Experts for Startups
Initiative of the Styrian Business Promotion Agency (SFG) and the State of Styria supports startups in market entry, market penetration, and business growth through targeted knowledge transfer from experienced experts. Funding of expert services up to €15,000 per startup. Applications possible within the funding period until 30.06.2027.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
The goal of the initiative is to support startups in market entry, market penetration, and business growth through targeted knowledge transfer. Experienced entrepreneurs, executives, and subject matter experts accompany the startups with their expertise and act as a liaison to partners, customers, and suppliers in the target market.
Eligible expenses
- External expert services
Eligible to apply
- Companies
- Founders
Funding requirements
- Company founded no more than ten years ago
- Including innovative products, services, or processes
- Business model with clear market orientation and readiness for series production or scale-up phase
- No simultaneous funding through incubator/accelerator/mentoring program
- Application to be submitted before project start
Documents required for application
- Online application in the SFG portal
- Questionnaire Experts for Startups
Evaluation criteria
- Degree of innovation of the business model
- Market orientation
- Growth potential
Description
The initiative Experts for Startups by the Styrian Business Promotion Agency (SFG) and the State of Styria offers targeted support to innovative startups and scaleups in Styria that are no older than ten years, assisting them with market entry, market penetration, and business growth. Experienced entrepreneurs, executives, and industry experts from business and industry accompany the projects as sparring partners and open doors to relevant partners, customers, and suppliers. External expert services are funded with up to €15,000 per startup – the subsidy rate is 100% of eligible expenses. The project duration is set at twelve months, and applications can be submitted from 01.06.2026 to 30.06.2027 (the next submission deadline is 15.07.2026).
Eligible to participate are small enterprises with a marketable product or a series-ready service in the scale-up phase, which are not simultaneously receiving funding through incubator, accelerator, or mentoring programs. Requirements include, among others, a founding date within the last ten years, a clearly market-oriented business model, and high growth potential. Selection is based on the criteria of degree of innovation, market orientation, and growth opportunities. To apply, an online application via the SFG portal including the “Experts for Startups Questionnaire” is required. Careful project preparation and the presentation of the specific expert matching are part of the proof of use, which must be provided through an invoice and a detailed content-related time log.
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