Pro FIT (Frühphasenfinanzierung)

Pro FIT (Frühphasenfinanzierung) is a grant program operated by Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB) that provides early-stage financing for technology-oriented SMEs and startups in Berlin, Germany. The program covers personnel costs, material and equipment investments, and other operating expenses during the initial years of business operation.

Pro FIT is a number of grant programs for startups backed by the State of Berlin through the Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB). IBB offers financial assistance to technology-oriented SMEs and startups in the early stages of their business operation.

Pro FIT (Frühphasenfinanzierung) is abnother of Germany’s top public grants that supports startups with financing in their first years. The grant covers expenses such as personnel costs, investment in material & equipment and other operating expenses.

Unlike non repayable grants, Pro FIT mostly funds projects with loans instead. Therefore, they need to be repaid. There are 2 phases to the Frühphasenfinanzierung grant:

Phase 1: 50% funded with a non-repayable grant and 50% with a loan. The phase must last no more than a year
Phase 2: 100% funded with a loan
Also, what’s great about Pro FIT is that businesses can finance 100% of their project costs with the grant. Yet, note the maximum that can be funded is €500,000 total per project.

In order to apply your business must:

Be a newly incorporated business: no more than 12 months ago (phase 1) or 24 months ago (phase 2)
Be a technology-orientated company based in Berlin
Have an innovative R&D project ready for commercialisation (or intended to be commercialised)
Own the intellectual property rights to all products