Find your route to €2,500/month in Berlin.
One place to find the public funding programmes Berlin founders qualify for — currently spread across ten incubator sites, mostly in German.
Checked against official Berlin sources
Where the money actually comes from
Start with the programme family that matches your situation. Each one links to what it funds, who can apply and when the next window opens.
Berliner Startup Stipendium
10 programsBerlin's equity-free stipend for early-stage founders, awarded through Senate-approved incubators.
- €2,500/month per founder
- No equity
- Berlin teams & solo founders
Solo-founder funding
What is realistically open to you when you are building alone, and what to prepare before applying.
- Runway support
- Company costs
- Equity-free routes
Public grants & startup support
The broader Berlin and federal funding landscape beyond the stipend, compared in plain English.
- EXIST
- GründungsBONUS Plus
- Pro FIT
Questions founders ask first
- Is the Berlin Startup Scholarship the same as the Berliner Startup Stipendium?
- Yes. Berlin Startup Scholarship is the English name for the Berliner Startup Stipendium. The program is also sometimes shortened to BSS.
- What is the Berliner Startup Stipendium?
- A Berlin state and ESF+ program that funds early-stage, technology-oriented founders through approved incubators. The current call provides up to €2,500 gross per founder per month for 6–12 months.
- Can I apply if I do not live in Berlin yet?
- Yes, if you are willing to relocate. Berlin registration is generally not required when you first apply, but your main residence must be registered in Berlin by the start of funding; some incubators require it by final funding approval. BSS is full-time and Berlin-based. Limited online elements may be possible by agreement, but remote participation is not guaranteed. Non-EU founders also need a German residence permit valid for the funding period that allows self-employment or startup activity.
- Can solo founders apply?
- Yes, but only to selected programs. Avant Now, HWR/SIB, Grace and MotionLab currently accept solo founders; the other tracks require a team.
- Does an incubator take equity?
- No. The official BSS programs listed here provide equity-free funding. Founders remain responsible for tax, health insurance and other obligations on the gross stipend.
- How current is the database?
- Every row links to its official source and shows when it was checked. Application status changes automatically from the published opening and deadline dates; material program changes are reviewed manually.
BSS Navigator is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the Berlin Senate or IBB. Program facts are checked against the official second-call announcement, the official BSS FAQ and each incubator's published information.
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