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Grant

FoundingBONUS Plus – Support for Business Start-ups (Startups)

Grant for innovative and sustainable start-ups in Berlin: Up to 50% of costs, maximum €50,000 within two years. Applications accepted until 30.09.2025.

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Grant criteria

Application Deadline:
30.09.2025
Application level: Advanced
Region: Berlin
Company size: Microenterprise
Funding amount: up to €50,000
Funding rate: 50%
Project duration: 24 months

Funding objective

Support for business start-ups and start-ups in Berlin during the development phase to promote the development, implementation, and market establishment of innovative, technological, digital, creative, or sustainable products, services, methods, or processes.

Eligible expenses

  • Material and investment costs (machines, materials, office equipment)
  • Ongoing operating expenses (rent, electricity, telephone, internet, advertising costs)
  • Personnel costs (gross employee wages, max. 2,000 EUR/month per person)
  • External services (consulting costs)
  • Costs for IT development
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Non-eligible expenses

  • Expenditures incurred before the submission of the application
  • Projects in the construction industry, gastronomy, hospitality, and retail trade (except innovative mail order)

Eligible to apply

  • Founders
  • Companies

Funding requirements

  • Legally independent, profit-oriented founders with a commercial enterprise or freelance activity
  • Company headquarters and funded business location must remain in Berlin for at least 3 years
  • Companies and start-ups must not be older than 18 months at the time of application
  • Holding the majority of company shares and exercising essential management functions in corporations
  • Compliance with micro-enterprise thresholds
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Documents required for application

  1. Business plan
  2. Financing plan
  3. Business registration or proof of freelance activity
  4. Articles of association or shareholder resolutions for corporations
  5. Resumes of the founders
  6. Proof of patents or intellectual property rights (if available)

Evaluation criteria

  • Innovation and sustainability content of the business model
  • Recognizable market and growth potential
  • Coherent financing plan and equity contribution
  • Entrepreneurial potential and qualifications of the founders
  • Sustainable local impact for Berlin

Description

Within the framework of the GründungsBONUS Plus, the Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Enterprises provides innovative and sustainable start-ups in Berlin with targeted initial financing through a grant covering up to 50% of eligible costs – up to a maximum of €50,000 within 24 months. The program supports projects in the early phase from conception through prototype development to market establishment of technological, digital, creative, or ecological business models. A prerequisite for funding is a convincing business plan, a coherent financing plan including equity and external funds, as well as demonstrable market readiness and growth dynamics. Corporations and economically active social enterprises are eligible to apply, provided that the founders collectively hold the majority stake and perform key management functions. The business location must remain in Berlin for at least three years to ensure a sustainable local impact.

Eligible expenses include material and investment costs, ongoing operating expenses, personnel costs (max. €2,000 per month per person; up to 50% of the total funding amount), external services such as consulting, IT development, as well as patent and legal protection. Expenses incurred prior to the application submission, projects in the construction industry, traditional gastronomy, hospitality, and retail (except innovative mail order) are not eligible for funding. Selection is based on criteria such as innovation and sustainability content, market and growth potential, as well as the entrepreneurial potential of the founders. The funding application is submitted electronically via the IBB Business Team and requires, among other documents, a business and financing plan, proof of business registration or freelance activity, articles of association, as well as CVs of the founders and, if applicable, proof of intellectual property rights. Applications are possible until 30.09.2025.

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