OREANDA-NEWS. April 06, 2015. KfW will be offering its self-funded “Start-Up Coaching in Germany” advisory programme from 1 May 2015. In so doing, the promotional bank is safeguarding the promotion of advisory services for start-ups once the programme funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) ends on 30 April 2015.

Business founders in the field of trade and industry, as well as liberal professions and – as a new feature – social entrepreneurs in a not-for-profit legal form, are eligible to apply for the “Start-Up Coaching in Germany” programme funded by KfW. All applicants must have been active on the market for less than two years. The programme was also expanded to open it up to self-employed individuals – whether they are self-employed on a full-time basis or simply have a long-term sideline job.

In the new federal states (excluding Berlin and the Leipzig region), business founders receive a grant amounting to 75% of the advisory fee. In the old federal states, Berlin and the Leipzig region, the grant is 50% of the fee, up to a maximum amount of EUR 4,000 (net). The consultant chosen must provide assistance with economic, financial and organisational issues.

The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy is intending to develop a range of advisory services for founders and SMEs at all stages of corporate development by January 2016. In future, all the variants of the advisory promotion programme will be offered by BAFA (the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control).

Interested founders presently contact a local regional partner (Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Chamber of Crafts or similar) to apply.