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Funding in Berlin: grants for websites, marketing and digitalisation

In Berlin, 4 state programmes are currently open that can subsidise services like ours – plus the federal programmes. Here you find all of them with funding rate, conditions and link.

Funding finder for Berlin

1What are you planning? Select as many as you like.

State programmes in Berlin (4)

Berlin

Transfer BONUS Design (Berlin)

Official name: Transfer BONUS Design · zukunft im zentrum GmbH (on behalf of the Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises)

External design services (planning, development, implementation) for new or improved products, services, processes up to market readiness – incl. interface/interaction design for software-based products and service design

70% · €15,000 per project (max. 3 projects)

Suits: Software and apps, Trade fair presence, Strategy

  • Design service provider based in Berlin or Brandenburg, legally independent, with at least one reference
  • Design of promotional material and websites is NOT funded
  • Trade fair/exhibition design only if an independent, reusable product is created

Note: Fits an agency only for product/UX/service design with an innovation focus – classic branding, promotional material and websites are explicitly excluded.

Status: running – projects must be completed by 30 June 2027 at the latest

Checked: 13 October 2026Programme page ↗

Berlin

Transfer BONUS Gamification / XR (Berlin)

Official name: Transfer BONUS Gamification / XR · zukunft im zentrum GmbH (on behalf of SenWEB)

Know-how transfer on gamification and extended reality (AR/MR/VR) from Berlin companies and universities; project must count as applied R&D

70% · €45,000 net

Suits: Software and apps

  • Service provider: Berlin companies or universities
  • R&D link required
  • Duration max. 12 months

Note: Only relevant if the agency (based in Berlin) develops gamification/XR solutions.

Status: running

Checked: 13 October 2026Programme page ↗

Berlinplease verify

Internationalisation Programme – SME projects (PfI-KMU, Berlin)

Official name: Programm für Internationalisierung – KMU-Projekte (PfI-KMU) · Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB)

Participation in international, sector-specific trade fairs, exhibitions, congresses, exchanges, fashion shows and showrooms in Germany and abroad (not predominantly direct sales)

up to 50% · €12,000 per individual measure; max. 2 participations per calendar year

Suits: Trade fair presence

  • Minimum expenditure €6,000
  • Application ≥ 6 weeks before start to IBB
  • Start only after application received (at own risk)

Note: Clarify with IBB beforehand whether stand construction and design by an agency are eligible. Retail and general service providers are probably not eligible to apply.

Status: running

Checked: 13 October 2026Programme page ↗

Berlinplease verify

Potential Consulting Berlin (Potenzialberatung)

Official name: Potenzialberatung Berlin · Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises (applications via IG Metall / VME or the Berlin Chamber of Crafts)

External consulting to improve competitiveness and future viability (basic and advanced consulting)

50% of consulting costs (net) · €8,000 per measure, €16,000 in total

Suits: Consulting, Strategy

  • Joint application by management and employee representatives
  • Application before consulting starts
  • Skilled trades: application only via the Handwerkskammer (Chamber of Crafts)

Note: Designed as a social partnership; clarify beforehand whether agencies are approved as consultants and whether marketing/digitalisation counts as a topic.

Status: running, but the funding guideline is being revised – changes possible

Checked: 13 October 2026Programme page ↗

Currently closed or expired

Berlincurrently closed

Berlin Digital Bonus (incl. Digitalprämie 2.0)

Official name: Digitalprämie Berlin (inkl. Digitalprämie 2.0) · IBB Business Team GmbH (on behalf of SenWEB)

Digitalisation projects and IT security (historical)

50% (historical) · €17,000 (historical)

  • Programme closed – no applications possible

Note: Currently not usable. The 2024/25 draft budget provided funds, but no new call is known.

Status: expired – Digitalprämie 2.0 ended on 3 April 2023

Checked: 13 October 2026Programme page ↗

Berlinplease verifycurrently closed

Coaching BONUS (Berlin)

Official name: Coaching BONUS · IBB Business Team GmbH

Business coaching via coach pool (historical)

– · –

  • no current application option known

Note: Currently not usable until a relaunch is confirmed.

Status: probably expired – no longer included in the IBB Förderfibel 2026/2027

Checked: 13 October 2026Programme page ↗

Berlincurrently closed

Berlin Investment BONUS (InvestitionsBONUS)

Official name: Berliner InvestitionsBONUS · IBB Business Team GmbH

Investments incl. software licences and SaaS (historical)

up to 30% (De-minimis, historical) · €300,000 (historical)

  • Programme ended

Note: No longer available.

