Germany funds founders generously. Then hides the forms in German.
Founder grants, subsidised loans, stipends, coaching vouchers, regional programmes. They exist for people exactly like you, and most are never applied for, because nobody explained them in English before the deadline passed.
What founders here miss
The money is real. The window is usually shorter than people think.
The grant with a deadline you did not know about
The founder grant from the employment agency pays your living costs for the first months of self-employment, but only if you apply while you still qualify. Found first, ask later, and it is gone.
Living costs covered for the first monthsSubsidised loans nobody offered you
State development bank loans for founders are applied for through your house bank. Whether you ever hear about them depends on which bank you happen to ask. Our partner Estrach & Jung knows which ones say yes.
Below-market rates, long grace periodsFunding rarely pays upfront
Public funding rarely pays upfront or in full. Funding bodies expect an own contribution and pre-financing, and where equity falls short, bank financing closes the gap. One plan for both sides, or the grant you won stays out of reach.
Own contribution and pre-financingProgrammes built for your stage
University-linked stipends, city startup grants, coaching vouchers, innovation funding. Each has its own form, its own timing, and its own definition of who counts as a founder.
Grants often around €10,000 or moreIllustrative figures for a typical international household in Germany, not a calculation for you.
What Estrach & Jung sorts with you
- Which programmes fit your stage, city and residence status
- The numbers a bank or agency expects to see, in the shape they expect
- Financing for equipment, premises or a property you buy for the business
- A tax and insurance setup so the funding does not backfire later
Three steps. The first one is free and takes two minutes.
Tell us where you are
Idea, registered, first revenue. Freelancer or GmbH. Employed today or not. The free check gets the basics; a call gets the rest.
Get the map
Estrach & Jung show which grants, loans and programmes apply, in what order, with deadlines. In writing, in English.
Apply with the partner who knows the forms
Estrach & Jung take it from here: the file, the bank or the programme office, and the follow-through until the money lands. One plan and one team, from application to payout. We stay reachable.
Our company financing partner
Estrach & Jung Consulting
Loans, grants and investor money, handled by the same two people from the first call to the payout. Not tied to one bank, with access to KfW and IBB programmes. Their first conversation is free, and every call button on their page opens it.
Good to know.
Are grants taxed as income?
It depends on the programme. Some are tax-free, some count as income, and the answer changes what you should set aside. Estrach & Jung flag it before you apply, not after the tax return.
Can non-EU founders get funding?
Many programmes, yes; your residence permit and its purpose matter more than your passport. A few are tied to being unemployed or to a German university. Estrach & Jung check eligibility first so you do not write an application for nothing.
Do you take a cut of the funding?
No. Unlock Germany charges you no fee. Our partners pay us for introductions, and a partner may charge for its own services. Estrach & Jung's funding advisory is success-based: you agree it before any work starts and pay when the funding comes through.
Find out what you qualify for before the deadline does.
About two minutes of questions, then a personal report: what is sorted, what is quietly costing you money, and what to fix first.