Startup funding and grants for your business in Germany.
Starthaus, AVGS, Gründungszuschuss, BAFA: Germany, and Bremen in particular, offers strong funding routes for your start. I'll show you which one fits you, and get the most out of it for you.
Funding isn't a gamble. It's preparation.
A lot of founders leave money on the table because they don't know the programmes, or apply too late. Yet a large part of the consulting and preparation costs can be funded in Bremen, as long as you get the order right.
That's exactly where I come in: I know Bremen's funding programmes from over 97 guided start-ups across 9 industries. You get a clear read from me on which funding route fits your situation, and I prepare the application so it lands.
How we find the right funding together
First call & where you stand
We look at your situation: are you a jobseeker, already self-employed, or in the middle of starting up? That determines which funding programmes are even open to you.
Pick the right funding routes
Starthaus, AVGS, Gründungszuschuss or BAFA: I match the programmes to your plans and tell you honestly where your chances realistically stand.
Prepare the application properly
The order is crucial: many forms of funding must be applied for before the consulting or the business itself begins. I take care of the documents, the business plan and the timing.
Approval & putting it to work
Once the approval is in, we get going. I guide you through the consulting, the formation and the next steps, so the funding turns into real progress.
Funding routes in Germany at a glance
| Funding route | Provider | Benefit | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start-up consulting grant (Starthaus / BAB) | Bremer Aufbau-Bank, State of Bremen | up to 80%, max. €2,800 per applicant | founders in Bremen, before and shortly after launch |
| AVGS start-up coaching | Agentur für Arbeit / Jobcenter, § 45 SGB III | 100% if approved, €0 out of pocket | jobseekers receiving ALG I or Bürgergeld |
| Start-up grant (Gründungszuschuss) | Agentur für Arbeit, SGB III | your ALG I plus €300 per month | starting out of ALG I, usually with at least 150 days remaining |
| Entrepreneurial know-how grant (BAFA) | Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) | grant towards consulting costs | existing SMEs; apply before consulting begins |
Funding amounts, requirements and deadlines can change; what counts are the respective programme guidelines and your own approval notice. As of 2025/2026.
Starthaus / BAB: start-up consulting funded up to 80%
Through Starthaus Bremen and the Bremer Aufbau-Bank, professional start-up consulting is subsidised by up to 80%, capped at €2,800 per applicant. It's ideal for soundly preparing your business plan, concept and figures without carrying the full consulting cost on your own. This funding applies in the State of Bremen.
AVGS: start-up coaching funded 100% if approved
If you're registered as a jobseeker, you can use start-up coaching via the activation and placement voucher (AVGS, § 45 SGB III). It's a discretionary benefit and only binding once you have the approval notice. If it's approved, the coaching is funded 100%, so €0 out of pocket. FOUNDARA is an AZAV-certified provider. You'll find all the details on my page about AVGS start-up coaching.
Gründungszuschuss: a cash benefit after you launch
The start-up grant (Gründungszuschuss) from the Agentur für Arbeit covers your living costs after you start a business out of ALG I: at first, your ALG I plus €300 per month. It usually requires an expert assessment of viability (fachkundige Stellungnahme), a business plan, a financing plan, a profitability forecast, and in most cases at least 150 days of remaining ALG I entitlement. This too is a discretionary benefit.
BAFA: funding for existing businesses
If you're already self-employed, the BAFA entrepreneurial know-how grant for existing SMEs may apply. Important: the application and review must happen before the consulting begins. Signing the consulting contract already counts as the start. Sign too early and you lose the grant, which is why I agree the right start date with you in advance.
And the share capital? Plan your costs realistically
Beyond funding, it's worth looking at the formation costs, and those vary a lot by legal form. You can start a sole proprietorship (Einzelunternehmen) or a GbR in Bremen with just the business registration (Gewerbeanmeldung) from €32, while freelancers (Freiberufler) register with the tax office (Finanzamt) free of charge. If, on the other hand, you set up a GmbH or a UG (haftungsbeschränkt), you should budget for share capital and notary costs.
A GmbH (German limited liability company) needs €25,000 in share capital (at least €12,500 paid in); a UG (haftungsbeschränkt), the “mini-GmbH”, starts from €1. The share capital isn't money lost; it stays an asset of your company. On top come the notary, the commercial register (Handelsregister) (€225 since 1 June 2025) and the business registration (Gewerbeanmeldung) in Bremen (currently €32). The formation cost calculator lets you work this out transparently, and the legal form finder helps you choose.
Frequently asked questions about startup funding in Germany
Which funding fits my start in Germany?
It mostly depends on your starting point. If you're a jobseeker, AVGS coaching and the start-up grant (Gründungszuschuss) come into play. If you're founding in the regular way in Bremen, the start-up consulting grant via Starthaus / the BAB is worth a look. For existing businesses, BAFA funding applies. I'll size up what's realistic for you in the funding check or in your free first call.
How much is Bremen's start-up consulting funded?
Start-up consulting via Starthaus / the Bremer Aufbau-Bank is subsidised by up to 80%, capped at €2,800 per applicant. That makes professional start-up consulting far more affordable. The funding applies in the State of Bremen.
What do I need to watch out for with BAFA funding?
With BAFA funding for existing SMEs, one rule is key: the application and review must happen before the consulting begins. Signing the contract with the consultant already counts as the start. Apply too late and you lose the grant. That's why I always sort out the order in advance.
Am I entitled to the AVGS or the Gründungszuschuss?
No. Both are discretionary benefits. The AVGS (§ 45 SGB III) is only binding once you have the approval notice; if approved, the coaching is funded 100%, so €0 out of pocket. The start-up grant (Gründungszuschuss) is also a discretionary benefit. For it, you'll usually need an expert assessment of viability (fachkundige Stellungnahme), a business plan, a financing plan, a profitability forecast, and in most cases at least 150 days of remaining ALG I entitlement.
Can I combine several forms of funding?
Often yes, if they serve different purposes. For example: AVGS coaching funds the preparation and delivers the business plan you'll need later for the start-up grant (Gründungszuschuss) anyway. Double-funding the same service, on the other hand, isn't allowed. I make sure the combination is clean and permitted.
Do I need my own capital to start with funding?
No. The AVGS, the start-up grant (Gründungszuschuss) and the Starthaus funding don't depend on a minimum capital. They're open to sole proprietorships (Einzelunternehmen), freelancers (Freiberufler) and the GbR just as much as to a limited liability company. Capital only becomes relevant once you set up a GmbH (€25,000 share capital, of which at least €12,500 paid in) or a UG (haftungsbeschränkt) (from €1). The formation cost calculator shows you the real formation costs alongside.
Orientation only, not legal or tax advice. Figures as of 2025/2026 and without guarantee. Some forms of funding are discretionary benefits; only your respective approval notice is binding. You'll find more answers in my FAQ.
Which funding pot is yours? Let's find out.
In a free first call we'll size up your situation, show you the funding routes that fit, and plan the right moment to apply. Personal, with no obligation.
Find my funding route