Grant program Active
High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF)
Germany's most active seed investor: public-private venture fund taking early equity stakes in high-tech startups, including deep tech and hardware/semiconductors. Typically co-invests alongside business angels and VCs.
✓ 3 Jul 2026
Key parameters
| Instrument | Seed equity / convertible |
|---|---|
| Typical first ticket | ~€0.5–1M (with follow-on capacity) |
| Stage | Pre-seed / seed high-tech startups |
Eligibility
- HQ
- Any headquarters country
- Local presence
- Separate legal entity required The applicant must be a separate legal person (e.g. GmbH, BV, SARL) — a branch office of a foreign company does not qualify here.
- R&D substance
- Required
- Company size
- SMEs only
- Models
- Fabless design, IP licensing, EDA / tools
- Sectors
- All
- Goals
- Additional design site in Europe
Aimed at young German-based startups (typically < ~3 years). A foreign group would need a German operating startup entity to be in scope.
Mechanism & application
Discretionary (call-based) — Competitive, call-based — requires approval; success not guaranteed.
Pitch/apply directly to HTGF; investment via standard seed term sheet and due diligence.
Timeline: 2–4 months
Legal basis & sources
- Legal basis
- HTGF fund mandate (BMWE-anchored public-private fund)
- Source
- https://www.htgf.de/en/
- Verification
- htgf.de
from 1 Jan 2005 until no expiry review 1 Jan 2027
Related
✓ Stacks with