EqualStart Berlin: Women Founders' Bonus
EqualStart Berlin – der GründerinnenBONUS
One-time payment of up to EUR 10,000 per company (de minimis). Provided by Berlin Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises (SenWiEnBe).
Check if you qualify for EqualStart Berlin: Women Founders' Bonus
Answer a few questions about you and your project. The co-pilot opens EqualStart Berlin: Women Founders' Bonus 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
- One-time payment of up to EUR 10,000 per company (de minimis)
- Duration
- Not fixed
- Type
- Grant
- Who receives it
- Company
- Equity
- Equity-free
- Repayable
- No
- Stages
- Pre-revenue, Revenue, Incorporated
- Solo founders
- Yes
- Full-time required
- Unclear
- Company required
- Yes
- University link required
- No
- Application languages
- DE
- Location
- Berlin company funded under GründungsBONUS Plus
Who can apply
- Innovative company founded mainly by women, or with a female majority of shareholders
- Holds a final (bestandskräftig) GründungsBONUS Plus grant notice dated 1 Sep 2025 or later
- No earlier GründerinnenBONUS or comparable benefit in Berlin or another federal state
- Submit application, proof of female majority, the GründungsBONUS Plus notice and a de minimis declaration
What usually blocks applicants
- Only available after a GründungsBONUS Plus approval
- GründungsBONUS Plus notice dated before 1 Sep 2025
- Budget of about EUR 1m; no legal entitlement
Deadline and timing
Next deadline: 31 October 2027
Opens: 18 April 2026
Open since April 2026; applications until 31 Oct 2027 (guideline valid until 31 Dec 2027).
Frequently asked
How much does EqualStart Berlin: Women Founders' Bonus pay?
One-time payment of up to EUR 10,000 per company (de minimis)
Who can apply for EqualStart Berlin: Women Founders' Bonus?
Stages: pre-revenue, revenue, incorporated. Solo founders can apply. You need a registered company. Location: Berlin company funded under GründungsBONUS Plus. The full list of conditions is under Who can apply above.
When is the EqualStart Berlin: Women Founders' Bonus deadline?
Open since April 2026; applications until 31 Oct 2027 (guideline valid until 31 Dec 2027).
Where do I apply for EqualStart Berlin: Women Founders' Bonus?
On the official page: https://www.berlin.de/sen/wirtschaft/gruenden-und-foerdern/gruendungs-und-startup-foerderung/finanzielle-foerderung/billigkeitsleistungen/. Applications are accepted in DE.
Do I have to pay back EqualStart Berlin: Women Founders' Bonus or give up equity?
No, it does not have to be paid back. It takes no equity.
Can solo founders apply for EqualStart Berlin: Women Founders' Bonus?
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.
- https://www.berlin.de/sen/wirtschaft/gruenden-und-foerdern/gruendungs-und-startup-foerderung/finanzielle-foerderung/billigkeitsleistungen/richlinie-equalstart-berlin-der-gruenderinnenbonus-2026-2027.pdf
- https://www.berlin.de/sen/wirtschaft/gruenden-und-foerdern/gruendungs-und-startup-foerderung/finanzielle-foerderung/billigkeitsleistungen/flyer-zum-programm-equalstartberlin---der-gruenderinnenbonus.pdf
- https://www.berlin.de/sen/web/presse/pressemitteilungen/2026/pressemitteilung.1665062.php
More funding in Berlin
- GründungsBONUS Plus50% grant of eligible costs, max EUR 50,000 (de minimis), paid as reimbursement in up to 4 instalments
- 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 collateral
- 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)
- 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)
- Berlin Startup StipendiumUp to EUR 2,500/month per person for 6 to 12 months (length set by incubator); incubators also provide workspace, labs, coaching and mentoring
- IBB Ventures (B# Pre-Seed and VC funds)B# pre-seed: EUR 100k to 400k in convertibles (+EUR 100k if at least one female founder); IBB Ventures seed/Series A EUR 200k to 1m, follow-ons up to EUR 4m (6m in individual cases)