Exclusive Member Spotlight: 5 Questions With… Microsoft Austria

Exclusive Member Spotlight: 5 questions with Microsoft Austria

In our new feature we’ll be getting up close with a member from our community. Whether it’s an investor, entrepreneur, or a key industry leader, we’ll bring you an exclusive interview revealing their insights, strategies for success and why they have chosen to be a part of invest.austria.

For the first edition of this feature we spoke to one of the worlds leading tech giants and invest.austria member Microsoft Austria. More specifically, we spoke to Florian Slezak, who is Cloud Region Lead at Microsoft Austria. 

Florian Slezak loves to bring innovation to life with customers and partners enabling them to achieve more. He is currently Cloud Region Lead launching Microsoft’s local Cloud Region Austria. In addition, Florian is Business Angel investor and Strategic Advisor to Technology Startups in Austria supporting them to grow and scale their business and gives lectures on digitalization and cloud technologies.

Florian, what excites you most about being part of the invest.austria community?

We are thrilled to be part of the invest.austria community, a vibrant ecosystem that fosters innovation and collaboration. What excites us most about this community is the unparalleled opportunity to connect with visionary entrepreneurs, forward-thinking investors, and dynamic startups. This synergy not only accelerates technological advancements but also drives sustainable growth and economic prosperity in Austria.

Being part of invest.austria allows us to contribute to and benefit from a culture of innovation where groundbreaking ideas are nurtured and transformed into impactful solutions. We are committed to leveraging our expertise and resources to support the community’s mission of fostering a thriving, inclusive, and future-ready economy.

How is Microsoft Austria contributing to Austria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem?

At Microsoft Austria, we are deeply committed to fostering a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem in Austria. Our contributions are strategically designed to drive innovation, growth, and digital transformation across the country.

1. Investment in a Local Cloud Region: We have made a significant investment in establishing a local cloud region with state-of-the-art datacenters in Austria. This infrastructure not only can enable data sovereignty and security for Austrian businesses but also provides them with the scalability and agility needed to innovate and compete on a global scale.

2. Skilling Initiative: Our comprehensive skilling initiative aims to accelerate the benefits of digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI) in Austria. By offering training programs, workshops, and certifications, we empower individuals and organizations to harness the power of digital technologies. This initiative aiming to deliver 120.000 skillings by end of this year, is crucial when building a future-ready workforce that can drive Austria’s digital economy forward.

3. Collaboration with invest.austria: Through our participation in the invest.austria community, we are working collaboratively to shape the agenda for innovation and growth in Austrian politics. By jointly engaging with policymakers, entrepreneurs, and investors, we strive to create a conducive environment for startups and businesses to thrive. Our joint efforts are focused on fostering a culture of innovation, supporting sustainable growth, and ensuring that Austria remains at the forefront of technological advancements.

Can you share more about Microsoft’s upcoming data center near Vienna and what this means for Austrian businesses and the startup ecosystem?

With the announcement of a new cloud region “Austria East” from data center locations in Austria, Microsoft has set a milestone for digitization in Austria. In the future, our commercial customers will have the opportunity to use Microsoft Cloud Services, Azure, Microsoft365, Dynamics365, PowerPlatform with local data storage and processing in Austrian cloud infrastructure, powered by locally generated, sustainable Austrian electricity through our cooperation with VERBUND.

The reasons why customers want to use our cloud region in Austria can be broken down into 3 main categories:

Technical considerations:
When using cloud services, the problem often arises that longer response times (so-called “latency”) have to be accepted due to the physical distance between one’s own location and the cloud infrastructure (often in other continents). This makes more complex architectures more difficult to implement (e.g. with additional local infrastructure). These can be, for example, IoT scenarios or applications that require a lot of data transfer between local and cloud-based infrastructures or that load and execute a lot of logic in decentralized clients. The closer a cloud infrastructure is physically located to the user, the shorter the path that the data has to travel outside and within the cloud provider’s internal high-speed network.

Regulatory reasons:
Storing and processing data within the borders of one’s own country will make it even easier for many of our customers to meet their regulatory requirements for IT security and compliance.

Strategic positioning: Finally, we hear from many customers that cloud services from Austria also support their strategic positioning better. Be it as an Austrian company to consciously use infrastructures and resources in the country that create jobs in the country or to rely on the cloud as “public transport for IT” as part of its own sustainability strategy with Microsoft data centers, which are operated one hundred percent with renewable electricity from Austria.

These aspects open up a wide range of possible applications for the future cloud region of Austria. Examples include a distributed and secured IT infrastructure as a precaution in the event of a crisis, a virtual mobile office from the Austrian cloud, efficient and sustainable data center cloud migration or local cloud data analytics.

With the first cloud data center region in Austria, Microsoft is setting new standards for ways to use innovative cloud services securely and sustainably from local infrastructures.

What emerging trends in technology or innovation are you most excited about, and why should investors be paying attention to them?

At Microsoft Austria, we are particularly excited about several emerging trends that hold immense potential for transforming industries and driving economic growth. I personally would like to mention my top three:

1. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: AI and machine learning are revolutionizing how businesses operate, offering unprecedented opportunities for automation, predictive analytics, and personalized experiences. These technologies are not only enhancing efficiency but also enabling new business models and services. Investors should pay attention to AI-driven innovations as they are poised to disrupt traditional industries and create significant value.

2. Quantum Computing: Quantum computing represents a leap forward in computational power, capable of solving complex problems that are currently intractable for classical computers. This technology has the potential to revolutionize fields such as cryptography, materials science, and drug discovery. Early investments in quantum computing can position investors at the forefront of this groundbreaking technological shift.

3. Sustainable Technologies: The push towards sustainability is driving innovation in areas such as renewable energy, energy-efficient technologies, and circular economy solutions. Technologies that reduce carbon footprints and promote environmental sustainability are not only critical for the planet but also present lucrative investment opportunities as businesses and consumers increasingly prioritize sustainability.

By staying attuned to these emerging trends, investors can identify and capitalize on the next wave of technological advancements that will shape the future of industries and economies.

What advice would you give to entrepreneurs and startups looking to scale their businesses and attract investment?

Apart from several very important measures like having a high performing team, focusing on real problems and developing a scalable business model, my top pieces of advice would be:

Network, Build Relationships and Always be Learning: Engage with mentors, industry experts, and potential investors. Building a strong network can provide valuable insights, support, and opportunities for collaboration and funding.

Focus on Customer Experience: Prioritize delivering exceptional customer experiences. Satisfied customers are more likely to become repeat buyers and advocates for your brand, driving organic growth and attracting investor interest.

And of course – leverage Modern Technology: Utilize the latest technologies to streamline operations, enhance productivity, and gain a competitive edge. Embracing digital tools and innovations can help you scale more efficiently and effectively.

And here we come back to Microsoft as it is our mission to empower all of you to achieve more.