Public funding programs can give early-stage startups a major boost—but the options are vast and navigating them requires a clear strategic roadmap. Funding Advisory Services is a comprehensive grant and financing consultancy operated by KIT FORGE for technology ventures, research spin-offs, and ambitious prospective founders at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). Designed to guide you through every stage of non-dilutive capital acquisition, the service provides a structured overview of grants, scholarships, and equity models tailored precisely to your technology readiness level (TRL) and business goals.
KIT FORGE guides you well beyond initial funding roadmaps: from program selection and proposal structuring to polishing your pitch decks and presentations. Because KIT itself acts as the official applicant for major institutional grants (such as EXIST or KMU-innovativ), our team supports you through every administrative step to ensure your application stands out to selection panels.
Funding
Personnel costs, Material resources & Coaching
Amount – How is funding provided?
1,000 to 3,000 € / month; Material resources up to 2,000 €; child allowance
Funding duration
3 months
Target group – Who is eligible for funding?
Graduates, academic employees, (students)
Funding
Personnel costs, Material resources & Coaching
Amount – How is funding provided?
1,000 to 3,000 € / month; up to 10.000 to 30.000 € for material resources; and up to 5,000 € for coaching; Child allowance
Funding duration
12 months
Target group – Who is eligible for funding?
Graduates, academic employees, (students)
Funding
Personnel costs, Material resources & Coaching
Amount – How is funding provided?
Funding phase I: Personnel costs up to 4 persons, material resources max. 250,000 €; Funding phase II: max. 240.000 € (funding rate 75 %)
Funding duration
Funding phase I: 18 to 36 months
Funding phase II: 18 months
Target group – Who is eligible for funding?
Graduates, academic employees
Funding
Personnel costs, Material resources & Coaching
Amount – How is funding provided?
max. 3 half TV-L positions; material resources up to 20,000 € and 5,000 € for coaching; Child allowance
Funding duration
12 months
Target group – Who is eligible for funding?
Graduates, academic employees
Funding
Personnel costs & Material resources
Amount – How is funding provided?
max. 333,000 €; Funding rate 75 %
Funding duration
9 to 14 months
Target group – Who is eligible for funding?
Graduates/Scientists of the Helmholtz Association (entire KIT)
Funding
Personnel costs, Material resources & coaching
Amount – How is funding provided?
Funding phase I: max. 800,000 €; Funding phase II: max. 800,000 €
Funding duration
12 to 15 months
Target group – Who is eligible for funding?
Graduates, academic employees, (students)
Funding
Material resources
Amount – How is funding provided?
7.500 to 20.000 € Subsidy (50 % subsidy rate)
Funding duration
One-time
Target group – Who is eligible for funding?
Possible from Pre-foundation phase
Funding
Coaching
Amount – How is funding provided?
free of charge founder counselling, Intensive counselling is 70 % subsidised, 30 % Own contribution for founders (plus 19 % VAT)
Funding duration
individual
Target group – Who is eligible for funding?
Possible from Pre-foundation phase
