If our economic growth is to remain strong and dynamic, we need more entrepreneurs who develop new markets and create lasting jobs. For this reason, the Economic Affairs Ministry aims to strengthen the spirit of entrepreneurship and to boost the number of start-ups in Germany, by making it more attractive for people to start up their own business. The Economic Affairs Ministry therefore has a raft of funding initiatives and financing opportunities to help young entrepreneurs.
- EXIST funding for start-up teams from higher education institutions (in German)
The aim of the funding programme is to improve the start-up environment at higher education institutions and research establishments. Further to this, the intention is to boost the number and the success of technology-oriented and science-based start-ups.
- INVEST Grant for Venture Capital (in German)
The INVEST venture capital grant supports young companies as they try to find someone to provide them with capital, and encourages private investors to offer venture capital. Business angels investing private capital in innovative young start-ups benefit from the fact that up to €500,000 of investment is eligible for support, and from an exit grant which offsets the tax on capital gains.
- ERP/EIF Fund of Funds and European Angels Fund (in German)
The funding for the instruments to promote venture capital has been increased considerably.
- Cutting red tape
The Federal Government has various measures, including interactive websites, to reduce the amount of red tape affecting companies. In addition, Cutting Bureaucracy Act III is to roll out further relief for businesses, and particularly for start-ups and SMEs.
- The Cultural and Creative Industries Initiative (in German)
The Federal Government supports the cultural and creative industries (in German), which are dominated by small and young firms, not least by initiating cooperation between one another, with industry and SMEs, and with other sectors.
- The WOMEN Entrepreneurs initiative (in German)
Role-model female entrepreneurs around Germany encourage girls and women to start out in business.
- The “Entrepreneurial Spirit in Schools” initiative (in German)
The spirit of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial thinking starts in the classroom. The “Entrepreneurial Spirit in Schools” initiative gives pupils some initial practical experience in exciting business projects and lets them take responsibility in their own student companies.
- JUNIOR federal competition (in German)
JUNIOR is one of the main features of the “Entrepreneurial Spirit in Schools” initiative. In a nationwide competition, the Economic Affairs Ministry picks out the best company organised by school students, and gives the students the possibility to develop a business idea and to test it out during a school year in a company at their school. - Founder competition – digital innovation (in German)
The competition awards prizes of up to €32,000 to start-ups with innovative business ideas based on products and services in the information and communications technology sector.
- German Start-up Prize (in German)
The German Start-up Prize is the leading prize for successful start-ups and outstanding entrepreneurs in Germany. It is awarded annually for outstanding performance in the development of innovative and sustainable business ideas, and the creation and nurturing of new companies, and has the following categories: school students, start-ups, visionaries and life’s work.
- “Deutsche Börse Venture Network”
The Deutsche Börse Venture Network, launched at the initiative of the Economic Affairs Ministry, brings together young, fast-growing companies and international investors to ensure effective financing of growth and the establishment of a comprehensive network. The programme consists of a non-public online platform for the initiation of rounds of financing and offers various training and networking events. Further to this, the “Scale” segment of Deutsche Börse facilitates access to investors and venture capital for young, fast-growing firms and SMEs. - German Entrepreneurship Week (in German)
Dialogue is so important: networks, competitions, trade fairs, forums and other event formats offer start-ups a context in which to meet experts, potential customers and business partners, to share experience and to test out their potential and opportunities. Across Germany, the Entrepreneurship Week brings a lot of partners together to learn, advise and inspire about going into business. More than 1,600 partners offer attractive events and seminars via www.gruenderwoche.de (in German). - “Start-Up Your Future” pilot project (in German)
Experienced entrepreneurs volunteer to help refugees in the Berlin-Brandenburg region to set up in business. This pilot project of the Economic Affairs Ministry and the Business Juniors includes internships in companies, mentoring, team-building and tandems, and the hand-over of companies to the next generation. The refugees also benefit from training courses and seminars, and are welcomed into the Business Juniors network. The pilot project has been extended until June 2019.