Startup funding in Leipzig & Saxony

Gründungsförderung in Leipzig and Saxony: InnoStartBonus, Technologiegründerstipendium, SAB loans, accelerators and city programs, with who qualifies and when to apply.

• InnoStartBonus SaxonyInnovative Unternehmensgründungen (InnoStartBonus)EUR 1,050/month per founder + EUR 150/month per dependent child; up to 12 monthsStipend · Saxony
• ESF Plus Technology Founder Stipend SaxonyESF Plus Technologiegründungsstipendium (SAB)Per founder per month: EUR 1,000 (students), EUR 2,500 (graduates), EUR 3,000 (PhD); up to 12 monthsStipend · Saxony
• SMILE Startup Initiative LeipzigSMILE - Gründungsinitiative der Universität LeipzigFree start-up coaching, training and funding-application support (EXIST, Technologiegründungsstipendium etc.); no cash itselfCoaching · Leipzig
• Smart Infrastructure Hub Leipzig (Halle 7)Smart Infrastructure Hub LeipzigCoworking desks and offices at a start-up rate (paid), community, coaching and SpinLab network; SMILE incubation space for funded Uni Leipzig teams; no cashCoaching · Leipzig
• SpinLab - The HHL AcceleratorEUR 6,000 per startup for living costs (via City of Leipzig); up to EUR 50,000 in total with pitch prizes; no equityAccelerator · Leipzig
• R42 Games AcceleratorR42 Games Accelerator LeipzigFree 9-month program; chance of a EUR 30,000 SAB start-up grant (90% funding, personnel and material costs) for Saxony-based participantsAccelerator · Leipzig
• Social Impact Lab Leipzig - Founding SupportSocial Impact Lab Leipzig - Gründungsberatung & CoachingFree mentoring, coaching and workshops (online and offline); coworking for early-stage founders; no cashCoaching · Leipzig
• Leipzig SME Program - Founder Grant & Innovative Founder PremiumMittelstandsförderprogramm 'Wachstum und Kompetenz im Leipziger Mittelstand' (Gründungsförderung / Prämie für innovative Gründer/-innen)Gründungsförderung: 30% of eligible costs (up to 60% with location bonus), max EUR 5,000 per application/year (EUR 10,000 for high-tech). Separate one-off premium for innovative founders: EUR 4,000Grant · Leipzig
• SAB Microloan SaxonyMikrodarlehen Sachsen (MKD, SAB)EUR 5,000-30,000, up to 80% of eligible costs; currently 2% p.a. nominal; up to 6 years incl. 1 year repayment-free; no collateralLoan · Saxony
• SAB Founding Consulting SubsidyESF Plus Gründungsberatung (SAB, FRL GRB)Fixed EUR 400 per consulting day (8h), 2-5 days for new start-ups (EUR 800-2,000); succession EUR 500/day up to 10 daysVoucher · Saxony
• Saxony Digitalisation Grant (micro firms)Digitalisierung Zuschuss EFRE - Heranführungsprojekte (SAB, FRL Digi-Z)Up to 60% of eligible costs (+10 pts if bound by collective agreement); direct eligible costs capped at EUR 10,000, minimum EUR 5,000 costs; plus 7% flat indirect costsGrant · Saxony
• Saxon Founders' PrizeSächsischer Gründerpreis / Staatspreis für Gründen2026 round: up to EUR 30,000 total split across Newcomer, Start-up and Scale-up winners (2025 round: up to EUR 60,000)Prize · Saxony
• Leipzig Artistic-Cultural StipendsLeipziger Stipendienprogramm (Arbeitsstipendien, Kulturamt der Stadt Leipzig)EUR 8,000-10,000 per multi-month stipend (2026 call; programme volume up to EUR 250,000)Stipend · Leipzig
• Leipzig trade fair grantErschließung neuer Märkte – Messeförderung (Mittelstandsförderprogramm Stadt Leipzig)50% of stand, travel and fair-marketing costs. Caps: €1,500 (German fair), €2,000 (foreign fair), €750 (German conference), €1,000 (foreign conference/delegation trip). Up to 3 grants per year.Grant · Leipzig
