Early Life
Michael Tojner was born on March 31, 1966, in Steyr, Austria. He spent his childhood in Haag, Lower Austria. After graduating from Bundesrealgymnasium Amstetten in 1984, he studied business administration at the Vienna University of Economics and Business and law at the University of Vienna, earning doctorates in both fields in 1990/1991.
Rise to Success
Tojner's entrepreneurial journey began in the 1990s with a focus on venture capital and restructuring companies. He founded Global Equity Partners (GEP) in 1998, which invested in various ventures, including bwin, a successful online gambling company. In 2006, he founded Montana Tech Components, an industrial holding company based in Switzerland. A key move was acquiring Varta Microbattery in 2007 for $40 million, later taking it public in 2017.
Key Business Strategies
Tojner's business strategy revolves around acquiring and developing companies in niche technological markets. He has a history of identifying promising businesses and fostering their growth through strategic investments and operational improvements. His leadership has been instrumental in expanding Montana Tech Components and Varta.
Philanthropy
Tojner is involved in philanthropic activities, supporting education and cultural initiatives. He founded the "Verein zur Förderung von Innovation, Unternehmertum und Internationalisierung" (Association for the Promotion of Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Internationalization) in 2020 to strengthen Austria's competitiveness. In 2021, he provided a research grant of eleven million euros to the Vienna University of Economics and Business through the B&C Privatstiftung.