Start-ups are a key driver of a vibrant culture of innovation. With fresh technologies, ideas and products, they make a decisive contribution to the future viability of Bavaria as a business location. In order to really take off on the market, the locomotives of tomorrow need the right start-up support themselves. Suitable financing is essential for start-ups in particular - and no easy task. Subsidies can offer a solution. In Bavaria, the LfA Förderbank Bayern is the first port of call for this. In order to support the Bavarian start-up scene even more effectively, LfA has further optimised its range of financing and introduced a new loan product, the start-up and growth loan (GuW).
The GuW loan replaces the previous LfA Start-up and Investivkredit programmes. Compared to the previous funding, the new loan programme offers uniform and significantly simplified regulations for the funding of start-ups and established companies. As a result, access to credit is now much easier.
The advantages of the GuW loan in detail:
- Unlike the previous funding programme, there is no minimum loan amount for the start-up and growth loan.
- Wide range of loan terms and fixed interest rates.
- The term of the loan has been extended to 12 months.
- Particularly attractive for start-ups: founders and young companies that have been active on the market for less than five years receive additional favourable interest conditions in the GuW.
- In certain structurally weak Bavarian regions, the so-called ‘GuW promotion area’, interest rates are even more favourable.
Up to a loan amount of EUR 2 million, the LfA can, if required, assume 60 per cent of the credit risk from the house banks through a liability exemption. In this way, the LfA also provides access to development loans for founders and companies that do not have sufficient collateral, but do have a viable business model.
Innovation Loan 4.0
The Innovation Loan 4.0 is also of particular interest to young companies. The LfA uses it to support innovation and digitalisation projects in particular, as well as the introduction and development of innovative business models. New or significantly improved products, processes or services in particular are considered innovative. The purchase and implementation of innovative production technologies in your own company is also subsidised, provided the technology has not yet become established in the respective industry. Newly founded companies can also benefit from the very attractive conditions and repayment subsidies of up to 2 per cent. The maximum loan amount is 7.5 million euros per project, but the Innovation Loan 4.0 can also be applied for from an investment volume of 25,000 euros. If there is insufficient collateral, a guarantee from the LfA or Bürgschaftsbank Bayern can be applied for.
Application and advice
Anyone interested in financing from the LfA should contact their respective house bank - i.e. savings banks, co-operative banks and private banks. This is where the subsidised loans are applied for and paid out. Business founders can also contact the LfA subsidy counselling service directly to find the right subsidy offer for them. The dialogue with the funding experts can take place in person, by telephone or via video conference. Together with regional partners, such as the local chambers of industry and commerce, the LfA also organises regular advice days throughout Bavaria.
LfA- Funding advice
LfA Munich: 089 / 21 24 - 10 00
LfA Nuremberg: 0911 / 810 08 00
LfA Hof: 09281 / 14 00 23 0
Internet: www.lfa.de