Berlin Start
Low-interest start-up and consolidation loan from Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB) in conjunction with a guarantee of up to 80% from BBB Bürgschaftsbank Berlin-Brandenburg. Up to €1.5 million, term 6–10 years, 100% disbursement, applications possible at any time through the house bank.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
Promotion of start-up and consolidation projects in Berlin through low-interest loans combined with default guarantees to secure missing collateral, in order to enable business start-ups, company takeovers and consolidations, as well as working capital and investment financing.
Eligible expenses
- Investment costs
- Costs for initial equipment of a goods warehouse
- Acquisition price
- Operating resources requirement
Non-eligible expenses
- Refinancing and follow-up financing of already completed investment projects
- Financing of the purchase price in transfers between first-degree family members
Eligible to apply
- Founders
- Companies
Funding requirements
- Start-up founders, freelancers, or SMEs according to the EU definition
- Founding date no more than 7 years before application submission
- Business location or investment site in Berlin
- Loan only in conjunction with up to 80% guarantee from BBB
- Proof of professional and commercial qualification
Documents required for application
- Description of the project or business concept
- Investment and financing plan
- Purchase/acquisition contract
- Lease and rental agreements
- Profitability forecast
- Resumes and self-disclosures
- Articles of association
- Overview of existing loan liabilities
- Excerpt from the commercial register
- Certificates of clearance from the tax office, health insurance funds, and professional association
- Application form
- Checklist
- Self-disclosure for BBB guarantee
Evaluation criteria
- Feasibility of the project
- professional and commercial qualifications
- economic sustainability
Description
An innovative funding model Berlin Start enables start-up, takeover, and consolidation projects in the capital region through a combination of low-interest loans from the Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB) and default guarantees from the BBB Bürgschaftsbank Berlin-Brandenburg. Entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) based in Berlin with a founding date of no more than seven years gain financing leeway of up to 1.5 million euros with a term of 6–10 years, including a grace period without repayments. The program covers investment costs, initial stocking of inventories, takeover prices, as well as working capital requirements – with 100% disbursement and guarantee quotas of up to 80%, compensating for missing collateral.
Applications can be submitted at any time through the house bank under the house bank procedure, whereby the IBB sets the conditions and the BBB grants the guarantee. Requirements include professional and commercial qualifications, a business location or investment site in Berlin, and compliance with the EU SME definition. Refinancing and follow-up financing of already completed investments or intra-family purchase price transactions are excluded. For the evaluation, documents such as project description, investment and financing plan, purchase or lease contracts, profitability forecast, CVs, articles of association, commercial register excerpt, and certificates of tax clearance must be submitted. The program targets founders and young companies with future-proof concepts seeking long-term stabilization of their projects.
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