Growing up in a hotel and farming business in the far west of Austria, he dedicated himself to the professional practice of alpine skiing at a young age. This sporting career later opened up the opportunity for him to study in the United States, where he was able to further deepen his knowledge of finance and international business management. During his stay abroad, he also had the opportunity to work in a business angel group for a year, which allowed him to gain valuable experience in the field of start-up financing.