Support programmes for founders

Founders are individuals who want to set up their own business or whose company has been on the market for no more than three or five years.

Please note: Applications are accepted in German only.

What offers are available?

Berlin Innovativ

Our plus for your project financing

  • Loans to finance projects by innovative companies

  • Up to EUR 2m at a low interest rate

  • IBB provides the applicant’s bank with a 70% exemption from liability

Berlin Start

Low-interest loans for people starting up in business

  • Loans to finance start-ups and expansion for companies that are no more than 7 years old

  • Up to EUR 1.5 million with a fixed interest rate

  • With an 80% guarantee by the guarantee bank

Berliner Innovationsfachkräfte

New know-how for Berlin-based companies

  • Grants for hiring university and college graduates

  • Up to 50% of wage costs, EUR 20,000 max. for one year

  • Improving the company's competitive strength

Berliner InvestitionsBONUS

Promoting investment

  • Grant of up to 30% for investment in business relocation, expansion, transformation, diversification, etc.

  • Bonus of 5% for particularly sustainable investments

Businessplan-Wettbewerb Berlin-Brandenburg (BPW)

From the idea to the concept: step by step into self-employment

  • Structured business plan preparation in a competition environment

  • Support during the drafting of the business concept

  • Free business start-up seminars

Coaching BONUS

Coaching for companies and founders in Berlin

  • Grants for individual coaching

  • For up to 80% of costs for a maximum of 20 consultant days

  • Professional coaches/consultants

GründungsBONUS

Start-up support amounting to up to EUR 50,000 for innovative companies

  • Start-up allowance

  • Company no more than 12 months in business

  • 50% support for start-up costs up to EUR 50,000 max.

KMU-Fonds Gründung & Wachstum

Financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

  • Loans of up to EUR 10 million to finance company takeovers and growth and to pre-finance contracts in co-operation with the applicant's own bank

  • Loans of up to EUR 250,000 to finance start-up and growth also as direct loans

  • Variable loan terms with an initial grace period

Kongressfonds Berlin

Grants for professional events in Berlin

  • Grants for analogue, hybrid and decentralised events

  • Extra bonus for sustainable event and company management

  • Funding of up to EUR 70 per day per attendee participating in a professional event in Berlin

Mikrokredit aus dem KMU-Fonds

Fast loans in the case of micro-loans of up to EUR 25,000 / 50,000

  • Loans to finance start-ups and growths

  • Up to EUR 25,000 (EUR 50,000 for knowledge-intensive/innovative companies) at fair interest rates

  • No customary collateral

Pro FIT - Frühphasenfinanzierung

Grants and loans for innovation projects

  • Grants and loans for highly innovative, technological start-ups

  • Up to EUR 500,000 to finance launching costs

  • No bank collateral required

Pro FIT - Projektfinanzierung

Grants and loans for technological innovation projects

  • Grants and loans for technological innovation projects

  • Loans of up to EUR 1m and grants of up to EUR 400,000

  • Online financing of project-related R&D expenditure

Transfer BONUS

Funding for science and research

  • Grants for contracts to scientific institutions

  • For up to 70% of costs for a maximum of 45,000 consultant days

  • Knowledge transfer with regional scientific institutions

VC Fonds

Venture capital from IBB Ventures

  • Venture capital for innovative start-ups

  • Initial investment usually EUR 0.2 to EUR 1m

  • Minority interest in companies with high growth prospects