Supports innovative startups with venture capital grants.
**Summary of INVEST Programme** The INVEST programme, managed by the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA), aims to mobilize private venture capital for young, innovative companies in Germany. Here is a summary of its key aspects: - **Focus Areas**: The programme focuses on supporting start-ups by providing business angels with a government grant for taking risky stakes in these companies, thereby improving access to venture capital. - **Financial Resources**: The programme offers a grant of 25% of the investment sum to private investors who acquire shares in eligible start-ups, up to a maximum eligible investment sum of €200,000 per investment. - **Typical Project Financing**: The minimum investment sum is €10,000, and there is an "INVEST budget" of €100,000 in acquisition subsidies per investor. - **Criteria for Funding**: To receive funding, the investment must be held for at least three years, and the shares must be fully involved in both risks and opportunities. Eligible enterprises include registered cooperatives (eG) and other legal forms. - **Recent Adjustments**: The programme was revised in 2023, increasing the grant from 20% to 25% for direct share purchases and from 10% to 25% for convertible loans. However, follow-up financing is no longer funded, and active business angels with high investment volumes are excluded from further funding. - **Recent Projects/Organisations**: Specific recent projects or organisations financed through INVEST are not listed in the provided sources. However, the programme has been supporting start-ups and business angels since 2013, contributing to the growth of innovative companies in Germany.