Support for Business Start-ups (ego.-START)
With ego.-START, start-ups and business successors in Saxony-Anhalt receive grants for coaching services and a start-up scholarship. Applications can be submitted at any time via the IB customer portal.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
The program supports business start-ups and business successions in Saxony-Anhalt through grants for individual qualification measures (coaching) and to secure livelihood (founder’s stipend) with funds from the European Social Fund Plus.
Eligible expenses
- Coaching services
- Founder's grant
Non-eligible expenses
- Freelance legal advice as the predominant business purpose
- Mergers of existing companies
Eligible to apply
- Founders
- Companies
Funding requirements
- Economically independent, full-time entrepreneurial activity or takeover of a company in Saxony-Anhalt
- Proof of a business plan by a competent authority
- Establishment no later than 12 months after project start in Saxony-Anhalt
- Conclusion of a coaching contract with qualified consultants before establishment
- For the founder's grant: university graduates or scientific staff with an innovative start-up project
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Documents required for application
- Project description/Business plan
- Document checklist (ego.-START)
- SME declaration
- De-minimis declaration
- Power of attorney for IB customer portal
- Proof of suitability of the consultant
Evaluation criteria
- Quality of the consulting plan
- Professional suitability of the consultants
- Quality of the business plan
- Degree of innovation of the start-up project
- Feasibility of the concept
- Competencies of the founding team
Description
With ego.-START, the state of Saxony-Anhalt provides tailored grant funding to start-ups and business successors in the region. The program finances coaching services on economic, financial, and organizational issues as well as a personal start-up scholarship to secure living expenses. The target group comprises innovative, technology- and knowledge-based start-up projects as well as succession arrangements in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with headquarters or operations in Saxony-Anhalt. Funded by the European Social Fund Plus, individual qualification measures are supported and future-oriented business financing is enabled. Applications can be submitted electronically at any time via the IB Customer Portal, ensuring flexible funding planning during ongoing application submission.
Requirements for funding include economically independent, full-time founding or takeover in Saxony-Anhalt, a business plan confirmed by an expert body, and the conclusion of a contract with qualified consultants before project start. A flat rate of €540 per coaching day of eight hours (maximum ten days) is approved, and a start-up scholarship of €2,000 per month can be applied for up to 18 months. The project duration is limited to a total of 18 months. Selection criteria include the quality of the consulting plan, the degree of innovation of the project, and the professional competencies of the founding team. Required documentation – including a comprehensive project description, SME and De-minimis declarations, as well as confirmations of consulting qualifications – is uploaded during the application process via the IB Customer Portal. By combining coaching and scholarship, participants receive comprehensive support from planning through to the consolidation of the new enterprise.
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