Farewell, Austria – Why I’m Packing My Bags as a Founder

An honest account of courage, mindset, and the end of a long-tested patience.

This isn't a spontaneous idea. It’s not a whim. It is a strategic decision that affects both my heart and my business. I, Daniel Nenning, am turning my back on Vienna and Austria.

Anyone who knows me knows I don’t do things by halves. As CEO of Sales for Future, my gaze is always fixed forward—on growth, on scaling, and above all, on global impact. But when I look out the window today, I see a wall of bureaucracy, a sea of skeptics, and a sky clouded by the infamous "Wiener Grant" (the typical Viennese grumpiness).

The Crucial Question: What Does Austria Actually Offer Me?

I’ve spent months asking myself this. What does this location truly offer a founder with global ambitions?

The answer is as sobering as a stale cup of coffee in an old café: Not enough.

Don’t get me wrong—the quality of life is high, the water is clean, and the schnitzel is world-class. But quality of life alone doesn't pay for international talent, nor does it scale solutions that make a real difference. When I look at the parameters of a successful startup ecosystem, Austria is currently losing in almost every decisive category:

• Capital? Elsewhere it flows; here it drips through bureaucratic filters that spend more time auditing than enabling.

• Conditions? The tax burden and social security contributions often feel like a penalty for success rather than an invitation to achieve it.

• Courage? In other hubs, people ask, "How big can it get?" In Vienna, the first question is often: "Do we have a form for this, and who is liable if it fails?"

  
  

It Doesn't Work Without Capital – And It Doesn't Work Without Mindset

I would have loved to stay. Truly. I value the roots here, but you cannot build the future on the achievements of yesterday. Innovation needs oxygen, and here it is being suffocated by a toxic mix of risk aversion and a culture of envy.

The "Wiener Grant" might be charming for tourists. For an entrepreneur fighting against resistance every day, it’s like lead weights on your feet. I need an environment that says "Yes" before it says "But." I need people who celebrate success instead of eyeing it with suspicion.

It doesn't work without capital. It doesn't work without courage. And ultimately, it doesn't work without a mindset that looks far beyond the borders of the local Ringstraße.

New Horizons: Lisbon, Dubai, and Global Impact

The die is cast. My focus is moving away from the Danube toward places that don’t just tolerate founders but actively propel them.

Whether it will be the pulsing tech scene in Lisbon, where the energy is palpable, or the high-speed environment of Dubai, where ambition is the only currency that matters—that will be decided in the coming weeks. In these regions, people understand that we need massive leverage to truly achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

I am moving to where the sun not only shines more often but where the environment is more welcoming to my vision. I look forward to a new home that understands my speed. Onward to new opportunities, better conditions, and a network that understands that with Sales for Future, we want to change the world—not just collect another stamp on a file folder.

Vienna, it’s been an intense journey. But for what I have planned, you’ve simply become too small.

Moving on isn't a farewell to success; it’s the prerequisite for it.

Yours, Daniel

About the Author

Daniel Nenning is the Founder and CEO of Sales for Future, an innovative company dedicated to transforming the world of sales. With a clear vision for global scaling and sustainable impact, Daniel drives the digitalization and modernization of sales processes. His work is characterized by a relentless pursuit of excellence, a global mindset, and the courage to leave well-trodden paths to unlock new horizons for growth and significance. As a committed entrepreneur, he advocates for the power of technology and sales to collectively advance the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) worldwide.überzeugter Entrepreneur setzt er sich dafür ein, dass Technologie und Vertrieb gemeinsam dazu beitragen können, die Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung (SDGs) weltweit voranzubringen.