Support programs for founders
EXIST Business Start-up Grant
The EXIST Business Start-up Grant supports students, graduates and scientists from universities and non-university research institutions interested in founding a company in implementing their business idea.
The most important prerequisite is that the planned business idea must be an innovative technology-oriented or knowledge-based product with significant unique selling points and good prospects of economic success.
The founding teams receive an EXIST Business Start-up Grant for a period of 12 months to develop a business plan and prepare for their start-up with the support of their university or research institution.
More information:
EXIST website
PDF
Example:
VineForecast
NBank start-up grant
The start-up grant provides support in the pre-seed and seed phase and represents an attractive financing option in the early development stage. Funding is provided for individual start-ups or team start-ups (max. 3 people) with innovative, digital or knowledge-based business ideas in Lower Saxony.
Accompaniment of the start-up during the funding period by an "accompanying institution", i.e. a university or start-up center. The start-up has not yet been established at the time of application. A business plan must be submitted at the end of the funding period.
More Information:
NBank start-up grant
PDF
Example:
Inkster
Accompaniment of the start-up during the funding period by an "accompanying institution", i.e. a university or start-up center. The start-up has not yet been established at the time of application. A business plan must be submitted at the end of the funding period.
More Information:
NBank start-up grant
Example:
Inkster
EXIST Transfer of Research
EXIST Transfer of Research is a funding program of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology and supports outstanding research-based start-up projects that involve complex and high-risk development work. Research teams at universities and non-university research institutions (a maximum of 3 scientists and technical assistants) and one person with business management expertise are funded.
Funding phase I: Research results that have the potential to form the basis of a business start-up are to be further developed so that the basic technical feasibility of the product idea is ensured and a start-up can take place.
Funding phase II: The focus is on commencing business operations and securing external follow-up financing for the company.
More Information:
EXIST website
PDF
Example:
GOENOMICS GmbH
Funding phase I: Research results that have the potential to form the basis of a business start-up are to be further developed so that the basic technical feasibility of the product idea is ensured and a start-up can take place.
Funding phase II: The focus is on commencing business operations and securing external follow-up financing for the company.
More Information:
EXIST website
Example:
GOENOMICS GmbH