Your Options at a Glance
Looking for funding doesn't just mean "going to the bank". You have various possible routes that you can combine.
The most important funding options:
- Grants: Money you don't have to repay, such as start-up grants from unemployment benefits or regional programmes
- Promotional loans: Loans with better terms than normal bank loans, for example through development banks like KFW
- Classic loans: Bank loans or online financing specifically for self-employed people
- Equity capital: your savings, money from friends or family
- Investors: Business angels or impact investors who bring money AND know-how
Finding what you need quickly with digital Tools and AI
You no longer have to collect thousands of flyers to find suitable funding programmes and financing offers. There are specialised platforms and AI-supported tools that pre-sort for you.
How you can use tools:
- Funding search engines and platforms that filter by industry, region and need (such as type of activity, investment amount). For example:
- Classic comparison portals for loans that offer special filters for self-employed people or freelancers (Freiberufler, liberal profession)
AI Tools: Delegate Research, keep the Decision
AI tools can take preliminary work off your hands that you would otherwise laboriously do in Word, Excel or search engines.
What AI does well:
- Pre-sort possibilities by structuring and summarising publicly accessible funding databases or advisory websites
- Translate requirements into simple language (e.g. "What does 'innovative' mean concretely in this programme?")
- Compile checklists for documents and deadlines for you
Important: You make the decision, not the tool. Use the suggestions as a starting point, not as finished truth!
👉 Exercise: Sharpen your funding Profile with AI
Formulate your project in 5–7 sentences: What do you do, for whom, with what impact, what amount do you need for what, in which region are you active. Copy this text into an AI tool with the task: "What types of funding programmes and financing options fit this? Name categories and typical requirements." Use the answer to make your further search more targeted and to refine your project description.
Networks for the Self-employed: finding Money through Contacts
Networks are more than coffee circles. Networks are often the direct route to information about funding, financing partners and cooperation opportunities.
Relevant networks can be:
- Start-up centres, coworking spaces, local business or start-up initiatives
- Industry-specific associations (e.g. creative industries, crafts, IT, healthcare)
- Networks for social entrepreneurship or impact business, if you work socially/ecologically
- Business angel and investor networks, usually with pitches or matching events
👉 Tip: "1 Event, 3 concrete Questions"
Find a suitable networking event in your region or online. Go with three clear questions, for example:
- What funding have others in my industry actually used?
- Do you know a contact point that helps with applications?
- Who should I talk to if I'm looking for investors?
Write down names and tips immediately after the event. Goal: You go home with at least two new contacts, not just a nice memory.
Industry Funding: using the Advantages of your Niche
Many funding programmes are very specific: for an industry, a technology, for projects with social impact or a particular region. Search just as specifically! If you only search generally for "funding self-employed", you often miss the interesting pots.
Typical industry-specific levers:
- Digital/innovative business models: Programmes for digitalisation, innovation, AI, IT infrastructure
- Creative industries and culture: Scholarships, project funding, programme budgets from foundations and cultural funds
- Social and common-good oriented services: Funds from foundations, social lotteries, programmes for social innovation
- Sustainability and green business: Funding for energy efficiency, sustainable production, circular business models
👉 Exercise: Specific Search Queries
- Do a quick search: "Funding [your industry] self-employed [your federal state]"
- Note down 3 programmes or institutions that keep appearing. Then look closely at what goals these programmes pursue and how you can formulate your offer so that it fits these goals.
How to prepare an Application without losing yourself
The challenge is not just the content of the application, but structure, timing and required documents. Once you've submitted your first application and have a system, it becomes much easier.
What is asked for almost everywhere:
- Brief, understandable description of your project (addressed problem, your solution, target group, impact)
- Financial planning: What do you need how much money for, in what timeframe?
- Qualification: Why are you the right person for this project?
- Evidence depending on programme: e.g. unemployment registration for start-up grant, trade registration (Gewerbeanmeldung), university affiliation or similar
👉 Tip: Create an Application base Module
Take 45–60 minutes and create your own basic application document with the following sections:
- Brief description of your project on a maximum of one page.
- Table with the main expenses (investments, running costs) and timeframe.
- "Impact" section: What change does your work create for customers or in society.
- Brief profile of you (education, experience, motivation).
Save this document as a basis. For each new funding application you only need to adapt the wording and figures, instead of starting from scratch each time.