Innovative Business Start-ups (InnoStartBonus)
Funding of innovative start-up projects in Saxony with a monthly living allowance grant through a competitive process. Funding possible for up to 12 months per applicant, including a child bonus.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
The Free State of Saxony supports founders with innovative and sustainable start-up projects in the phase before and at the beginning of the business establishment. Thematically, product, service, process, procedural, or business model innovations are supported. The funding is provided as a monthly grant for living expenses.
Eligible expenses
- Living expenses of the applicants
- Child bonus for dependent children
Eligible to apply
- Founders
Funding requirements
- Main residence in the Free State of Saxony
- Applicants must be before founding (exception for secondary occupation founding)
- Idea paper based on an online questionnaire required
- Maximum of two applicants per project
- Not a recipient of BAföG, unemployment benefit I, start-up grant, or entry allowance
Documents required for application
- Online concept paper (online questionnaire)
- Informal application to the SAB after positive evaluation
Evaluation criteria
- Innovative content of the business idea
- Market potential and customer benefit
- Feasibility and business model
- Founder's personality or founding team
Description
The InnoStartBonus is a targeted start-up funding program by the Free State of Saxony for innovative and sustainable business ideas in the pre-start-up and initial phases. Recipients receive a monthly living allowance grant of €1,050 for up to twelve months, plus a child bonus of €150 per dependent child. The competitive process consists of an online idea paper, evaluation by a panel of expert reviewers, and personal pitches. Eligibility requirements include main residence in Saxony, minimum age of 18 years, a maximum of two applicants per project, and no receipt of BAföG, unemployment benefit I, start-up grant, or integration allowance. The decision on funding eligibility is made within a few weeks, followed by the formal application submission to the Saxon Development Bank – Förderbank (SAB). The funding period totals 12 months, during which participants are supported by futureSAX with individual mentoring appointments and access to the Saxon innovation network.
Interested founders benefit not only from financial security but also from cross-industry workshops, personal coaching, and over 100 events per year. futureSAX, as the central innovation platform of the Free State of Saxony, supports projects from idea generation to successful market entry and connects participants with academia, industry, and investors. Applications are possible until April 13, 2026, 12:00 PM; the current call started on October 16, 2025. A Mein-futureSAX account is required for the application process, through which the online idea paper can be submitted. The program is aimed at solo founders or teams of up to two people who wish to realize their innovative business idea in Saxony.
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