CyberACI, a startup from the AI:AT Coworking Hub, won several awards at Connect Day 26 in Vienna. The company was named Born Global Champion 2026, won the FrontierTech & AI Startup Pitch and also received the EY Best Startup Pitch.
At the heart of this success is Minerva, a sovereign AI SOC platform for security operations in regulated industries. CyberACI is developing a European AI solution for organizations where security, control and regulatory requirements need to be considered from the outset – for example in the financial sector, in critical infrastructure or in security-relevant areas.
VOGUS / Peter Rauchecker
European AI for demanding security environments
Connect Day 26 brought together start-ups, corporates, investors and research institutions in Vienna. CyberACI presented its solution in the FrontierTech & AI category and impressed the jury with its clear application focus: security operations are to be supported by specialized AI agents without sensitive data having to leave the company’s own infrastructure.
Minerva is designed to relieve Security Operations Centers in the analysis, prioritization and processing of security reports. According to CyberACI, the platform can be operated on-premise or in private cloud environments and is also intended for air-gap scenarios. The startup is thus addressing a key issue for European organizations: using powerful AI without relinquishing control over data, infrastructure and security processes.
Success story from the AI:AT Coworking Hub
CyberACI is part of the community at the AI:AT Coworking Hub in Vienna. The hub is designed as a place of work and exchange for start-ups, companies, research and public administration. This is where concrete AI applications, new collaborations and practical approaches to topics such as trustworthy AI, technological sovereignty and European innovative strength are created.
For AI Factory Austria AI:AT, the success of CyberACI is an example of how start-ups from Austria can develop solutions for international markets – with a clear European profile and a strong focus on specific use cases.
“We would like to congratulate CyberACI on this great success. The team impressively demonstrates the potential that arises in the AI:AT Coworking Hub when technological excellence, European sovereignty and a clear application focus come together. Sensitive and regulated areas in particular require AI solutions that are designed for security, control and trust from the outset. CyberACI is a very strong example of this.”
Karl Kugler, Co-Lead AI Factory Austria AI:AT
From Vienna to the international stage
With the Born Global Champion 2026 award, CyberACI underlines its international orientation. The Born Global Champions recognize Austrian companies that tap into international markets early on and address global challenges with innovative solutions.
CyberACI will be present at the Exporters’ Nite in Born Global Alley on May 28, where it will present Minerva to an international audience.
About AI Factory Austria AI:AT
The AI Factory Austria AI:AT is Austria’s national AI Factory within the framework of the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking. It is jointly managed by the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology and Advanced Computing Austria (ACA) and implemented by an Austria-wide consortium.
AI:AT combines AI-optimized high-performance infrastructure with a physical hub and supports organizations from business, public administration and applied research as a market-neutral, independent access point along the AI journey – from the first use case to practical implementation.
Funding Acknowledgement
AI Factory Austria AI:AT is co-funded by the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking under grant agreement No. 101253078. The Joint Undertaking receives support from the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme as well as from Austria through BMIMI/FFG.
