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Loan

Hessen-MicroCrowd

Combination of crowdfunding and microloans for founders and freelancers in Hesse. Minimum funding amount of €5,000 via Startnext, plus microloans ranging from €3,000 to €35,000 and a repayment grant of up to €1,000. Term of 7 years.

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Grant criteria

Application level: Advanced
Region: Hesse
Funding amount: €3,000 – €35,000 loan; repayment grant 10% of the funding amount, max. €1,000

Funding objective

Support for business startups, company acquisitions, as well as growth and consolidation measures through a combination of crowdfunding via Startnext and a supplementary microloan from WIBank Hessen.

Eligible expenses

  • Acquisition of land and buildings
  • Commercial construction costs
  • Purchase of machinery, equipment, vehicles, and facilities
  • Operating and business equipment
  • Material, goods, and spare parts inventory
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Non-eligible expenses

  • Companies in difficulty
  • Agricultural primary products
  • Fisheries and aquaculture
  • Export-related expenses
  • Refinancing or follow-up financing of already completed projects
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Eligible to apply

  • Founders
  • Individuals

Funding requirements

  • Residence in Germany and company headquarters in Hesse
  • Self-employed in main occupation for a maximum of 5 years (excluding secondary occupation)
  • At least €5,000 funding amount via Startnext
  • No outstanding negative entries in the SCHUFA report
  • No (initiated) personal or corporate insolvency proceedings
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Documents required for application

  1. Completed and signed application form
  2. De-minimis declaration (WIBank form)
  3. Tabular curriculum vitae
  4. Business registration or tax office registration
  5. Complete credit report (not older than 4 weeks)
  6. Proof of equity contribution (e.g., bank statement)
  7. Proof of additional income (e.g., start-up grant, unemployment benefit II)
  8. In case of takeovers: annual financial statements, business management evaluation, purchase contract, commercial register excerpt

Evaluation criteria

  • Achieving the minimum amount in crowdfunding
  • Economic prospects of the project
  • Commercial and professional qualifications
  • Alignment with sustainability principles

Description

The Hessen-MikroCrowd program combines crowdfunding via Startnext with a supplementary microloan from the Wirtschafts- und Infrastrukturbank Hessen (WIBank) and is aimed at founders as well as freelancers in full-time or part-time self-employment based in Hessen. A successful crowdfunding campaign with a minimum funding amount of €5,000 is a prerequisite; based on this, loans ranging from €3,000 to €35,000 can be granted. The term is seven years, including twelve months without repayments. Additionally, a one-time repayment grant of 10% of the crowdfunding amount, up to a maximum of €1,000, is awarded. All investments and operating resources are eligible for funding, including commercial construction, machinery, business equipment, as well as material and goods inventory. Companies in difficulty, primary agricultural products, fisheries, or already completed financings are excluded. Decisions are made after reaching the minimum funding, economic viability, and alignment with sustainability principles.

Eligible to participate are natural persons and members of liberal professions who have been self-employed in their main occupation for no more than five years and possess commercial as well as professional qualifications. A flawless SCHUFA credit report without negative entries and the absence of insolvency proceedings are required. The application must be submitted to WIBank before or during the crowdfunding phase—at the latest five days before its end. Required documents include the completed application form, De-minimis declaration, CV, business registration or tax office confirmation, current SCHUFA report, proof of equity and other income, and in the case of business acquisitions, annual financial statements, BWA, purchase contract, and commercial register excerpt. After positive assessment and successful funding, the campaign amount and microloan are disbursed, followed by confirmation of fund utilization.

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