Status: expired – 'has been ended and will not be relaunched'

Checked: 13 October 2026Programme page ↗

Germany-wide programmes

Germany-wide

Funding for management consulting for SMEs (BAFA)

Official name: Förderung von Unternehmensberatungen für KMU (BAFA) · BMWE / BAFA (ESF Plus), applications via coordinating offices (Leitstellen)

Grant towards conceptual individual consulting on all economic, financial, HR and organisational questions of business management (max. 5 consulting days)

Saxony excl. Leipzig region: 80%; Leipzig region (City of Leipzig, Leipzig district, Nordsachsen) and western German states: 50% · Eligible costs max. €3,500 per consultation → max. €2,800 (80%) or €1,750 (50%); max. 2 consultations per year, 5 over the programme term

Suits: Consulting, Strategy, IT security, Automation

  • Apply online BEFORE consulting starts; sign contract only after the information letter from the Leitstelle (coordinating office)
  • Consultant must be registered with BAFA, mainly (>50% of revenue) management consulting, with QA system
  • Consulting report with analysis, weaknesses, specific recommendations for action

Note: Only consulting is eligible (e.g. marketing and sales strategy, digitalisation/AI strategy, recruitment concept, IT security concept), not implementation (design, website, campaign, film). Applications only until 31 December 2026.

Status: Running

Checked: 13 October 2026Programme page ↗

Germany-wide

INQA coaching

Official name: INQA-Coaching · BMAS / ESF Plus; approval by DRV Knappschaft-Bahn-See; entry via INQA advice centres (IBS)

Grant for participatory coaching (agile method with lab team) on HR/work-organisation change needs related to digital transformation

80% of the maximum daily rate (€1,200 net/day); 20% own contribution · Max. 12 consulting days → max. €11,520 grant

Suits: Coaching, Consulting, Automation, Training

  • First INQA consultation at an IBS (initial advice centre), then INQA coaching voucher (early start permitted from voucher)
  • Only coaches from the pool authorised for INQA coaching, no subcontracting
  • Reimbursement principle: company pays upfront

Note: Suits AI/automation rollouts in terms of work organisation, leadership, employee participation – not technical implementation or marketing.

Status: Running

Checked: 22 June 2026Programme page ↗

Germany-wideplease verify

ERP promotional loan for digitalisation (KfW 511/512) incl. ERP grant

Official name: ERP-Förderkredit Digitalisierung (KfW 511/512) inkl. ERP-Förderzuschuss · BMWE / BMF / KfW via your bank

Loan in 3 levels: Basis (hardware, standard software, cloud migration), LevelUp (process digitalisation, digital business models, implementation of a social media communication concept, digitalisation strategy, IT security concepts, further training), HighEnd (future technologies such as AI, big data).

Reduced-interest loan; grant 3% (LevelUp) or 5% (HighEnd) of the disbursed loan, level 1 without grant; optional 50% liability exemption · Loan up to €7.5 million (level 1) or €25 million (level 2/3); grant max. €200,000

Suits: Software and apps, Cloud, IT security, Automation, Online shop, Website, Social media, Training, Strategy, Web hosting

  • Apply via your bank before the project starts
  • KfW digitalisation check (mandatory for Basis level)
  • No refinancing/follow-up financing

Note: Broadest nationwide lever for implementation services, but a loan (grant share only 3–5%). Implementing a social media concept is explicitly named under LevelUp; whether a web shop or hosting is recognised is decided case by case by your bank and KfW.

Status: Running

Checked: 13 October 2026Programme page ↗

Germany-wideplease verify

ERP start-up loan – StartGeld (KfW 067)

Official name: ERP-Gründerkredit – StartGeld (KfW 067) · BMWE / KfW via your bank

Loan for investments and working capital (e.g. software, marketing, website)

80% liability exemption for your bank; interest rate market-dependent · Up to €200,000 external financing need, of which max. €80,000 working capital

Suits: Brand and logo, Website, Online shop, Print, Social media, SEO and online marketing, Film and photo, Trade fair presence, Software and apps, Web hosting, Cloud

  • Apply at your bank before the project starts
  • Viable business concept

Note: Loan, not a grant. Have your bank confirm the terms before applying.

