EXIST Busines Start-up Grant with excellent conditions

How can I apply for the EXIST Business Start-up Grant? You will find the answers to the most important questions here:

• Who is supported by the fund?

  • Scientists from public, non-profit

    • research institutes
    • universities
  • University graduates and former academic staff members (up to five years after getting a degree or dropping out).
  • Students who have completed at least half of their studies at the time of applying.
  • Entrepreneur Teams of up to three people. Teams that are made up of a majority of students are only funded in exceptional cases.
  • One of the maximum of three team members may have a qualifying professional education and can be funded as the technical staff or one of the team members may have a degree that is more than five years old.

• What will be funded?

  • Innovative technology based start-up projects.

  • Innovative knowledge based services based on scientific findings.

• How does the funding work?

  • The grant covers personal living expenses:

    • Entrepreneurs with a doctorate receive 3,000 euro/month
    • Graduates with a university degree receive 2,500 euro/month
    • Students receive 1,000 euro/month
    • Child benefit: 150 euro/month per child
  • Materials and equipment: worth up to 10,000 euro for solo start-ups (for teams max. 30,000 euro)
  • Coaching:5,000 euro
  • The maximum period of funding is one year.

• What do the university, research institute and entrepreneurs have to achieve?

  • University or research institute

    • is involved in an Entrepreneurial Network.
    • provides the entrepreneur with a mentor, a workplace and guarantees free use of infrastructure.
    • manages the grant

  • The entrepreneurs

    • receives coaching services from the Entrepreneurial Network.
    • participates in a one-day "Entrepreneurial Personality" Seminar.
    • presents a first draft of the business plan after five months.
    • submits the business plan after ten months.
    • takes on the responsibility of making tax and national insurance payments.

• Is it possible to launch the business during the funding phase?

  • Yes, but the launch should not take place at the beginning of the funding.

• Who submits the application?

  • Universities
  • Research institutes

• When can the application be submitted?

  The application may be submitted at any time.

Sponsors

The EXIST Business Start-up Grant is a support programme of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and is co-financed by the European Social Fund.