Sebastian Kurz: The Former Austrian Chancellor's Tech Frontier and Unsettled Political Future

Austria - Ekhbary News Agency

Sebastian Kurz: The Former Austrian Chancellor's Tech Frontier and Unsettled Political Future

Tel Aviv's skyline glittered under the Mediterranean night sky as waiters served gin and tonics on the rooftop terrace of the David Kempinski hotel. Far below, the city pulsed with a million lights, a gentle breeze whispering in from the sea. It was here, amidst this sophisticated ambiance, that Sebastian Kurz, the former Austrian Chancellor, was engaged in conversation with business associates. This scene, unfolding just days after a whirlwind tour of Abu Dhabi, Prague, and Vienna, paints a picture of a man who has decisively left the familiar landscape of domestic politics for the dynamic, and often opaque, world of international business. Since stepping away from his chancellorship in 2022, Kurz, now 39, a father of two, and a paper multimillionaire, has spent remarkably little time in his native Austria.

The article, which originally appeared in German in the December 12th, 2025, issue of DER SPIEGEL, highlights Kurz's new professional orbit. On that Tel Aviv terrace, a man in a T-shirt, later identified as Israeli entrepreneur Shalev Hulio, was engrossed in explaining the future of global power through the lens of artificial intelligence, cyberspace, and quantum computing – technologies he believes will define future "supernations," with the U.S., China, and the UAE at the forefront.

Hulio, co-founder of the cybersecurity firm Dream, stands alongside Kurz as a key figure in this new chapter. Dream, established in January 2023, has rapidly achieved a valuation exceeding 1 billion euros, protecting critical infrastructure and governments from digital threats. Kurz himself holds shares estimated at approximately 150 million euros. This venture brings Kurz into close proximity with the controversial legacy of Hulio's previous work. Hulio was instrumental in developing Pegasus, the sophisticated spyware that once earned him the moniker "bad boy of the industry." Pegasus was notoriously used by governments worldwide for surveillance on dissidents and journalists, leading to sanctions against Hulio's former company, NSO, by the United States.

The association raises pointed questions, particularly given Hulio's heritage as a descendant of Holocaust survivors. Was his primary motivation in bringing Kurz into Dream to enhance his own reputation? Hulio suggests the dynamic is reversed. "I would say it's the other way around: it wasn't he who whitewashed me, but I who whitewashed him," he stated, a likely reference to Kurz's tumultuous exit from Austrian politics, marked by two resignations as chancellor and ongoing corruption trials.

Kurz, with a characteristic grin, responded, "Watch what you say." This exchange underscores a shared ability to navigate adversity, positioning them as a formidable duo. Hulio, speaking privately, indicated that Kurz's political aspirations may not be entirely extinguished, quoting an Arabic proverb: "the flute player's fingers still tremble as he dies." This hints at a lingering passion for the political arena that once saw Kurz celebrated as a global political prodigy and a key figure for European conservatives, aligning with figures like Donald Trump, Viktor Orbán, and Benjamin Netanyahu.

However, critics often characterize Kurz not as a driven politician, but as a masterful marketer, primarily of himself. His current activities span a wide spectrum: appearances at high-profile events like the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Munich Security Conference, and the World Governments Summit in Dubai; organizing exclusive gatherings of ministers and magnates; and featuring on prominent German talk shows and visiting the Axel Springer Verlag headquarters. His business interests have diversified beyond software to include diesel vehicle additives and real estate, the latter in partnership with a former associate of the bankrupt property tycoon René Benko.

Even as he announced a complete withdrawal from politics four years prior, Kurz continues to host prominent guests for informal gatherings, such as the "Schinkenfleckerl and gin tonic" event at Café Bazar on the sidelines of the Salzburg Festival. This occurs while he remains under investigation by Viennese anti-corruption authorities. The presence of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen greeting Kurz in Salzburg at such an event further complicates the perception of his complete disengagement from the political sphere.

The ultimate objective of this hyperactive conservative remains a subject of speculation. Conversations with his confidants and observations of his high-level dealings offer little clarity. Is Kurz genuinely leveraging his network for lucrative new ventures, or does he harbor ambitions for a political comeback? "The people I'm dealing with now – I didn't know any of them before. It's a different world, geographically and thematically," Kurz remarked during an interview at Prague's Clarion Hotel. "It's not that I didn't enjoy politics, but after 10 years it feels good to do something different." This statement offers no definitive answer, embodying what could be termed "Kurz 2025": a state of resolute ambiguity.

