Berlin Start (IBB start-up loan with guarantee)
Berlin Start
Loan from EUR 5,000 to EUR 1.5m, up to 100% of the project, 6 to 10 years, up to 2 repayment-free years, fixed rate; BBB guarantee up to 70% (1.5% one-off fee + 1.75% p.a.). Provided by Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB) with BBB Bürgschaftsbank zu Berlin-Brandenburg.
Check if you qualify for Berlin Start (IBB start-up loan with guarantee)
Answer a few questions about you and your project. The co-pilot opens Berlin Start (IBB start-up loan with guarantee) for you and shows what already fits, what blocks you and what to do next.
- Concrete reasons, not a score
- Deadline and first steps
- Other programs that fit you
Key facts
- Amount
- Loan from EUR 5,000 to EUR 1.5m, up to 100% of the project, 6 to 10 years, up to 2 repayment-free years, fixed rate; BBB guarantee up to 70% (1.5% one-off fee + 1.75% p.a.)
- Duration
- 6 to 10 years
- Type
- Loan
- Who receives it
- Founder or team
- Equity
- Equity-free
- Repayable
- Yes
- Stages
- Pre-revenue, Revenue, Incorporated
- Solo founders
- Yes
- Full-time required
- Unclear
- Company required
- No
- University link required
- No
- Application languages
- DE
- Location
- Investment, business premises or company seat in Berlin
Who can apply
- Founders of trade businesses and freelancers, plus SMEs, founded no more than 7 years before applying
- Covers founding, takeover (not from first-degree relatives), working capital and consolidation projects up to 7 years after founding
- Applied for through your house bank (Hausbank), together with the BBB guarantee request
- Apply before the project starts (e.g. before signing a purchase contract); no refinancing
- Can be combined with other programmes such as GRW
What usually blocks applicants
- A house bank has to accept and carry the application
- Usual bank collateral is still expected on top of the guarantee
- Guarantee fees add 1.5% one-off plus 1.75% per year
- Project already started or contracts already signed
Deadline and timing
Rolling; no deadline or programme end date published.
Frequently asked
How much does Berlin Start (IBB start-up loan with guarantee) pay?
Loan from EUR 5,000 to EUR 1.5m, up to 100% of the project, 6 to 10 years, up to 2 repayment-free years, fixed rate; BBB guarantee up to 70% (1.5% one-off fee + 1.75% p.a.)
Who can apply for Berlin Start (IBB start-up loan with guarantee)?
Stages: pre-revenue, revenue, incorporated. Solo founders can apply. You can apply before registering a company. Location: Investment, business premises or company seat in Berlin. The full list of conditions is under Who can apply above.
When is the Berlin Start (IBB start-up loan with guarantee) deadline?
Rolling; no deadline or programme end date published.
Where do I apply for Berlin Start (IBB start-up loan with guarantee)?
On the official page: https://www.ibb.de/de/foerderprogramme/berlin-start.html. Applications are accepted in DE.
Do I have to pay back Berlin Start (IBB start-up loan with guarantee) or give up equity?
Yes, it is repayable. It takes no equity.
Can solo founders apply for Berlin Start (IBB start-up loan with guarantee)?
Yes, solo founders can apply.
Sources and verification
Checked on 19 October 2026. Facts read directly from the official source. This page is orientation, not an eligibility decision.
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