Subsidies & funding
We advise (prospective) founders in general and specifically on various subsidies.
The most common types of funding for start-ups are described in more detail below.
An overview of all public funding from the federal government, federal states and the EU can be found in the funding database of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.
Note: The information from the guidelines of the respective funding is always binding, not the summaries below.
EXIST start-up grant
Preparation of the company foundation
The EXIST start-up grant supports students, graduates (up to 5 years after graduation) and scientists who are interested in starting a business.
The most important prerequisite for the grant is that the planned business idea is an innovative, technology-oriented or knowledge-based product with significant unique selling points and good economic prospects. The same conditions apply to services.
A maximum of 3 people from a start-up team receive funding for 12 months, during which a business plan is drawn up and the business start-up is prepared.
More information: EXIST start-up grant
- Funded persons: max. 3
- Object of funding: innovative technology-oriented projects and innovative knowledge-based services based on scientific findings
- Funding amount: approx. 100,000 euros
- Funding period: 12 months
- Applications are submitted by the university
EXIST research transfer
Support for outstanding research-based start-up projects
The EXIST research transfer consists of two funding phases.
In the first phase, research results with start-up potential are to be further developed, a business plan drawn up and preparations made for setting up a company .
The second phase focuses on further development work, the launch of business activities and preparations for external financing .
The exact amount of funding depends on the project in question. Eligible costs include personnel costs, consultancy services, coaching, contracts with third parties and costs for intellectual property rights.
More information: EXIST research transfer
- Funded persons: max. 4 persons (3 scientists, 1 person with business management expertise)
- Object of funding: Further development of research results with start-up potential
- Funding amount: varies
- Funding period: 18 months per funding phase
- Applications are submitted by the university
NRW start-up grant
Uncomplicated promotion of innovative projects
The start-up grant supports up to 3 people who are working on an innovative business project or have already founded a company in the last 12 months.
The funding period is 12 months, whereby the business must be founded after 6 months at the latest in order to continue receiving the funding.
Only persons who are resident in NRW and set up the company in NRW are eligible for funding.
More information: Start-up grant NRW
- Funded persons: max. 3 persons resident in NRW
- Object of funding: innovative business projects
- Funding amount: 1,200 euros per person/month
- Funding period: 12 months
- Applications must be submitted by individual founders or the founding team
EXIST-Women
Support for women interested in starting a business and female founders in the early stages
EXIST-Women is explicitly and exclusively aimed at women who are interested in founding a company as well as female founders in the early stages.
We have been running the program at the University of Siegen since its inception and have already supported numerous women individually on their start-up journey. They benefit in particular from the EXIST Women program, as the focus is on intensive professional and personal development.
More information: EXIST-Women
- Persons supported: 10 women per year
- Object of funding: Support for women with an interest in founding a company or women founders in the early stages
- Funding amount: up to 11,000 euros
- Funding period: 12 months
- Every woman can apply using our application form
Go-to-Market voucher
Support with market entry
The go-to-market voucher supports non-listed micro-enterprises that were founded no more than three years ago in developing their product or service to market maturity.
Funding is provided for external expertise, e.g. software development, for direct and indirect prototype development as well as preliminary products, partial solutions and consulting services.
The funding rate is 70 percent, meaning that 30 percent of the costs must be covered by the company itself.
More information: Go-to-market voucher
- Funded company: Non-listed micro-enterprise
- Object of funding: external skills
- Funding amount: 15,000-35,000 euros (direct funding amount)
- Funding period: 12 months
- Application by the microenterprise
