You can access the electronic application system here

GründungsBONUS Plus - the funding programme for innovative and sustainable start-ups in Berlin

The funding programme offered by IBB Business Team GmbH on behalf of the state of Berlin is aimed at new businesses and start-ups in Berlin and provides a cost subsidy for the development, implementation and market establishment of innovative and sustainable products and services.

Funding is available for technological, digital, creative or social business models based in Berlin. The focus is on forward-looking concepts with ecological, economic or social innovation that are no more than eighteen months old at the time of application. Decisive for this are, for example, the date of signing the articles of association, the confirmation date of the business registration or the date of confirmation from the tax office regarding the registration of the freelance activity.

Innovative start-ups are at the centre of the funding. If the innovative strength is not completely convincing, outstanding sustainable approaches and practices can compensate for this.

The provisions of the state of Berlin regarding the GründungsBONUS Plus funding programme can be found in the funding guidelines (pdf - only available in German).

Who can apply for the start-up grant?

The funding programme is aimed at

•     legally independent, profit-orientated founders,
•     start-ups and
•     micro-enterprises
•     commercially active social enterprises (more than 50% of revenue is not derived from state subsidies or payments from social insurance institutions)

based in Berlin.

Only companies in which the founders hold a majority shareholding and in which they themselves exercise significant management functions are eligible for funding.

At the time of application, the company must not be older than eighteen months. Decisive for this are, for example, the date of signing the articles of association, the confirmation date of the business registration or the date of confirmation from the tax office regarding the registration of the freelance activity.

A high level of technological innovation is expressly not a condition for initial financial support from GründungsBONUS Plus.

Excluded from funding are start-ups in the construction industry and all sectors that are not eligible for funding under the de minimis regulation. The catering and hotel sectors are also excluded, unless there is an innovation aimed at ecological business management, sustainable food sources or energy efficiency. The retail sector is also excluded from funding, unless companies have developed innovative approaches, such as the sale of sustainable products or a sustainable mail order business.

What does the funding programme for start-ups subsidise?

The initial financing of innovative and sustainable start-ups and start-ups based in Berlin is subsidised.

The funding programme is aimed at companies whose business model relates to the development, production and market launch or establishment of innovative and sustainable products, applications, services, methods or processes.

The eligible expenses include

•     Material and investment costs for machinery, materials or office equipment, among other things,
•     ongoing operating expenses, e.g. for room rental, electricity, telephone & internet, advertising costs,
•     Personnel costs (gross employee costs), for founders and managing directors max. EUR 2,000/month per person,
•     External services such as consultancy costs,
•     Costs for IT development,
•     costs for securing rights and patent applications and other associated costs.

Only expenses that have not yet been incurred at the time of application will be subsidised. If the costs relate to services, these services must not have been started before the application is submitted.

The share of personnel costs may not exceed 50% of the total funding amount.

How much funding is available?

The amount of partial funding is up to 50% of the total eligible costs with a maximum funding volume of EUR 50,000. The total funding amount must be incurred within two years.

Only expenditure that has not yet been incurred at the time of application will be subsidised. If the costs relate to services, these services must not have been started before the application is submitted.

Combine the GründungsBONUS Plus with other funding schemes

We have the perfect funding scheme for your start-up, offering diversity and helping you launch and grow your business.

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