Innovation funding FAQ: costs, timelines and eligibility
The questions companies ask us most often before starting a funding application. Questions about a single programme sit on that programme page.
General questions about working with BeFunded
Most companies developing something technically new qualify for at least one programme. That covers startups, SMEs, larger companies and self-employed innovators in software, manufacturing, biotech, energy, health and far beyond. What counts is genuine technical risk in the project, not your industry. The free funding estimate on this page gives you a first read in about three minutes.
We cover the German and EU programmes that actually pay out for R&D and innovation: the Forschungszulage (research allowance), ZIM, KMU-innovativ, EXIST, GRW, BAFA EEW and KfW innovation loans in Germany, plus Horizon Europe, the EIC Accelerator, Eurostars and the EU Innovation Fund at European level. If a different programme suits your project better, we will say so.
Nothing upfront. Our fee is success-based, a percentage of the funding you actually receive, invoiced only after the money reaches you. If nothing is approved, you pay nothing.
That depends on the programme. The Forschungszulage takes roughly six months from the first call to the BSFZ certificate, with the cash following your tax return. Competitive grants such as ZIM, EIC or Horizon Europe run on fixed deadlines and usually take six to twelve months from application to decision.
Usually six to twelve hours in total across the whole application. We write the technical documentation, build the cost plan and deal with the authorities. Your engineers are only needed for the technical substance, in a few short interviews.
Book a free 30-minute call or run the funding estimate on this page. You get a clear answer on which programmes fit, what they could be worth and what the next step is. It costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
Questions about a specific funding programme
Every programme page carries its own FAQ with the rules, deadlines and eligible costs for that programme.