High-Tech Gründerfonds Seed Investment
High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) Pre-Seed/Seed
Pre-seed/seed first tickets with a 'sweet spot' of EUR 800,000+, sized to need; follow-on growth rounds of up to EUR 30m per portfolio company. Provided by High-Tech Gründerfonds (public-private seed fund: federal government, KfW and industry investors).
Check if you qualify for High-Tech Gründerfonds Seed Investment
Answer a few questions about you and your project. The co-pilot opens High-Tech Gründerfonds Seed Investment 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
- Pre-seed/seed first tickets with a 'sweet spot' of EUR 800,000+, sized to need; follow-on growth rounds of up to EUR 30m per portfolio company
- Duration
- Not fixed
- Type
- Investment
- Who receives it
- Company
- Equity
- Takes equity
- Repayable
- Unclear
- Stages
- Prototype, Pre-revenue, Revenue, Incorporated
- Solo founders
- Unclear
- Full-time required
- Unclear
- Company required
- Yes
- University link required
- No
- Application languages
- DE, EN
- Location
- Headquarters in Germany, or a German establishment for foreign start-ups
Who can apply
- Tech start-up no older than 3 years
- Fields: digital tech, industrial tech, climate and deep tech, life sciences, chemistry or adjacent tech
- Seat in Germany or a German establishment
- Apply by uploading a pitch deck ('My Pitch')
What usually blocks applicants
- Company older than 3 years
- Not technology-based (e.g. services, retail)
- No incorporated company or not investable cap table
- Highly selective VC process
Deadline and timing
Pitch decks accepted any time. HTGF V started fundraising on 26 Aug 2026 (first closing planned mid-2027).
Frequently asked
How much does High-Tech Gründerfonds Seed Investment pay?
Pre-seed/seed first tickets with a 'sweet spot' of EUR 800,000+, sized to need; follow-on growth rounds of up to EUR 30m per portfolio company
Who can apply for High-Tech Gründerfonds Seed Investment?
Stages: prototype, pre-revenue, revenue, incorporated. You need a registered company. Location: Headquarters in Germany, or a German establishment for foreign start-ups. The full list of conditions is under Who can apply above.
When is the High-Tech Gründerfonds Seed Investment deadline?
Pitch decks accepted any time. HTGF V started fundraising on 26 Aug 2026 (first closing planned mid-2027).
Where do I apply for High-Tech Gründerfonds Seed Investment?
On the official page: https://www.htgf.de/en/venture-capital-investor-2/. Applications are accepted in DE, EN.
Do I have to pay back High-Tech Gründerfonds Seed Investment or give up equity?
Whether it is repayable is not stated clearly; confirm with the provider. It takes equity in the company.
Can solo founders apply for High-Tech Gründerfonds Seed Investment?
The official sources do not state this clearly; confirm with the provider.
Sources and verification
Checked on 19 October 2026. Most facts read from the official source; some details need confirmation. This page is orientation, not an eligibility decision.
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