Finding funding for founders

This page explains the steps and names its sources. It is not legal, tax or funding advice. To find out what applies to your plans, check with an advisory service or the authority responsible.

Starting question

I need money to get started, for example for equipment, the first months or advice. Which funding routes exist in Berlin, and where do I apply?

In short: this guide names routes and responsibilities, not amounts. Individual programmes and their conditions are in the funding list. The Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises (Senatsverwaltung für Wirtschaft, Energie und Betriebe) counts low-interest loan programmes, grants, equity offers and guarantees as financial support [1].

Steps

1. Needs and plan. The basis is a business plan. According to the KfW, its financial and liquidity plan also serves as the basis for financing your self-employment [5]. For borrowed capital, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) lists, among others, development loans from the federal government, the federal states and the EU as well as loans from banks, savings banks and cooperative banks [6].
2. State of Berlin: IBB. The Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB) is the development bank of the state of Berlin [2]. According to its own website, it only funds founders whose head office or place of business is in Berlin, or who are setting up a business premises here [2]. Its types of funding include loans, non-repayable grants, equity investments and coaching [2]. For most products you apply electronically in the IBB customer portal (IBB Kundenportal) [2]. For an overview, the IBB offers a free online workshop on funding and financing [2].
3. Mind the order. For some programmes, timing matters. For the GründungsBONUS Plus, for example, the IBB only funds expenses for which no supply or service contracts had been concluded when the application was received [3]. According to the BMWE, you apply for the start-up grant (Gründungszuschuss) before you take up your self-employed activity [6]. So read the conditions before you sign contracts or start.
4. Federal level: KfW through your bank. According to the KfW, the business plan is an important document for approaching banks about KfW funding; you also apply for the specific funding at the bank [5]. According to the BMWE, if you do not have sufficient collateral you must provide a guarantee, for example from a guarantee bank (Bürgschaftsbank) [6].
5. From science and research: exist. exist is the start-up funding of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy for start-ups from science and research [4]. According to exist, the first step always leads to the start-up network at a university or research institution [4]. University start-up services are listed in the guide Finding a team and space.
6. From unemployment: employment agency or Jobcenter. If you receive unemployment benefit (Arbeitslosengeld), you can apply to the employment agency (Agentur für Arbeit) for a start-up grant. One condition is that an expert body has assessed and certified your business idea [7]. If you receive Grundsicherungsgeld (which replaced the Bürgergeld on 1 July 2026), you can apply to the Jobcenter for Einstiegsgeld [8]. There is no legal entitlement to either benefit [7] [8].
7. Advice on funding. According to the Senate Department, funding partners in Berlin help you find suitable programmes, apply and develop your business idea further [1]. You will find offices under Advice.

Who is responsible

Programmes from the portal’s funding list, in no particular order:

• Businessplan-Wettbewerb Berlin-Brandenburg (BPW) · Länder Berlin und Brandenburg (gemeinsame Initiative), kofinanziert von der Europäischen Union
  Competition with free seminars, workshops and advice for prospective founders in Berlin and Brandenburg; business concepts can be submitted in three rounds and are assessed with feedback.
• Berlin Start · Land Berlin, Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB), mit Bürgschaft der BBB Bürgschaftsbank zu Berlin-Brandenburg GmbH
  Start-up loan via the house bank, secured by a guarantee from BBB Bürgschaftsbank zu Berlin-Brandenburg, for new businesses, takeovers and companies up to seven years after founding; investment location Berlin.
• Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs · Europäische Union, Europäische Kommission
  EU exchange programme: new or aspiring entrepreneurs work for 1 to 6 months with experienced entrepreneurs in another participating country; grant towards travel and living costs, participation free of charge.
• ERP-Förderkredit Gründung und Nachfolge (077) · Bund, KfW (ERP-Sondervermögen), mit Garantie einer Bürgschaftsbank
  KfW loan for founding, takeover and consolidation or expansion in the first five years; a guarantee bank provides a guarantee and no further collateral is required. Apply via a financing partner.
• ERP-Gründerkredit – StartGeld (067) · Bund, KfW (ERP-Sondervermögen)
  KfW development loan for start-ups, takeovers and young companies up to five years old, full-time or part-time, including non-profits; for investments and working capital. Apply via a financing partner.

See all matching entries (9) →

Programmes from the portal’s funding list, in no particular order:

• Businessplan-Wettbewerb Berlin-Brandenburg (BPW) · Länder Berlin und Brandenburg (gemeinsame Initiative), kofinanziert von der Europäischen Union
  Competition with free seminars, workshops and advice for prospective founders in Berlin and Brandenburg; business concepts can be submitted in three rounds and are assessed with feedback.
• Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs · Europäische Union, Europäische Kommission
  EU exchange programme: new or aspiring entrepreneurs work for 1 to 6 months with experienced entrepreneurs in another participating country; grant towards travel and living costs, participation free of charge.
• exist Gründungsstipendium · Bund, Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWE), kofinanziert aus dem Europäischen Sozialfonds; Projektträger Jülich
  Twelve-month scholarship with funds for materials and coaching for innovative start-up projects from universities and research (students past the halfway point, graduates, researchers); application via universities or research institutions.

See all matching entries (3) →

Next step

Look at the programmes in the funding list. Open the funding list and read the funder’s programme page before you apply.

Sources (in German)

1. Förderung (Gründen in Berlin), Senatsverwaltung für Wirtschaft, Energie und Betriebe. Page date: none. Retrieved 6 November 2026.
2. Existenzgründung Berlin: Fördermittel der IBB, Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB). Page date: none. Retrieved 6 November 2026.
3. GründungsBONUS Plus, Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB). Page date: none. Retrieved 6 November 2026.
4. exist – Startseite, Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWE), Programm exist. Page date: none. Retrieved 6 November 2026.
5. Förderungen für Gründer: Businessplan als Basis, KfW. Page date: none. Retrieved 6 November 2026.
6. Existenzgründungsportal – Finanzierung und Förderung, Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWE). Page date: none. Retrieved 6 November 2026.
7. Gründungszuschuss beantragen, Bundesagentur für Arbeit. Page date: none. Retrieved 6 November 2026.
8. Einstiegsgeld für Selbstständigkeit, Bundesagentur für Arbeit. Page date: none. Retrieved 6 November 2026.