Funding for Business Start-ups (ego.-START)

The ego.-START program is aimed at natural persons who aspire to establish an independent business or take over a business in Saxony-Anhalt. In particular, innovative or technology- and knowledge-based start-ups are supported to intensify entrepreneurial activity in the region.

The ego.-START program supports qualification measures for business founders as well as innovative business start-ups and successions. The funding includes coaching services and a personal founder's scholarship to secure living expenses, especially for technology- and knowledge-based projects.

Funding is provided as a non-repayable grant and includes both lump-sum amounts for coaching services and monthly scholarship payments. The extent of support varies depending on the funding area and type of measure.

For applying and receiving funding, various prerequisites and conditions must be met, including the submission of a business plan, proof of viability, and compliance with specific aid rules, particularly the De Minimis Regulation. There are also provisions for cumulation with other funding.

The application must be submitted completely and on time via the customer portal of Investitionsbank Sachsen-Anhalt, before the start of the project. Approval is at discretion and subject to specific selection criteria, which depend on the type of funding applied for.

The funding program is based on specific guidelines of the state of Saxony-Anhalt and is supplemented by a series of EU regulations and national laws as well as administrative regulations. These legal bases form the legal framework for the granting and administration of the grants.