NRW.MicroCrowd
Low-interest microloan up to €50,000 for startups, growth, and expansion projects of young companies in North Rhine-Westphalia in connection with crowdfunding: up to 80% financing, application after final confirmation on Startnext up to three days before the end of funding.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
Support for the founding and further development of companies up to five years after commencing business activities in North Rhine-Westphalia, which pursue social or ecological objectives and simultaneously finance their project through a crowdfunding campaign on Startnext. The measure is granted as a low-interest loan covering up to 80% of the eligible financing requirement (max. €50,000).
Eligible expenses
- Investment costs for startups
- Expansion and growth projects
- Repeat business startups
- Crowdfunding-related expenses
Non-eligible expenses
- Refinancing
- Subsequent financing
Eligible to apply
- Founders
- Companies
- Cooperatives
- Non-profit Organizations
Funding requirements
- Parallel crowdfunding on Startnext with achievement of ≥ 20% of the requested loan amount
- Company headquarters in North Rhine-Westphalia
- Required professional and commercial qualifications
- Sustainable viability of the project
- Part-time startups must lead to full-time employment within 3 years
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Documents required for application
- NRW.MicroCrowd – Information Sheet
- Declaration for the Application
- Grant Commitment Declaration
- De-minimis Declaration
- Attachment Set SME Status
- ESG Funding Requirements
- Data Protection Notices
- SCHUFA Information Sheet
Evaluation criteria
- Achievement of the crowdfunding goal
- Social and ecological objectives
- Economic viability
- Professional and commercial qualifications
- Growth potential
Description
With the low-interest microloan of up to €50,000, NRW.BANK supports founders and young companies in North Rhine-Westphalia in their start-up, growth, and expansion projects. Complementing financing via crowdfunding on Startnext, the loan covers up to 80% of the eligible funding requirement and thereby promotes the development of viable business models with a social or ecological focus. Eligible applicants are founders and companies up to five years after commencing business activities, who have their company headquarters in NRW and simultaneously crowdsource their projects.
The maximum term is 120 months, including up to six months of repayment-free period, with a fixed interest rate applicable throughout the entire term. A successful crowdfunding campaign of at least 20% of the requested loan amount on Startnext and submission of the application at least three days before the funding end date are prerequisites. Furthermore, professional and commercial qualifications, sustainable viability of the project, and compliance with binding ESG criteria are required for approval. Refinancing, follow-up financing, and premature project commencement are excluded. For expansion and growth projects, renewed funding is available after successful crowdfunding, which is processed jointly with NRW.BANK via the customer portal.
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