Start!Klar Plus (expired!)
Startups before their first investment: planning professionally with resources and money
Get started now—but how?
“What’s the next step, and most importantly, how do we finance it?” Founders ask themselves these questions many times as they build their businesses. The process of taking a startup from the development phase to market entry is particularly challenging. Many companies decide at this point to bring venture capital on board. Easier said than done! After all, in financing discussions or investor pitches, founders must present and argue their case in a thoroughly convincing manner. Above all, this requires meticulous preparation. We cover up to 4 out of every 5 euros of the associated costs.
Your Path to Market
This is the context for the Start!Klar plus funding initiative, which supports creative Styrian founders in the run-up to their first funding round: Is your startup developing innovative products, services, or processes—or a digital infrastructure? Does your vision have real growth potential, and can you demonstrate why your business model works, how you’ll increase revenue, and how you’ll build your team? Does your company possess all these essential core competencies? Then you’ve come to the right place: We support projects that prepare for the first funding round by establishing the economic, legal, and technological foundations for the startup’s scaling phase, with the goal of positioning the company as an attractive investment opportunity for business angels and (corporate) venture capital firms. This must be convincingly presented in the project plan.
Several times a year, we announce “cut-off dates”: We evaluate all submitted projects through a jury process and select the best ones for funding. Key criteria for us include: innovative content, growth potential in terms of revenue and employees, implementation expertise, and investment readiness.
- For whom?
-
- Innovative, privately held small businesses.
- Companies that were founded no more than 5 years prior to the date of application.
- Founders or shareholders who hold at least a 25% stake.
- Companies that develop products, services, digital infrastructures, or processes that are new or represent a significant improvement over the state of the art.
- Companies that develop and implement innovations on their own.
- Companies that show above-average growth potential in terms of revenue growth and workforce expansion.
- Companies whose prototype/MVP development is largely complete.
- Companies that plan to secure investment from business angels or venture capital firms no later than 12 months after receiving a grant approval.
- For whom not?
-
- medium-sized companies
- large companies
- publicly traded companies
- companies outside the SFG target group
- For what?
-
- projects undertaken prior to the first round of financing to ensure market access for the company
- production and market transition, organizational and business model development, investor sourcing, and legal counsel
- internal personnel costs, third-party services (including consulting fees), supplies and materials, travel expenses, and costs for the use of R&D infrastructure
- How much?
-
- 80% of the eligible project costs
- maximum of 125,000 euros in eligible project costs
- up to 100,000 euros in funding
- Important hints
-
- maximum project duration: 12 months
- The grant application must be submitted BEFORE the project begins.
- the following documents (in German) must be included with the grant application: Start!Klar plus project plan, Start!Klar plus, resumes (for all founding members of the startup), and a current insurance history statement covering at least the last five years (for all founding members of the startup)
- Only costs incurred after the application is received are eligible for funding.
- 2026 cut-off dates: March 31 and September 30
Funding process
- advise
-
You’re planning a project. What grants are available from the SFG? Pick up the phone and ask our experts. We’d be happy to set aside time for a personal consultation.
- apply for
-
Submit your application online through our portal!
Important: Submit your application before you begin your project!
- review the application
-
By the cut-off dates, we will evaluate all submitted projects and select the best ones. You will receive a response from us no sooner than 6 weeks after the cut-off dates.
- announce the cut-off date for credit
-
We will notify you of your official credit assessment date.
- start the project
-
Start your project as soon as you receive a credit date from us.
- approve the grant and disburse the advance payment
-
If we are able to support you, you will receive your grant agreement. If your project is not eligible for funding, we will notify you in writing. Once you return the countersigned grant agreement, we will transfer 50% as an advance payment.
- implement the project
-
Please carry out your project as planned and let us know if there are any significant changes.
- show project progress
-
A review of the project’s progress will take place 6 months after the project begins and again at the project’s conclusion after 12 months.
- complete the project
-
Now it’s your turn again: Complete your project.
Important: Please contact us right away if anything changes.
We wish you the best of luck!
- submit invoices
-
Please send us your billing documents for the final settlement.
You will receive a checklist in plenty of time to help you compile the documents. - review invoices
-
We will review your billing documents for the final settlement.
- pay the final settlement
-
If all eligibility requirements are met, we will transfer the funds to your account.
Downloads & Links