Status: Running

Checked: 1 February 2026Programme page ↗

Germany-wide

Trade fair programme 'Young Innovators' – participation of young innovative companies in leading international trade fairs in Germany

Official name: Messeprogramm 'Young Innovators' – Teilnahme junger innovativer Unternehmen an internationalen Leitmessen in Deutschland · BMWE / BAFA (with AUMA and trade fair organisers)

Grant towards stand rent and stand construction on the BMWE joint stand (invoiced by the trade fair organiser)

60% for the first two participations, 50% from the third · Max. €7,500 per exhibitor and trade fair

Suits: Trade fair presence

  • Register with the trade fair organiser no later than 8 weeks before the fair starts, then apply to BAFA immediately
  • Only trade fairs on the annual BMWE list
  • Innovation must be described (own development)

Note: Only stand rent/construction of the joint stand – own stand design, print, film or trade fair marketing by the agency are NOT eligible.

Status: Running

Checked: 13 October 2026Programme page ↗

Germany-wideplease verify

Mittelstand-Digital centres (free services)

Official name: Mittelstand-Digital Zentren (kostenfreie Angebote) · BMWE

Free workshops, demonstrators, practical projects, initial consulting (no cash grant)

100% free of charge · —

Suits: Consulting, Automation, IT security, Social media, SEO and online marketing, Online shop, Training

  • No grant for external service providers

Note: Which centres will start in 2027 is not yet known. Thematic centres (e.g. retail, crafts) partly run until 31 December 2026.

Status: Transition phase: existing network being gradually phased out until end of 2026

Checked: 13 October 2026Programme page ↗

Germany-wideplease verify

Cybersecurity Transfer Office for SMEs / CYBERsicher check and emergency help

Official name: Transferstelle Cybersicherheit im Mittelstand / CYBERsicher Check und Notfallhilfe · BMWE (Mittelstand-Digital funding priority), a BVMW project

Free events, materials, CYBERsicher check, emergency help (no cash grant)

100% free of charge · —

Suits: IT security

  • No grant for external IT security service providers

Note: There has been no standalone federal GRANT for IT security in SMEs since go-digital ended; IT security is covered via Digi-Z/Digi-D (SN), KfW 511/512 (LevelUp) or as a consulting topic (BAFA, Saxon business consulting).

Status: Running

Checked: 1 October 2026Programme page ↗

Germany-wideplease verify

Training funding for employees (§ 82 SGB III, 'Qualifizierungschancengesetz' – Qualification Opportunities Act)

Official name: Weiterbildungsförderung Beschäftigter (§ 82 SGB III, 'Qualifizierungschancengesetz') · Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency, employer service)

Grant towards course fees and wages during training

< 50 employees: up to 100% of course fees and up to 75% wage subsidy; 50–499: 50%/up to 50%; 500 or more: 25%; +5 percentage points with a collective or works agreement · No fixed upper limit

Suits: Training

  • Course > 120 hours
  • Provider and course AZAV-accredited
  • More than job-specific adaptation training

Note: Only usable if the agency (or a partner) is an AZAV-certified training provider offering courses > 120 h (e.g. AI/digital marketing qualification).

Status: Running

Checked: 1 April 2024Programme page ↗

How funding works with Trendtreiber

  1. Initial consultationWe clarify your project and check together which programmes fit in your federal state.
  2. Quote for the applicationYou receive a fixed-price quote and a project description that you can attach to your application.
  3. Application before orderYou submit the application yourself. You only place the order once the programme allows it – usually after approval.
  4. Delivery and proofWe deliver the project and provide invoices and documentation so that you can easily prove how the funds were used.

Trendtreiber in Berlin

Digitalisation in Berlin · Advertising in Berlin

Frequently asked questions about funding in Berlin

What funding is available in Berlin for digitalisation and marketing?

In Berlin, 4 state programmes that can subsidise services such as consulting, software and apps, strategy, trade fair presence are currently open: Transfer BONUS Design (Berlin), Transfer BONUS Gamification / XR (Berlin), Internationalisation Programme – SME projects (PfI-KMU, Berlin), Potential Consulting Berlin (Potenzialberatung). The federal programmes apply as well.

Is a new website or online shop funded in Berlin?

A pure advertising website is hardly eligible in Berlin at the moment. Digital processes such as an online shop, booking or interfaces have better chances and can be funded through digitalisation programmes.

Do I have to apply before placing the order?

In almost all programmes, yes. Talk to us before the project starts – you will get a quote and a project description for your application.

All information without guarantee, as of 13 October 2026. Funding programmes change often and budgets can run out. Only the guidelines and the decision of the funding body are binding. We are not a funding consultancy and do not submit applications for you; we provide the quote and documents for your application.

See all federal states and the funding finder →

Discuss funding in Berlin

Briefly describe your project. We check which programmes fit and provide the quote and documents for the application.

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