GründungsBONUS Plus Berlin · IBB grant
GründungsBONUS Plus Berlin: Apply for a Grant of Up to €50,000
No repayment, a pure grant from IBB Berlin. We help you meet the strict criteria and put together the right business plan with you. The application must be filed before the project begins, and the company can be at most 18 months old.
up to €50,000
Grant
+€10,000
EqualStart (women)
4.9
on Google
Since 2018
Experience
- Up to €50,000 non-repayable grant (50% of costs)
- EqualStart GründerinnenBONUS: +€10,000 for women
- Business plan & application for the IBB portal from a single source
- Free & non-binding
- Reply within 24 hours
- No obligation
Qualifications & experience
Your project in experienced hands.
Our credentials and track record at a glance.
4.88 / 5
92 reviews on ProvenExpert
As of October 2026
750+
business plans written
Since 2018
Provider approval
AZAV-approved provider
UW Unternehmensweg GmbH, our sister company
AZAV provider approval Z-000392-2
What does this mean for you?
AVGS programs may only be delivered by approved providers. Our sister company UW Unternehmensweg GmbH, Leverkusen, takes care of this.
Our service
KfW financing support
We put together the documents for your loan application, which your house bank forwards to KfW, and prepare you for the bank meeting.
In practice: Since 2018 we have written more than 750 business plans. 99% of the start-up grant (Gründungszuschuss) applications we supported were approved (internally documented). The start-up grant is a discretionary benefit under § 93 SGB III; the Employment Agency decides on approval.
Track record & funding notes
AVGS programs through the AZAV-certified provider UW Unternehmensweg GmbH
4.88 out of 5 on ProvenExpert
Based on 92 reviews on ProvenExpert (as of October 2026).
Why Many Start-Ups Fail at the IBB GründungsBONUS
The GründungsBONUS Plus from Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB) is a sought-after grant for starting a business in Berlin, and that is exactly why IBB examines applications very closely. A standard business plan is not enough here: the reviewers want to see a gap-free liquidity plan, a clear innovation or sustainability aspect, and a plausible path to scale.
With our help for the IBB GründungsBONUS, we steer around the typical mistakes: we frame your innovation story so that it fits exactly into IBB’s funding criteria, and the grant for your Berlin start-up does not fail on technicalities.
GründungsBONUS Plus: Requirements at a Glance (as of 2026)
Important: the application must be submitted before the project begins. For investments, no supply or service contracts may yet have been signed at the time of application. Information as of 2026; IBB terms may change.
- Funding amount: 50% of eligible costs, up to €50,000 (de minimis); eligible expenses within 2 years of receipt of the application
- Eligible applicants: legally independent, profit-oriented new businesses, start-ups, micro-enterprises, and freelancers based in Berlin, as well as social enterprises that operate commercially
- Company age: no more than 18 months at the time of application; the founding must already have taken place
- Business model: technological, digital, creative, or social/sustainable, with recognizable market and growth potential
- Location commitment: headquarters/place of business must remain in Berlin for at least 3 years after the final payment
- EqualStart GründerinnenBONUS: up to €10,000 in addition for majority women-led companies (application through the Berlin Senate Department, Senatsverwaltung)
What Is Funded – and What Is Not?
In particular, the following are not funded: expenses for projects already begun, or contracts already signed, before the application was filed; pure refinancing or the repayment of existing loans; and costs outside the two-year funding period.
Expenses for setting up, establishing, and launching the company on the market are funded:
- Material and investment costs
- Ongoing operating expenses (e.g., rent)
- Marketing and sales costs
- Third-party services: external consulting, IT development, securing intellectual property rights, and patent applications
- Personnel costs (employee gross pay), capped at €2,000 per month per person for founders and managing directors
Payout: Expense Reimbursement Principle in Up to 4 Tranches
The GründungsBONUS Plus is not paid out in advance. You make the expenditure yourself first and document it with an invoice and proof of payment. After review, IBB reimburses the grant proportionately, in up to four tranches of at least 10% of the approved funding each.
This means you must secure the total financing, including your 50% personal contribution, from the start, ideally through a combined financing mix of grant and loan.
How the Application Works – Step by Step
- Funding check: review your business model, company age, and location against the criteria
- Prepare the business plan and the 3-year financial plan, including a gap-free liquidity plan
- Submit the application electronically through the IBB application portal before the project begins
- Wait for approval, and only then make expenditures
- Submit receipts: upload invoices and proof of payment
- Reimbursement in up to four tranches after review
Document Checklist for the Application
You need these documents for a complete application:
- Business plan with a description of the innovation or sustainability aspect
- 3-year financial plan covering revenue, costs, profitability, and liquidity
- Capital requirements and cost breakdown of the planned expenses
- Proof of company headquarters or place of business in Berlin
- Commercial register entry (Handelsregister) or business registration (Gewerbeanmeldung), articles of association if applicable
- Résumé and proof of qualifications of the founders
- De minimis declaration on aid received to date
Combining the GründungsBONUS Plus with the KfW Start-Up Loan
The grant covers 50% of your eligible costs. The other 50% (your personal contribution) can be financed ideally through a KfW start-up loan (KfW-Gründerkredit) or the ERP-StartGeld. This creates a combined financing concept of a non-repayable grant and a low-interest loan. That is exactly what we put together for you.
