Startup grants in Berlin
29 grants and subsidies founders in Berlin can apply for: 6 from Berlin, 23 nationwide and EU-wide. Each one with the amount, who qualifies and the next deadline, checked against the official source.
Nearest deadlines
- 3 November 2026NLnet Restack Fund€5,000–50,000 for a first grant; can scale up for proven potential; plus in-kind security audits/standardisation help. €7M total to 2030.
- 3 November 2026NLnet CodeSupply Fund€5,000–50,000 per proposal; €400k reserved for open calls
- 4 November 2026EIC Accelerator (grant-only)Grant-only: lump sum below EUR 2.5m for TRL 6-8 work up to 24 months; blended option adds EUR 1-10m equity
Check which of them fit you
Answer a few questions about you and your project. The co-pilot starts with Berlin selected and shows which programs fit, what blocks you and what to do next.
- Concrete reasons, not a score
- Nearest deadlines first
- Next step for each program
From Berlin
- GründungsBONUS Plus50% grant of eligible costs, max EUR 50,000 (de minimis), paid as reimbursement in up to 4 instalmentsGrant · Berlin · Apply any time
- Pro FIT Early-Stage FinancingUp to 100% of eligible costs, max EUR 500,000. Phase 1 (up to EUR 200,000): 50% grant, 50% loan (usually interest-free). Phase 2: loan only. Loans up to 10 years, no collateralGrant · Berlin · Apply any time
- Transfer BONUSEntry up to EUR 7,500 (100%), standard up to EUR 15,000 (70%), digitalisation up to EUR 45,000 (70%), gamification/XR up to EUR 45,000 (70%)Voucher · Berlin · Next deadline: 31 December 2026
- EqualStart Berlin: Women Founders' BonusOne-time payment of up to EUR 10,000 per company (de minimis)Grant · Berlin · Next deadline: 31 October 2027
- Pro FIT Project FundingGrants up to EUR 500,000 (industrial research, up to 80% incl. bonuses) and loans up to EUR 1m (experimental development, production setup and market launch, up to 80%, term up to 10 years)Grant · Berlin · Apply any time
- Musicboard Berlin Label FundingUp to EUR 5,000 per label per year for promotion and marketing of newcomer releases (max 2 measures per label and 1 per artist per year; usually a fixed amount)Grant · Berlin · Next round not announced yet
Nationwide and EU
- Start-up Subsidy (Gründungszuschuss)6 months: last ALG I amount + EUR 300/month for social insurance; then optionally 9 months EUR 300/month (separate application). Tax-freeBenefit-linked support · Germany · Apply any time
- Entry Allowance for Self-Employment (Einstiegsgeld)Set case by case on top of Grundsicherungsgeld: base up to 50% of the standard rate (up to about EUR 281/month for a single person, 2026 rate EUR 563), plus 20% if unemployed 2+ years and 10% per extra household member; capped at the full standard rate. Alternatively a flat rate of up to 75% of the standard rate without supplements. Up to 24 monthsBenefit-linked support · Germany · Apply any time
- Founder Coaching via AVGS voucherReasonable costs of an approved coaching measure paid by the agency via the voucher; scope and hours set on the voucherVoucher · Germany · Apply any time
- Support for the Self-Employed (SGB II 16c)Usually a loan, grant only in individual cases (grants capped at EUR 5,000 per business; loans can be higher) for necessary business equipment; plus free coaching via third-party providersGrant · Germany · Apply any time
- Prototype FundUp to EUR 47,500 (individual) or EUR 95,000 (team) for 6 months; optional 4-month Second Stage up to EUR 31,667 (individual) or about EUR 63,000 (team)Grant · Germany · Next deadline: 30 November 2026
- INVEST Grant for Venture CapitalFor investors: 15% acquisition grant (max EUR 50k per investment, EUR 100k per investor in total) plus 25% exit grant on gains; founders benefit indirectlyTax credit · Germany · Next deadline: 31 December 2026
- EIC Accelerator (grant-only)Grant-only: lump sum below EUR 2.5m for TRL 6-8 work up to 24 months; blended option adds EUR 1-10m equityGrant · EU · Next deadline: 4 November 2026
- Women TechEUEUR 75,000 non-dilutive grant plus coaching and mentoringGrant · EU · Next deadline: 14 January 2027
- NLnet Restack Fund€5,000–50,000 for a first grant; can scale up for proven potential; plus in-kind security audits/standardisation help. €7M total to 2030.Grant · EU · Next deadline: 3 November 2026
