Starter Scholarship Saar
Innovative starter grant for newly founded start-ups in Saarland with novel, rapidly scalable business models. Subsidy of 1,500 euros per founder per month, eligible for up to 12 months (max. €36,000). Application rounds and deadlines available on the website.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
Support for newly founded micro-enterprises in Saarland with innovative, rapidly scalable business models through a lump-sum, person-related grant to finance living expenses, personnel costs, and expenses associated with further conceptual development and market launch.
Eligible expenses
- Personnel costs of the founders
- Expenses for the conception and implementation of the project (e.g., market launch)
- Living expenses
Eligible to apply
- Founders
Funding requirements
- Headquartered in Saarland
- Founded no longer than 18 months ago
- Micro-enterprise according to EU SME definition
- Main professional activity in the start-up, secondary activity max. 10 hours/week
- No simultaneous receipt of other start-up grants or social benefits
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Documents required for application
- Application form
- Declaration on de minimis aid
- Tabular CV of the founders
- Description of the project with milestones (content-related, temporal, financial)
- Company key figures (number of employees, turnover, etc.)
Evaluation criteria
- Innovative content of the project
- social benefit
- milestones of the project
- feasibility and market entry strategy
- motivation and qualifications of the founders
- presentation of overall financing
- necessity of funding
Description
The Starter Scholarship Saar enables newly founded micro-enterprises in Saarland to make their innovative and rapidly scalable business models market-ready at an early stage. Funding is provided to founders whose founding date is no longer than 18 months ago and who are dedicating themselves full-time to business development. A flat-rate grant of €1,500 per month is available per founder for up to twelve months – with a maximum of €36,000 per company. The financial relief is intended to cover living expenses, the founders’ personnel costs, as well as all expenses related to the conceptualization and successful market launch of products or services. Evaluation is based on criteria such as the degree of innovation, societal benefit, feasibility, market entry strategy, milestones, motivation and qualifications of the founders, as well as the presentation of overall financing and the necessity of the grant.
A prerequisite for funding is that the company is based in Saarland, compliance with the SME definition, and proof that no simultaneous receipt of other start-up scholarships or social benefits is taking place. Secondary employment is limited to a maximum of ten hours per week. The process involves informal contact with the Ministry of Economy, Innovation, Digital Affairs and Energy, submission of a complete application including CVs and project description with milestones, followed by a personal pitch in which the project is presented. Application deadlines are announced in rounds. Through targeted support of young start-ups, the Ministry makes an important contribution to strengthening the Saarland economy, creating jobs, and promoting innovations in digital, creative, and sustainable sectors.
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