Berlin · English guide
GründungsBONUS Plus Berlin: the €50,000 startup grant explained
A practical, English-language guide to Berlin’s main early-stage grant – who qualifies, what it covers, and the documents you need to win it.
In short: GründungsBONUS Plus is a grant from the State of Berlin (run by IBB Business Team GmbH) that covers up to 50% of your eligible costs, capped at €50,000. It is aimed at Berlin-based startups no older than 18 months with a technological, digital, creative or social business model. Women-led startups can add the separate GründerinnenBONUS (up to €10,000) for up to €60,000 total. To apply you must submit a business plan with a financial and liquidity plan – which is exactly what we prepare for you.
Status (June 2026): The programme reopened under an updated funding guideline dated 16 January 2026; the application deadline is 30 September 2027. Awards are made within the limits of available state funds, so the budget can run out (it was paused once before) – apply early.
What is GründungsBONUS Plus?
Instead of a loan you repay, it is a non-dilutive cost subsidy: the state reimburses part of the money you spend building your company in its first months. It is administered by IBB Business Team GmbH on behalf of the Senate of Berlin and financed from Berlin state funds as a de-minimis grant under EU Reg. 2023/2831.
How much money can you get?
| Funding rate | Up to 50% of eligible total costs |
| Maximum grant | €50,000 |
| GründerinnenBONUS | Women-majority startups can apply separately (via the Berlin Senate Department for Economic Affairs, after a GründungsBONUS Plus approval) for up to €10,000 more → up to €60,000 total |
| Spending window | Eligible costs incurred within 2 years, after the application |
Who is eligible?
Location
Company registered and operating in Berlin (and staying for ≥ 3 years after the final payment).
Age
Founded no more than 18 months before you apply; the founding must already be completed.
Business model
Must be technological, digital, creative or social. Weaker innovation can be offset by strong sustainability.
Control
Founders hold the majority and run key management functions.
This profile fits a large share of Berlin’s international founder scene – software, design, media, climate and social ventures. Being a non-German citizen is not a barrier; what matters is a Berlin-registered company and a fundable plan.
What costs are covered?
Eligible expenses include material and investment costs, ongoing operating expenses, personnel costs, external services, and IT and patent costs. Coaching can also be subsidised. Salaries for founders and managing directors are capped at €2,000/month per person in the calculation (and founder/MD personnel costs at 25%, all personnel costs at up to 60% of the eligible total).
How do you apply?
Applications go through the IBB Business Team electronic application system, before the project starts. You upload identification documents and, crucially, a business plan with financial and liquidity planning, founder CVs, an expense-and-financing plan, and a de-minimis declaration. The quality of that plan decides the outcome – a vague idea is rejected, a clear, numbers-backed plan wins.
GründungsBONUS Plus vs. the federal start-up grant
Don’t confuse the two. The federal start-up grant (Gründungszuschuss, § 93 SGB III) supports people coming out of unemployment (ALG I) with a monthly subsidy. GründungsBONUS Plus is a Berlin cost grant for the company itself – not tied to unemployment. Many Berlin founders are eligible for one and not the other; some can combine support over time.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for GründungsBONUS Plus in English?
The official portal and guidelines are in German, and documents are usually expected in German. We prepare the required business plan and documents in German or bilingually so English-speaking founders in Berlin can apply with confidence.
Is GründungsBONUS Plus a loan?
No. It is a non-repayable grant covering up to 50% of eligible costs, capped at €50,000, as long as you meet the conditions (including keeping your registered office in Berlin for at least three years after the final payment).
How old can my company be to qualify?
Up to 18 months at the time of application, and the founding must already be completed. Note: the funded measure must NOT have started yet – eligible costs have to be incurred after you apply.
Do I need a business plan for GründungsBONUS Plus?
Yes. A business plan with a financial and liquidity plan is required and is the main factor in the funding decision.
How much is the GründungsBONUS Plus grant?
Up to 50% of eligible costs, capped at €50,000. Women-majority startups can add up to €10,000 via the separate EqualStart Berlin – GründerinnenBONUS programme, for up to €60,000 in total.
Reviewed by Pavel Deuble & Tugay Mert, Unternehmenswerk (UW Unternehmensweg GmbH), Leverkusen. Business and startup consultants – BAFA-registered (ID 191790), AZAV-accredited provider (Z-000392-2). We prepare fundable, bank-ready business plans for founders across Germany, including Berlin grant applications. English- and Turkish-speaking advice available.
Figures reflect the GründungsBONUS Plus guideline dated 16 January 2026 (IBB Business Team GmbH / Berlin Senate). Funding conditions can change – always confirm current terms in the official Förderrichtlinie before applying. This page is information, not legal advice.
Need the business plan the application requires?
We prepare fundable, bank-ready business plans in English – built to match the GründungsBONUS Plus requirements. Free initial consultation.