The Berlin Market – Consulting Nationwide, Fully Remote
Our consulting takes place entirely remotely via Zoom or Teams, flexibly and with no travel. We know the Berlin market and IBB’s requirements from hands-on experience: we have successfully guided Berlin founders through the GründungsBONUS.
Personal Consulting, No Call Center
You have a dedicated contact person who knows your project and accompanies you from the first idea to implementation. On an equal footing, transparent, and tailored to your situation.
- A dedicated consultant instead of changing case handlers
- Bank-tested documents that meet funding requirements
- Support all the way to the meeting with the bank or authority
Our Service: The Perfect Business Plan for IBB Berlin
Funding check
We check whether your business model meets the criteria for the GründungsBONUS Plus Berlin: degree of innovation, sustainability, or scalability.
Business plan for IBB Berlin
Together with you, we create the business plan, including the required 3-year financial plan and a gap-free liquidity plan.
Application submission
We prepare all documents for the IBB portal without errors, in good time before the project begins.
Funding body
Contact: IBB Business Team GmbH
GründungsBONUS Plus · Bundesallee 210, 10719 Berlin · Tel. 030 2125-2364 (Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 10 a.m.–3 p.m.) · gruendungsbonusplus@
Equity: what KfW requires and what the house bank expects
For most programs (for example StartGeld 067 or the ERP development loan for SMEs), KfW requires no minimum equity; formally, up to 100% of the costs can be financed. However, because the loan runs through your house bank and the house bank shares the risk, the bank in practice usually expects 10–20% own funds before it commits. Equity improves creditworthiness, terms, and the likelihood of approval.
Exception for takeovers and succession: Here the equity ratio is often less decisive, because the running business with its cash flow and assets serves as collateral. We prepare your application in such a way that the house bank goes along with it.
Official Sources, Information Sheets & Flyers
The authoritative primary sources to read up on: information sheets and program pages of the responsible funding bodies, as well as the relevant legal texts.
External links to official bodies, checked on June 19, 2026. Content and terms may change; the source itself is always authoritative.
Video testimonials
First-Hand Experiences
See how founders experienced the path to funded self-employment, with real names and verifiable on request.
4.9 / 5 · 65 Google reviews
In 30 minutes we answer all your questions, free of charge and without obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions About the IBB GründungsBONUS Plus in Berlin
When is the best time to apply for the GründungsBONUS Plus?
Always before the official start of the project, meaning before you buy software licenses or sign contracts, for example. In addition, your company can be no more than 18 months old at the time of application.
How much funding does the GründungsBONUS Plus provide?
50% of eligible costs are funded, up to €50,000 within two years. Majority women-founded companies receive up to an additional €10,000 through the EqualStart GründerinnenBONUS (as of 2026).
Can the GründungsBONUS Plus be combined with the KfW start-up loan?
Yes, and it is actually a very good strategy: the IBB grant covers 50% of the costs, and you finance your 50% personal contribution through a KfW start-up loan or the ERP-StartGeld. We build the combined financing concept for you.
Who is eligible to apply?
Legally independent, profit-oriented founders with a trade business or a freelance practice in Berlin (including corporations and social enterprises), provided the company is no more than 18 months old and stays within the micro-enterprise limits.
How is the GründungsBONUS Plus paid out?
On the expense reimbursement principle (Ausgabenerstattungsprinzip): you pay the expense yourself first, submit the invoice and proof of payment, and after review you receive the grant proportionately, in up to four tranches of at least 10% of the approved funding each. So you must secure the total financing, including your 50% personal contribution, from the start.
Do I have to repay the GründungsBONUS Plus?
No. It is a genuine grant (de minimis aid) with no repayment, provided the funding conditions are met, among them keeping the company headquarters in Berlin for at least three years after the final payment.
Why are applications rejected?
Common reasons: the application was filed only after the project began, an unclear innovation or sustainability aspect, an incomplete liquidity plan, unrealistic figures, or incomplete documents. IBB reviews plausibility, economic viability, and completeness. This is exactly where our preparation comes in.
Don’t Leave Money on the Table: Secure Your Berlin Grant
In the free initial consultation, we check your eligibility for IBB funding and the path to the GründungsBONUS Plus.