Support for young, innovative companies in the state of Bremen (ERDF Participation Fund Bremen II)
The EFRE Participation Fund Bremen II offers young, innovative SMEs in the state of Bremen equity participations and subordinated loans to finance product development, market launch, and growth. Applications can be submitted on an ongoing basis.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
Promotion of the innovative capacity of young and innovative companies in the state of Bremen through the provision of equity capital and subordinated loans to support product development, market launch, business growth, and strengthening of innovation capabilities.
Eligible expenses
- Personnel costs
- Investments for product development
- Operating resources related to market launch
- Expansion of business areas
- Strengthening of innovation capacity
Eligible to apply
- Founders
- Companies
Funding requirements
- Non-listed small company registered in the commercial register for a maximum of 5 years
- Headquarters or place of business in the state of Bremen
- No profit distribution to date
- No takeover of another company or acquisition share below 10% of turnover
- Proof of a sustainable, innovative concept and secured overall financing
Documents required for application
- Company information (revenue, employees, balance sheets, profit and loss statements)
- Financing plan and capital requirements
- Business plan or pitch deck
- Proof of SME status
- External proof of innovation content (expert opinion)
- Proof of registered office/establishment in the state of Bremen
Evaluation criteria
- Innovative content of the project
- Technical feasibility
- Market opportunities
- Sustainability concept and secured overall financing
Description
The ERDF Participation Fund Bremen II supports young, innovative small and medium-sized enterprises as well as start-ups with headquarters or business premises in the state of Bremen. Through open minority participations and complementary subordinated loans, the program supports product development, market launch, and business growth. Funding is provided for personnel costs, investments in research and development, operating resources related to market entry, as well as measures to strengthen innovation capacity and expand new business areas. The term of participations and loans extends up to 84 months, with a target exit after seven years. The maximum funding amount is up to EUR 500,000 (up to EUR 750,000 in the C funding area, and up to EUR 1,500,000 for particularly innovative companies).
The program is aimed at non-listed SMEs registered in the commercial register for no more than five years, which have not yet distributed profits and whose acquisitions do not exceed a 10% share of turnover. A demonstrably sustainable, innovative concept as well as secured overall financing are prerequisites. The application must include meaningful company data (turnover, employees, financial statements), a financing plan, business plan or pitch deck, an external expert report on the level of innovation, as well as proof of SME status and location. Applications can be submitted continuously; the program ends on 30.06.2027. Selection is based on the criteria of innovation content, technical feasibility, market opportunities, sustainability concept, and full financial coverage.
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