Addressing a congress of entrepreneurs, bankers, and politicians in Prague, Kurz adopted the persona of a seasoned global observer. He spoke of Europe's declining international competitiveness and reflected on the refugee crisis, implicitly defending his past stance on migration. "Ten years later, I think it's fair to say I was right," he asserted, arguing that uncontrolled immigration places a significant long-term burden on social systems due to differing birth rates.

In private conversations, Kurz's rhetoric becomes more pointed. He refers to political opponents on the left as "friends of open-border policies" and criticizes "LGBTQ supporters for Palestine," suggesting they would not fare well if they encountered "gentlemen from Hamas." This blend of his past political positions with his current business strategy, particularly his focus on the Middle East – where he spends at least a week per month – is a calculated move.

Publicly, Kurz champions the United Arab Emirates as a paragon of dynamism, safety, and attractiveness, citing its sunshine, leadership, and efficient bureaucracy as magnets for global talent. He omits any mention of criticisms leveled against the Emirates, such as allegations of corruption, tolerance of money laundering, and ruthless persecution of dissidents. The European Parliament has previously condemned "arbitrary arrest, death threats, and physical attacks" concerning human rights activist Ahmed Mansoor, who was held in solitary confinement for years, with his arrest preceded by digital attacks involving NSO's Pegasus spyware.

While Kurz's partner, Hulio, officially severed ties with NSO in 2022, he acknowledges that clients may have misused Pegasus. Yet, he vehemently denies complicity in incidents like the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Notably, several former NSO employees have joined Hulio's new company, Dream. Ironically, just four years prior, Apple, a victim of Pegasus, had labeled the NSO team "amoral mercenaries of the 21st century." Now, these individuals, alongside other "world-class hackers" as Kurz describes them, operate from a modern Tel Aviv office tower.

The Dream office embodies the stereotypical startup environment: bright corridors, abundant snacks, and a pervasive sense of ambition. Amidst this, Sebastian Kurz, a self-proclaimed lover of schnitzel, outlines his company's expansion plans. Dream currently employs 220 people, with ambitions to double that number within the next year, targeting new clients in the U.S. and South America alongside existing markets in Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.

The entrance to one conference room is adorned with Theodor Herzl's motto: "If you will it, it is no dream." This sentiment appears to resonate with Hulio, who describes Kurz as a "rock star" possessing the "gravitas" and global connections necessary to succeed in selling products to governments. "Sebastian is a rock star. He was chancellor twice, he brings gravitas – the necessary weight. He has sat at the table with statesmen around the world," Hulio enthused. He asserts that Kurz provides the trustworthiness and geopolitical expertise essential for navigating the complex world of government contracts.

Tel Aviv, the heart of Israel's "Silicon Wadi," serves as Kurz's business base. However, his perspective on Israel, a nation facing serious international scrutiny regarding its actions in Gaza and the ongoing war crimes allegations against its Prime Minister, remains largely unarticulated. While Kurz notes that "half of my employees have demonstrated against Netanyahu, and maybe a quarter voted for him," his immediate business circle reveals a different alignment. Investors like Michael Eisenberg, a confidant of Netanyahu, and figures associated with organizations supporting Israeli settlers in the West Bank, are part of his network. Hulio himself served as a reservist in Gaza and reportedly the West Bank, and has been linked to Zionist movements.

The Gaza Strip and the West Bank are often cited as testing grounds for Israeli military and surveillance technologies, which are then marketed globally. Microsoft's recent decision to drop Israel's elite Unit 8200 from its client roster due to its role in mass surveillance of Palestinians underscores the sensitive nature of these connections.

When questioned about the links between Israel's military and the cybersecurity industry, Kurz downplays the severity: "They're not running around our office with Kalashnikovs. Our people weren't in killer commando units." Nevertheless, the interactive data platform Surveillancewatch flags Dream's product portfolio as being "deployed against targets in Palestine."

The narrative takes another turn with the mention of Avner Netanyahu, son of the Israeli Prime Minister, who reportedly works for Dream's major shareholder, Dovi Frances. Frances, a U.S.-Israeli with close ties to both Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump, views Dream as aspiring to be the "gold standard" in cybersecurity, driven by a singular mission: "winning." He sees Kurz as embodying this ambition, stating, "Sebastian Kurz embodies the requisite ambition: He, too, 'always wants to win.'" This ethos, coupled with the complex geopolitical landscape and the pervasive influence of technology in both statecraft and business, defines Sebastian Kurz's current trajectory – a path marked by high stakes, controversial associations, and an ever-present question mark over his future intentions.

Ekhbary News Agency