The event concluded with a networking session, allowing participants to exchange experiences and build new professional connections.

The audience included professionals from diverse backgrounds, including alumni and candidates of EUCFI’s integration initiatives as well as Ukrainian professionals exploring new career opportunities in Austria.

Through initiatives such as the Professional Integration HUB, EUCFI supports highly skilled Ukrainian professionals in integrating into the Austrian labor market through internships, mentorship, and professional networking. Alongside the HUB, the organization has also developed YOU!Community, a growing professional network of more than 150 Ukrainian professionals in Austria.

Opening the gathering, Olena Bekreniova, co-founder of EUCFI and moderator of the event, emphasized the role of entrepreneurship in rebuilding professional lives:

“When many Ukrainian women arrived in Europe four years ago because of the war, they did not arrive as entrepreneurs. They arrived as professionals — managers, lawyers, teachers, researchers — whose lives had suddenly been interrupted. But step by step, many have begun rebuilding their careers, discovering that entrepreneurship can become a powerful pathway forward. Starting a business is not only about economic activity — it is about independence, confidence, and the ability to shape one’s own future.”

A Shared Effort for Integration and Opportunity

By bringing together institutional expertise, practical entrepreneurial experience, and a growing professional network, the event demonstrated the importance of cooperation between Austrian institutions and Ukrainian professional communities.

Through initiatives like the Professional Integration HUB and YOU!Community, the European Centre for Freedom and Independence continues to create opportunities for integration, professional growth, and collaboration — helping Ukrainian professionals shape their futures while contributing to Vienna’s dynamic economic and social environment.