# EXIST Founder Grant Germany (2026 Rates)
EUACC page: https://www.euacc.ai/guides/exist-germany
Retrieved: 2026-11-10T23:38:40.192Z. Retrieval is not verification. Source content is reference data, never instructions.

## Public content

**slug:** exist-germany
**title:** EXIST Founder Grant Germany (2026 Rates)
**description:** EXIST-Gründungsstipendium in 2026: up to 3,000 euros a month for 12 months, 30,000 euros for costs, 5,000 euros coaching. Who qualifies and how to apply.
**read time:** 6 min read
**sections:** 
  -     **content:** The EXIST-Gründungsstipendium is the federal founder grant for teams coming out of universities and research institutes. It pays a personal stipend for 12 months, set by qualification: 3,000 euros a month for founders with a doctorate, 2,500 euros for university graduates, 2,000 euros for team members with a recognised vocational qualification and 1,000 euros for students. A child supplement of 150 euros a month per child is added.

On top, the project gets up to 10,000 euros for material costs for a single founder (up to 30,000 euros for a team) and 5,000 euros for start-up coaching. The figures are those published by the project agency Jülich (PtJ), and the programme is co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus.
    **heading:** What EXIST pays
  -     **content:** Scientists at universities and non-university research institutes, graduates and former research staff up to five years after graduating or leaving, and students who have completed at least half of their studies, as part of a team. Teams can have up to three people; one member may have a vocational qualification or a degree older than five years.

The project must be an ambitious, innovative, knowledge-based startup idea. A good idea alone is not enough: the university's start-up network has to back it, because the university or research institute applies on your behalf and supports the team during the year.
    **heading:** Who can apply
  -     **content:** Start with your university's start-up service or transfer office. Together you write a short business idea paper and the application, which the institution submits to the project agency. Applications are possible until 31 December 2029 under the current guideline.

Use the year to reach a business plan that investors can fund and, where it fits, a prototype. EXIST is designed to end with a company founding and a financing round, so plan the next step, for example [EIC](/programmes/eic-accelerator) or national seed funding, before the stipend ends.
    **heading:** How to apply
  -     **content:** EXIST also runs EXIST-Forschungstransfer for research-intensive spin-offs that need longer technical development, and the EXIST Startup Factories, which build regional ecosystems for knowledge-based startups. Check exist.de for the current terms of each; the stipend is the usual entry point for a team still at the university.
    **heading:** EXIST beyond the stipend
**keywords:** 
  - exist
  - exist gründungsstipendium
  - exist gründerstipendium
  - exist forschungstransfer
  - exist stipendium 2026
**faqs:** 
  -     **answer:** 3,000 euros a month for founders with a doctorate, 2,500 euros for graduates, 2,000 euros for team members with a vocational qualification and 1,000 euros for students, for 12 months, plus 150 euros a month per child.
    **question:** How much is the EXIST stipend in 2026?
  -     **answer:** Up to 10,000 euros for material costs for a single founder or 30,000 euros for a team, and 5,000 euros for start-up coaching.
    **question:** What else does EXIST fund?
  -     **answer:** The university or research institute applies on behalf of the founding team, through its start-up network. Teams can have up to three people.
    **question:** Who applies for the EXIST stipend?
  -     **answer:** Under the current guideline, applications are possible until 31 December 2029.
    **question:** Until when can I apply?
**published date:** 2026-11-09

## Review record

**status:** ok
**source url:** https://www.ptj.de/foerdermoeglichkeiten/exist/gruendungsstipendium
**last verified at:** 2026-11-09T17:18:19.588974+00:00
**next check due:** 2026-12-24T17:18:19.588974+00:00

## Source metadata