InnoFounder
Innovationsstarter Hamburg supports knowledge-based startup projects in Hamburg with flat-rate, person-related grants of €2,500 per person per month for up to 18 months. Founding teams and individual founders of companies no older than one year with up to 5 employees are eligible to apply. Applications can be submitted at any time.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
The funding program supports innovative founding teams and individual founders in the pre-startup and startup phases through grants for living expenses and costs associated with the startup project, in order to enable the implementation of promising innovative and knowledge-based business ideas in Hamburg and to improve the startup climate.
Eligible expenses
- Living expenses
- Start-up costs
- Costs associated with the start-up project
Non-eligible expenses
- Retroactive costs
- Debt settlement
Eligible to apply
- Founders
- Companies
Funding requirements
- Company headquarters in Hamburg
- Business activity or establishment less than one year old
- Fewer than 5 employees and annual turnover or balance sheet total ≤ €500,000
- Full-time focus of the startup project
- Innovative products/services with a clear differentiation from the competition
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Documents required for application
- Project description/project outline
- Milestone planning
- Resumes of the founders
- Personnel plan
- De minimis declaration
- Identification documents or GbR contract
- Extract from the register and list of shareholders
- Articles of association
- Pitch deck
Evaluation criteria
- Innovative content of the project
- Economic prospects for success
- Consideration of specific risks
- Contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Description
The InnoFounder program of the Hamburg Investment and Development Bank (IFB Hamburg) targets innovative founders and young micro-enterprises with no more than five employees and a founding age of less than twelve months. The objective is to support knowledge-based projects in Hamburg through flat-rate grants for living expenses and project-related costs. Innovative business models that clearly differentiate themselves from the competition and demonstrate high market potential are supported, as are projects with particular risk due to their degree of novelty. Applications can be submitted at any time; a preliminary selection is made based on a project outline, a pitch deck, and a structured milestone plan. An awarding committee consisting of representatives from the Ministry of Economics and Innovation, banks, academic institutions, and other partners decides on the eligibility for funding.
Funding is provided for up to three persons per founding team with a monthly amount of €2,500 per person for up to 18 months (100% funding rate). The maximum amount is €75,000 per team or €45,000 for individual founders. Funding requirements include the company’s registered office in Hamburg, full-time commitment, a business structure with less than €500,000 in turnover or balance sheet total, and project activities not yet started at the time of application. In particular, digital and sustainability-oriented startups – for example from the media, FinTech, or impact sectors – are supported within the program. A diverse network within one of Hamburg’s largest startup ecosystems, as well as accompanying consulting and pitch training during the application process, complete the offer and contribute to strengthening the startup climate in the Hanseatic city.