Funding of innovative, agriculture-related start-ups from the federal special assets at the Agricultural Rentenbank (LR)
Low-interest subordinated loan up to €800,000 (in exceptional cases up to €1,000,000) plus an innovation voucher grant of up to €50,000 for agriculture-related start-ups in Germany.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
Promotion of the innovation and competitiveness of agriculture-related start-ups in the founding or early financing phase through the funding of expenses for operating resources, investments, technical development, as well as consulting and coaching measures.
Eligible expenses
- Operating resources (rent, personnel)
- Marketing
- Concepts and studies
- Investments in economic goods
- Market development and training
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Non-eligible expenses
- Redemption of existing liabilities or commitments of credit institutions
- Costs related to exports to third countries or EU member states
- Services before the approval date
- Retroactive costs
- Debt settlement
Eligible to apply
- Companies
- Founders
Funding requirements
- Non-listed agri-related start-up
- Operating site in Germany
- Small enterprise according to Annex I of the GBER
- Registration in the commercial register or start of business activity no more than 5 years ago
- No profit distributions
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Documents required for application
- Business plan
- Financing plan (LR financing plan)
- Pre-check form
- Pitch deck
- Annual financial statements and business management evaluations (BWA)
- Excerpt from the commercial register
- Articles of association
- Founders' CVs
- Self-disclosure and tax assessments
- Credit report (Schufa)
- Copy of identity card
Evaluation criteria
- Innovative content and unique selling proposition
- Scalability of the business model
- Benefit for the agricultural and food industry
- Development status (early financing phase/prototype)
- Protection through intellectual property rights
- Experience and qualifications of the team
- Market and competition analysis
Description
The funding offer is aimed at innovatively oriented, agriculture-related start-ups and founders based in Germany who are in the founding or early financing phase. It provides a low-interest subordinated loan of up to €800,000 (in exceptional cases up to €1,000,000) and complements this with an innovation voucher grant of up to €50,000. The goal is to strengthen innovation and competitiveness by supporting essential expenses such as operating resources (including rent, personnel), investments in assets, technical development of product and service ideas, as well as marketing and market development. The term is flexible between 24 and 120 months, with a funding rate of up to 90% of eligible costs.
Prerequisites include a non-listed small enterprise according to the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) with registration in the commercial register or business commencement no more than five years ago, high growth potential, and management with sufficient technical and commercial experience. Funding covers, in addition to operating resources, external consulting, training and coaching measures, as well as securing protection and trademark rights. Debt repayments, retroactive costs, or exports are not considered. For a complete application, among other documents, a business plan, LR financial plan, pre-check form, pitch deck, annual financial statements with business management evaluation (BWA), commercial register excerpt, articles of association, founders’ CVs, self-disclosure, tax assessments, credit report, and a copy of the identity card must be submitted. Applications can be submitted continuously until June 30, 2026.