Microcredits as well as Start-up and Growth Loans from the SME Fund
Low-interest microloans up to €25,000 and start-up and growth loans up to €250,000 or up to €10 million for SMEs and start-ups based in Berlin. Terms up to 20 years, applications can be submitted online at any time via Investitionsbank Berlin.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
Promotion of the founding, early phase, and expansion of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as start-ups in Berlin through low-interest microcredits and loans.
Eligible expenses
- Investments in fixed assets
- Operating resources
- Order pre-financing
- Product development and launch
- Company acquisitions
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Non-eligible expenses
- Refinancing of already completed projects
- Investments in companies in difficulty
- Investments in agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture, mining, nuclear power, and tobacco
- Overdraft facilities or revolving credit lines of existing companies
Eligible to apply
- Founders
- Companies
Funding requirements
- Registered office or place of business in Berlin
- SME within the meaning of the EU definition
- Sustainable strengthening of competitiveness
- Proof of business management expertise (external coaching possible)
- Standard bank collateral from €25,000
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Documents required for application
- Application form
- Financing plan
- Investment plan
- SME self-declaration
- De-minimis declaration
- ESG self-declaration
- Project concept/business plan
- Annual financial statements of the last 2 years
- Profitability forecast
- Self-disclosure and credit check clause
- Proof of identification (identity card or passport)
- Proof of professional and commercial qualifications
- Documents on existing credit and leasing agreements
Evaluation criteria
- Viability of the business concept
- Sustainability and competitiveness effects
- Entrepreneurial know-how
- Standard banking collateral
- Innovation and growth aspects
Description
Microloans as well as start-up and growth loans from the SME Fund promote low-interest financing solutions for founders, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and freelancers based in Berlin. Supported are microloans up to €25,000 without involvement of a house bank, start-up and growth loans up to €250,000 as direct loans, as well as extensive loans up to €10 million through the house bank procedure. With terms of up to 20 years and 100% financing share, the SME Fund enables investments in fixed assets, working capital, order and product pre-financing, as well as business acquisitions. The goal is to promote the founding, early phase, and sustainable growth of small and medium-sized enterprises in the capital.
Eligible for funding are all companies according to the EU SME definition that maintain their registered office or a branch in Berlin. Requirements include the sustainable improvement of competitiveness, sufficient business management expertise (external coaching possible), and for loan amounts from €25,000, customary bank collateral. Exclusions apply to refinancing of already completed projects as well as investments in sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture, mining, nuclear power, and tobacco. The funding rate is 100%; the assessment is based on viability and innovation potential, sustainability and competitiveness effects, collateral concept, and entrepreneurial expertise. Applications can be submitted continuously online via the customer portal of Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB).
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