Startup funding in Germany (nationwide)

Nationwide founder funding in Germany: EXIST, Gründungszuschuss, Einstiegsgeld, Prototype Fund, KfW and INVEST, with who qualifies and what usually blocks applicants.

• EXIST Business Start-up GrantEXIST-GründungsstipendiumPer person per month for 12 months: EUR 3,000 (PhD), 2,500 (graduates), 2,000 (vocational qualification), 1,000 (students); + EUR 150 per child; + materials up to EUR 10,000 (solo) or 30,000 (team); + EUR 5,000 coachingStipend · Germany (nationwide)
• 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 discretionCoaching · Germany (nationwide)
• Start-up Subsidy (Gründungszuschuss)Gründungszuschuss (§93 SGB III)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 (nationwide)
• Entry Allowance for Self-Employment (Einstiegsgeld)Einstiegsgeld (§16b SGB II)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 (nationwide)
• Founder Coaching via AVGS voucherAVGS Gründungscoaching (§45 SGB III)Reasonable costs of an approved coaching measure paid by the agency via the voucher; scope and hours set on the voucherVoucher · Germany (nationwide)
• Support for the Self-Employed (SGB II 16c)Leistungen zur Eingliederung von Selbständigen (§16c SGB II)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 (nationwide)
• 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 (nationwide)
• KfW ERP Start-up Loan StartGeldERP-Gründerkredit - StartGeld (067)Up to EUR 200,000 (working capital up to EUR 80,000); KfW takes 80% of the bank's risk; fixed, ERP-subsidised interest (current rates at kfw.de/konditionen)Loan · Germany (nationwide)
• INVEST Grant for Venture CapitalINVEST - Zuschuss für WagniskapitalFor 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 (nationwide)
• German AcceleratorFully funded, free of charge, no equity; expert guidance, partnerships and network for market entryAccelerator · Germany (nationwide)
• German R&D tax creditSteuerliche Forschungszulage35% 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 (nationwide)
• BAFA consulting subsidyFörderung von Unternehmensberatungen für KMU (BAFA)Assessment 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 (nationwide)
• KMU-innovativ ICTKMU-innovativ: Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien (IKT)Project 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 (nationwide)
• DBU Green Start-upUp 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.Stipend · Germany (nationwide)
• Sovereign Tech FundWork must be estimated above €50,000 (current minimum); no max statedGrant · Germany (nationwide)
• AIDEAS: circular business ideas with AIAIDEAS #1 – Ideen für zirkuläre Geschäftsmodelle (Circular AI Hub)EUR 10,000 fixed payment for each of up to 10 teams to work out the idea (2 Nov to 19 Dec 2026), plus a pitch at the Circular AI Hub FORUM on 10 Nov 2026Prize · Germany (nationwide)
• DigiRess Circular: digital circular business modelsDigiRess Circular (BMUKN, VDI TZ)EUR 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 (nationwide)
• KfW ERP Founding LoanERP-Förderkredit Gründung und Nachfolge (KfW 077)Loan up to EUR 500,000 for up to 35% of costs; 15 years with 5 repayment-free, or 10 with 2; a Bürgschaftsbank guarantees 100%, so no other collateralLoan · Germany (nationwide)
• Micro-Mezzanine Fund GermanyMikromezzaninfonds Deutschland III (MBG Sachsen)Silent participation up to EUR 100,000, or EUR 150,000 for social and ecological firms; about 8% a year effective plus up to 2% profit share; 10 years, no collateralInvestment · Germany (nationwide)
• Antler ONE ResidencyAntler ONE (Berlin)Up to EUR 500,000 pre-seed (EUR 200,000 at once, the rest as follow-on) for about 10% equity; co-founder matching for solo foundersInvestment · Germany (nationwide)

Facts are checked against official sources; each program page shows the verification date and sources. Orientation, not an eligibility decision.