- NLnet CodeSupply Fund€5,000–50,000 per proposal; €400k reserved for open callsGrant · EU · Next deadline: 3 November 2026
- German R&D tax credit35% for KMU (25% general) of eligible R&D costs. Owner's own R&D work in a sole proprietorship counts at €100/hour (from 2026, was €70), max 40 h/week. For projects started from 2026 a 20% overhead flat rate is added; the annual cap is €12M. Paid as a tax credit; refunded even with no tax owed.Tax credit · Germany · Apply any time
- BAFA consulting subsidyAssessment base €3,500 per consultation. Leipzig region and Berlin: 50% = max €1,750. Other eastern German regions: 80% = max €2,800. Up to 5 consultations in total until end of 2026, max 2 per year.Voucher · Germany · Next deadline: 31 December 2026
- KMU-innovativ ICTProject grant: 50% of eligible costs for industrial research, 25% for experimental development, plus 20 points for small firms (10 for medium); max 80%; usually up to 3 yearsGrant · Germany · Next deadline: 15 April 2027
- Sovereign Tech FundWork must be estimated above €50,000 (current minimum); no max statedGrant · EU · Apply any time
- GitHub Secure Open Source Fund$10,000 per project, paid in 3 tranches ($6k/$2k/$2k) + 3-week security programme + Azure credits/toolsGrant · EU · Apply any time
- DigiRess Circular: digital circular business modelsEUR 100,000 to 1 million per project for up to about 3 years; small firms get up to 85% of costs, so about 15% is your own shareGrant · Germany · Next deadline: 15 December 2026
- EIT Urban Mobility RAPTOREUR 60,000 lump sum for a 6-month pilot that solves one city's mobility challengeGrant · EU · Next round not announced yet
- EXIST Research TransferPhase I: team salaries at the host institution (up to 4 FTE, public pay scale) plus up to EUR 250,000 for materials, equipment and IP, incl. EUR 10,000 coaching; Phase II: grant to the new company of up to EUR 180,000 (75%, own funds 1:3)Grant · Germany · Next deadline: 30 November 2026
- WIPANO Patent Grant for SMEs50% of external costs: up to EUR 10,000 for the patent or utility-model filing process (module 1) plus up to EUR 6,000 for cost-benefit analysis and first exploitation steps (module 2)Grant · Germany · Next deadline: 31 October 2027
- KMU-innovativ: Medical TechnologyDe minimis route: up to 80% (small firms) or 70% (medium) of costs, max EUR 300,000 over 3 years; GBER route: 50% industrial research / 25% experimental development, up to 80% with SME and collaboration bonusesGrant · Germany · Next deadline: 15 April 2027
- Artists' Social Insurance (KSK)You pay only about half of statutory pension, health and long-term-care contributions; the other half comes from a federal subsidy and a levy on companies using creative workBenefit-linked support · Germany · Apply any time
- Investment Deduction for Small Businesses (§7g EStG)Deduct up to 50% of planned equipment costs from profit up to 3 years before buying (max EUR 200,000 per business), plus up to 40% special depreciation; a tax deferral, not a grantTax credit · Germany · Apply any time
- DBU Project Funding for Environmental InnovationAs a rule 50% of project costs for companies; awards often EUR 100,000-400,000 per project; bonuses for SMEs and cooperation projects possibleGrant · Germany · Apply any time
Questions founders ask
Which grants and subsidies can I get as a solo founder in Berlin?
26 of the 29 programs accept solo founders under their official rules: GründungsBONUS Plus, Pro FIT Early-Stage Financing, Transfer BONUS, EqualStart Berlin: Women Founders' Bonus, Pro FIT Project Funding, Musicboard Berlin Label Funding and 20 more. For the others, the team rule is on each program page.
Which of them do I not have to pay back?
25 of the 29 do not have to be paid back: GründungsBONUS Plus, Transfer BONUS, EqualStart Berlin: Women Founders' Bonus, Musicboard Berlin Label Funding, Start-up Subsidy (Gründungszuschuss), Entry Allowance for Self-Employment (Einstiegsgeld) and 19 more. The others are loans, equity or conditional; each program page has the details.
When is the next deadline?
The next fixed deadline is 3 November 2026 for NLnet Restack Fund. 15 of the 29 accept applications all year round.
Facts are checked against official sources; each program page shows the verification date and sources. Orientation, not an eligibility decision.