In the context of your start-up project, you can make use of various funding opportunities that will help you cushion initial investments and minimize your personal risk. The following is a summary of the most important funding options. The EXIST-Gründerstipendium and the EXIST-Forschungstransfer, both of which are funded by the BMWi, were created specifically for university-based startups. The Koblenzer Inkubator for Technology Transfer and Innovation is a collaboration with the TZK GmbH that provides office space for startup projects at the university. In addition to the possibility of funding via the Ideenwald-Crowdfunding, the state of RLP also offers the possibility of funding start-up projects via other funding programs shown later on this page. These include financing options via ISB and HTGF. Here, the HTGF promotes technology-oriented start-ups in particular.
We can advise you on all financing options.
EXIST
EXIST-Gründerstipendium
Startups from science
The EXIST-Gründerstipendium supports you as a student, graduate and scientist from universities and non-university research institutions to turn your startup idea into a business plan. Your startup project should be an innovative technology-oriented or knowledge-based project with good economic prospects of success. The EXIST-Gründerstipendium is a funding program of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and is co-financed by the European Social Fund.
For more information visit: https://www.exist.de/DE/Programm/Exist-Gruenderstipendium/inhalt.html.
EXIST-Forschungstransfer
Support for research-based startups
The EXIST research transfer supports you in an outstanding research-based startup project that involves complex and high-risk development work. The funding is divided into two phases: In the first funding phase, support is provided for the development of research results that have the potential to form the basis of a business startup. In the second funding phase, the focus is on further development work, measures to start up business operations and the creation of the prerequisites for corporate financing. In addition, measures for the transfer of management knowledge and support in the startup process are also funded.
For more information visit: https://www.exist.de/DE/Programm/Exist-Forschungstransfer/inhalt.html.
Koblenzer Inkubator
Koblenzer Inkubator für Technologietransfer und Innovation
The Koblenz Incubator for Technology Transfer and Innovation is a cooperation between the Gründungsbüro and the TZK GmbH. The aim of the Koblenz Incubator for Technology Transfer is to keep the financial hurdle for a start-up as low as possible at the beginning and to professionalize quickly with the start-up project. To this end, you as future founders are provided with fully equipped premises and workstations free of charge – for a limited period of time. As potential founders, you are thus offered the opportunity to advance your start-up ideas in a simple and cost-effective way in a professional working atmosphere.
For further information, please contact Dr. Kornelia van der Beek.
Ideenwald - Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding is a form of financing that is characterized by a large number of backers. The backers, the so-called ‘crowd’, usually give rather smaller amounts to the future founders to implement an innovative idea.
In addition, a crowdfunding campaign is a valuable marketing tool and is also ideally suited as a proof of concept, since the type of funding requires convincing a larger group of people, who are usually also the target group of the new company to be founded.
To support students, research assistants and female employees of the universities in Rhineland-Palatinate who are interested in founding a company to realize their projects and ideas via crowdfunding, the IDEENWALD Crowdfunding Network for Rhineland-Pfalz & Saarland was initiated by the Kaiserslautern Startup Office. In cooperation with the startup offices of both states, a dedicated crowdfunding platform (as a regional branch of Startnext) was opened, on which crowdfunding campaigns from both states are presented.
Additionally, potential founders can be advised about the possibilities of crowdfunding and regular workshops on crowdfunding are held through which interested parties are qualified for their campaign.
The IDEENWALD crowdfunding platform can be found at the following link: www.ideenwald-crowdfunding.de. Inquiries can be sent to: vanderbeek@uni-koblenz.de or directly to the contact person in Kaiserslautern Bernhard Lorig: lorig@gruendungsbuero.info.
Other Funding Programs
Investitions- und Strukturbank Rheinland-Pfalz (ISB)
When it comes to financing business startups, Investment and Structure Bank Rhineland-Palatinate is an important partner for entrepreneurs. ISB supports eligible projects with low-interest loans, equity investments, guarantees and grants.
Further information is available at: www.isb.rlp.de
Federal Funding database
The federal funding database allows founders to find appropriate funding programs and grants by entering either a topic, area, or region in the search bar. The federal funding database is located on the site of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and contains key information and links to federal, state and EU funding organizations.
You can find the database at: https://www.foerderdatenbank.de
Startups that are innovative and technology-oriented are often accompanied by high market, management and technical risks. To close the financing gap, there is the High-Tech Startup Fund, which invests venture capital in high-tech startups that are no more than three years old and that have not previously been supported with more than 500,000 euros in equity, silent partnership or convertible loans.
Further information is available at: https://www.htgf.de/