Starting next March, a new government-run startup platform will provide free support for entrepreneurs from the initial idea to the financing application. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) and the KfW Banking Group aim to further expand the startup infrastructure in Germany and add a digital startup platform.
The State Secretary in the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, Matthias Machnig, says:
"We want to leverage the opportunities offered by digitalization to simplify the process of starting a business in Germany. This includes innovative tools for the planning phase, but also—and perhaps even more crucially—a digital infrastructure that enables founders to interact with their own and external networks. This can create close connections with regional stakeholders, which plays a key role in local startups."
At the same time, the key players for start-up consulting and financing throughout Germany are integrated into the platform. Thus, through the start-up platform, KfW, whose statutory mandate includes start-up and consulting support, and the BMWi offer tailored support for anyone interested in starting a business.
“Only with good preparation will the start-up be successful”
At the same time, the hurdles in the start-up process should be reduced so that more people dare to take the step into self-employment and thus contribute to stimulating the start-up scene in Germany.
“We know from our studies that only with good preparation can a start-up be successful,”
says Dr. Ingrid Hengster, Member of the Board of Management of KfW Banking Group.
"I'm particularly pleased by the tremendous interest, with more than 35 partners from all pillars of the financial sector and the chambers of commerce already involved in the startup platform. More partners will follow. Having all these players together on one website will help founders turn their ideas into reality."
Starting in March 2018, potential founders can develop their projects free of charge using the founders’ platform.