• Saxony Business Angel BonusBusiness-Angel-Bonus (JTF 2021–2027)Grant of 50% of eligible costs (personnel incl. managing-director salary, material, investments), capped at the angel's investment and €400,000Grant · Saxony
• Saxony market-launch loanMarkteinführungsdarlehen (MEP-D)€30k–500k; up to 100% of costs for young small firms (≤5 years, <50 staff), up to 80% for others; 1.5% p.a. (JTF regions incl. Leipzig) or 2.5%; up to 8 years, 2 years repayment-free; no collateral; can be subordinated for young small firmsLoan · Saxony
• Saxony digitalisation loanDigitalisierungsdarlehen (Digi-D)€30k–250k; up to 100% for young small firms; 1.5% (JTF) / 2.5% p.a.; up to 6 years, 1 year repayment-free; no collateralLoan · Saxony
• Saxony InnoPrämieInnoPrämie (EFRE/JTF-Technologieförderung)50% of external R&D/design/testing services, max €40,000 per calendar year (up to 2 per year); ≤6 monthsVoucher · Saxony
• Saxony R&D project grantEFRE/JTF-Technologieförderung – FuE-Projektförderung (Einzelprojekte)Small firms, single project: 40% (experimental development) / 50% in Leipzig, 60% in Chemnitz/Dresden (industrial research) of eligible costs; +5 points on development for 'significant' projects (e.g. firm ≤5 years old); no general capGrant · Saxony
• Saxony circular economy grantFörderrichtlinie Kreislaufwirtschaft und Ressourceneffizienz (RL KrW/RE)Grant; rate depends on measure, company size and region. Awareness/knowledge-transfer projects EUR 2,500–60,000 at 80% for small firms; circular production investments EUR 8,000–5m at 55% for small firms; STEP critical-technology investments 90%Grant · Saxony
• RE\WARD idea competition for circular solutionsIdeenwettbewerb Re\ward (Stadt Leipzig)City competition for market-ready repair, reuse and rethink ideas; the prize is set out in the call on leipzig.dePrize · Leipzig
• Leipzig Future Prize (sustainability)Leipziger Zukunftspreis 2026/27EUR 12,000 in total: EUR 3,000 for sustainable small businesses, EUR 4,000 for new projects of initiatives, EUR 5,000 for long-running initiativesPrize · Leipzig
• Leipzig Pop-up Store competitionIdeenwettbewerb Pop-up-Store (Petersbogen)Use of a 160 m² city-centre shop in the Petersbogen for 6 months, with help on fit-out and marketingVoucher · Leipzig
• Smart City Challenge LeipzigPilot contract with the city of up to EUR 25,000, plus up to EUR 10,000 if the solution is released as open sourcePrize · Leipzig
• Leipzig Founding Night prizesLeipziger Gründungsnacht (Idee & StartUp)2025 prizes: EUR 5,000 for the best idea (audience vote) and EUR 10,000 for the best young start-upPrize · Leipzig
• Guarantee without a bank (Saxony)Bürgschaft ohne Bank (BoB, Bürgschaftsbank Sachsen)Guarantee of up to 80% of a loan, max EUR 160,000, promised before you look for a bank; 1% one-off fee and 1.1-1.5% a yearLoan · Saxony
• SAB Saxony Loan UniversalSachsenkredit Universal (SAB)Investment loans from EUR 20,000 (4-20 years) and working-capital loans from EUR 20,000; 4% of the loan is forgiven, 6% for start-up financingLoan · Saxony
• SAB Business Consulting GrantBeratungsförderung – Betriebsberatung (SAB)50% of EUR 800 per consultant day for 5-20 days a year, about EUR 2,000-8,000Voucher · Saxony
• futureSAX mentoring networkSächsisches Mentoring-Netzwerk (futureSAX)Free long-term 1:1 mentoring by an experienced entrepreneurCoaching · Saxony
• KREATIVES SACHSEN consultingKREATIVES SACHSEN – BeratungFree consulting on marketing, financing, business development and matching to funding; up to 3 sessions in 3 yearsCoaching · Saxony

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