Gründerstipendium NRW: How to support your start-up idea with 1,000–1,200 € per month
The Gründerstipendium NRW is a public-private funding programme in North Rhine-Westphalia designed to support new founders in the early start-up phase.
Each founder can receive a monthly grant of 1,000 € (sometimes 1,200 €) for up to 12 months.
The programme also includes coaching sessions provided by accredited regional start-up networks in cooperation with the ministry (xn--grndungsstipendium-n6b.nrw).
In most cases: 1,000 € per month per founder.
Since 1 October 2023: the regular amount has been increased to 1,200 € per month.
In addition, teams with a high level of diversity can benefit from the Diversität+ component, which can add another 300 € per month as a diversity / acceleration bonus (xn--grndungsstipendium-n6b.nrw).
The programme targets:
Individual founders or teams of up to 3 people,
whose company was founded no more than 12 months ago, or
who plan to found a company within the next 12 months.
Applicants 18 years or older, with residence and/or business location in NRW,
who work full-time on their start-up project,
with no more than 15 hours per week in additional side jobs (xn--grndungsstipendium-n6b.nrw),
holders of a suitable residence permit (for non-German / non-EU nationals).
Since 2018, the Gründerstipendium NRW has:
supported more than 3,900 start-up projects,
been implemented via 37 accredited networks,
and enabled over 1,000 jury sessions to select and mentor founders (wirtschaft.nrw).
It has become a key early-stage support instrument in the state.
Core requirements and steps:
Innovative idea
You need an innovative product or service – for example in technology, digital services, creative industries or impact-driven business models.
Contact an accredited funding network
For example: STARTERCENTER NRW, IHK, a Digital Hub or other listed partners.
Prepare an idea paper (Ideenpapier)
The idea paper outlines:
your business idea,
target group and added value,
innovation potential,
and basic business model.
This forms the basis for a pitch in front of the network’s jury.
Pitch & recommendation
If the jury approves your project, the network issues a recommendation letter.
Submit the official application via the Wirtschafts-Service-Portal NRW
With this recommendation, you submit the formal application online.
Approval & start of the grant
Once approved:
the monthly funding starts, and
you gain access to individual coaching and mentoring throughout the funding period (ihk.de, xn--grndungsstipendium-n6b.nrw).
Financial security during the founding phase
You can focus on building your start-up without immediately relying on full-time external employment.
Side jobs up to 15 hours per week are still allowed (startplatz.de).
Access to a strong support network
You benefit from:
around 38 active networks,
100+ locations,
e.g. STARTERCENTERs in Essen or Bonn/Rhein-Sieg (ihk.de).
Additional support for diverse teams (Diversität+)
Founding teams with a particularly diverse composition (e.g. gender, origin, background) may receive up to
1,500 € per month, including a 300 € diversity bonus through the Diversität+ module (xn--grndungsstipendium-n6b.nrw).
Standard funding duration: up to 12 months.
Possible extension by 3 months in specific cases, e.g. birth of a child during the funding period (nrwbank.de).
The grant cannot be combined with:
BAföG,
unemployment benefits,
other subsistence-based funding programmes such as EXIST or the Gründungszuschuss (startplatz.de).
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Funding amount | 1,000 € → 1,200 € per month per founder |
| Funding period | 12 months – plus up to 3 extra months in case of childbirth |
| Eligible persons | Individual founders / teams (up to 3), based in NRW, innovative idea, full-time focus |
| Application | Via local network → pitch → Wirtschafts-Service-Portal NRW |
| Extra module | Diversität+ (300 € bonus) for diverse founding teams |
| Not combinable with | BAföG, unemployment benefits, EXIST and similar income-replacement schemes |
The editorial team of this website strives to provide accurate information based on thorough research and multiple sources. However, errors, changes in regulations or incomplete information cannot be completely ruled out. Please treat the information in this article as an initial guide only and always contact the competent authorities and funding bodies in Germany for legally binding and up-to-date information.
