EXIST start-up scholarship

If approved, founders receive up to 3,000 euros per month for 12 months to secure their personal livelihood plus up to 30,000 euros for material resources and 5,000 euros for coaching measures.

The start-up team can consist of up to three people and can be made up of

• Researchers* and/or university graduates* up to five years after leaving university.
• Students who have completed at least half of their university studies at the time of application

Teams consisting mainly of students will only be supported in exceptional cases. One of the team members can also be supported if they have a qualified professional qualification as a technical employee or if the team member's degree was obtained more than five years ago.

In order to apply for the EXIST start-up scholarship, technical or professional support from a professor as a mentor is required. In addition to various statements, a 15-page idea paper must also be submitted via the university. Experience has shown that it takes 2 months to prepare, often longer.

Submission is possible at any time, there are no fixed deadlines for application. After the month of submission, it takes three months before funding can begin. You should therefore contact the start-up network in good time to discuss the possibilities of the EXIST start-up scholarship and the composition of your team.

We will be happy to advise you and submit the application for the scholarship.