DBU Green Start-up
Up to €125,000 per start-up over 24 months, up to 100% (de minimis). Mainly living costs up to €2,000/month per person, plus some material/external services.. Provided by Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU).
Key facts
- Amount
- Up to €125,000 per start-up over 24 months, up to 100% (de minimis). Mainly living costs up to €2,000/month per person, plus some material/external services.
- Duration
- Not fixed
- Type
- Stipend
- Who receives it
- Founding team
- Equity
- Equity-free
- Repayable
- No
- Stages
- Idea, Prototype, Pre-revenue
- Solo founders
- Unclear
- Full-time required
- Yes
- Company required
- Yes
- University link required
- No
- Application languages
- DE
- Location
- Germany
Who can apply
- Company ≤5 years old; may apply before founding but must be founded by funding start (UG/GmbH/partnerships)
- Fits a DBU funding topic; environmental relief + innovation + viability + personal fit
- German-language application
What usually blocks applicants
- DBU recommends 2+ people; solo not excluded but weaker
- Business model must clearly reduce environmental impact
- Einzelunternehmen not mentioned (Personen-/Kapitalgesellschaften named)
Why founders miss it
An EXIST-sized living stipend with no university requirement and rolling intake. Software with measurable environmental impact qualifies, and most digital founders never check DBU.
Deadline and timing
Applications any time; decisions take months
Frequently asked
How much does DBU Green Start-up pay?
Up to €125,000 per start-up over 24 months, up to 100% (de minimis). Mainly living costs up to €2,000/month per person, plus some material/external services.
Who can apply for DBU Green Start-up?
Company ≤5 years old; may apply before founding but must be founded by funding start (UG/GmbH/partnerships) Fits a DBU funding topic; environmental relief + innovation + viability + personal fit German-language application
When is the DBU Green Start-up deadline?
Applications any time; decisions take months
Where do I apply for DBU Green Start-up?
On the official page: https://www.dbu.de/foerderung/green-start-up/. Applications are accepted in DE.
Do I have to pay back DBU Green Start-up or give up equity?
No, it does not have to be paid back. It takes no equity.
Can solo founders apply for DBU Green Start-up?
The official sources do not state this clearly; confirm with the provider.
Sources and verification
Checked on 8 October 2026. Facts read directly from the official source. This page is orientation, not an eligibility decision.
More funding in Germany (nationwide)
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- EXIST WomenEUR 2,000 material budget per participant plus mentoring, workshops and coaching; some participants also get a stipend of up to 3 months (EUR 1,000 to 3,000/month by qualification, + EUR 150 per child), at the host's discretion
- 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-free
- 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 months
- Founder Coaching via AVGS voucherReasonable costs of an approved coaching measure paid by the agency via the voucher; scope and hours set on the voucher
- 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 providers