Promotion of Research, Innovations, and Technologies (Pro FIT) – Early-Stage Financing of Technology Companies
Low-interest loans and grants for technology-oriented founders and small businesses in Berlin to finance pre-startup and early-stage activities with up to 100% funding rate, maximum €500,000.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
The program supports newly founded, technology-oriented corporations based in Berlin in the early stages of their business development. The goal is the establishment and operation of the initial company infrastructure, the planning and implementation of innovation projects, as well as the concurrent expansion of this infrastructure.
Eligible expenses
- Personnel expenses
- Capital expenditures
- Ongoing operating expenses
Non-eligible expenses
- Expenditures in the anchor project
- directly revenue-related customer orders
Eligible to apply
- Founders
- Companies
Funding requirements
- Newly established corporation headquartered in Berlin
- Maximum age of 12 months (Early Phase 1) or 24 months (Early Phase 2)
- Technically innovative business model with demonstrably high risk
- At least 75% of company shares held by the founding team
- Proof of a mentor with entrepreneurial experience and financial involvement
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Documents required for application
- Project description
- Financing plan / early-stage financial planner
- Self-disclosure
- SME self-declaration
- SME criteria information sheet
- Application checklist
Evaluation criteria
- Degree of innovation and technical risk
- Plausibility of the business plan
- Team and mentor competence
- Economic sustainability
Description
The funding program Promotion of Research, Innovations and Technologies (Pro FIT) – Early-Stage Financing is aimed at newly founded, technology-oriented corporations based in Berlin. In Early Stage 1, up to EUR 200,000 is granted as a 50/50 mix of a non-repayable grant and an interest-free loan to finance the establishment of the initial company infrastructure and the planning of an innovation project. In the subsequent Early Stage 2, up to EUR 500,000 can be provided as a low-interest loan to enable further infrastructure expansion alongside project implementation. Up to 100% of eligible expenses are covered, including personnel costs (including management), investment costs for general operational and business equipment, as well as ongoing operating expenses. The loan term can be up to ten years, with the possibility of grace periods and bullet repayments, without the need to provide collateral.
Eligible applicants are young small enterprises whose articles of association are no older than twelve months (or 24 months in the case of direct entry into Early Stage 2) and whose founding team collectively holds at least 75% of the shares and management functions. Requirements include a high technical innovation risk, a plausible financing plan, and the involvement of an experienced mentor with financial participation. Applications are submitted continuously via the electronic portal of Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB). Alongside the project description and a detailed business plan, the application must include, among other documents, a self-disclosure, the SME self-declaration, the early-stage financial planner, and a checklist. External expert reviewers assess the technology, market prospects, and team competence before the funding committee decides on approval on a monthly basis.
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