Grant Writing Services for European Funding
BeFunded writes and manages grant applications for startups and SMEs across Europe, from the EIC Accelerator and Horizon Europe to Eurostars and Germany's national programmes. An engineer-led team writes your technical case, and the fee is agreed before work starts.
Free 30-minute call, founder to founder. No obligation.
What are grant writing services?
Grant writing services turn your project into an application a funding body can score and fund. For EU and German programmes, that means the technical case, impact, work plan, budget and every annex, written to the evaluation criteria and filed on time.
A good grant writer also tells you when not to apply. Every engagement with us starts by checking which programme fits your project, what it could realistically pay and how much of your team's time the application will take.
What do our grant writing services cover?
Funding bodies ask for far more than a project description. We write and assemble the full application package, so your engineers only step in for the technical substance.
Grant proposal writing
We write the technical case, impact and work plan against the programme's scoring criteria, such as excellence, impact and implementation in Horizon Europe. Methods, metrics and named risks instead of slogans.
Programme and call selection
Before anyone writes a line, we match your project to the right programme, call and action type, and give you a realistic funding figure. If another route fits better, including Germany's Research Allowance, we say so.
Budgets, financials and annexes
Lump-sum budgets, cost and work plans, financial models, freedom-to-operate analyses, GHG avoidance calculations and letters of intent. We build what your programme asks for and keep every figure consistent across documents.
Consortium coordination
For Horizon Europe and Eurostars, we check candidate partners against the programme rules, align the budget split so every partner stays fundable and keep the consortium paperwork together until submission.
Pitch and interview preparation
For the EIC Accelerator we build the pitch deck and video, prepare you for the technology expert interview and rehearse the jury pitch. Consultants cannot join the jury interview, so we rehearse until you can carry it alone.
Resubmissions and appeals
Rejected before? We read the evaluation report, fix what cost you points and decide with you whether to resubmit, appeal or switch programme. One Research Allowance client went from full rejection to certification on appeal.
Grant agreement and reporting
Winning is the start of the paperwork. We support grant agreement preparation, milestone and interim reports and cost statements, so payments arrive on time and hold up to review.
Not sure what you need?
Tell us the programme and your deadline. We will tell you which parts are worth handing over and which your team can keep.
How competitive are EU grant applications?
Highly competitive. Most EU programmes fund a minority of the proposals they receive, and clearing the quality threshold does not guarantee money. Your application has to outrank other good projects.
14%
of Horizon Europe proposals from 2021 to 2025 were selected for funding
~70%
of Horizon Europe proposals above the quality threshold were not funded
61 of 923
full EIC Accelerator applications were selected at the October 2025 cut-off
21.7%
average Eurostars-3 success rate across its first eight calls
EIC Accelerator, October 2025 cut-off
Source: European Innovation Council (applications (opens in a new tab), results (opens in a new tab))
What do evaluators score?
Horizon Europe and the EIC Accelerator score each criterion out of 5. Standard Horizon Europe calls require at least 3 per criterion and 10 of 15 overall. The EIC Accelerator asks for 4 per criterion and 13 overall before a jury interview.
There is also an attempt limit. After three rejections at any stage, a company cannot apply to the EIC Accelerator again until Horizon Europe ends in 2027.
That is why we check fit before writing and review every draft against the scoring criteria before it is filed.
Which grants have we helped secure?
A selection from more than 60 projects we have delivered across German and EU programmes. Practical examples based on real projects: anonymised, figures rounded.
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EIC Accelerator · MedTech diagnostics
€2.4M
grant part
Read the storyKey to the application: a clear, evidence-backed case for both the innovation and the market.
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EU Innovation Fund · Industrial decarbonisation
€15M
grant on the additional cost
Read the storyKey to the application: a well-evidenced calculation of the extra cost and the emissions avoided.
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Horizon Europe · Digital & AI consortium
€1.5M
company's funded share
Read the storyKey to the application: a fitting call and a credible, well-scoped role in a strong consortium.
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Eurostars 3 · Biotech
€460k
partner's funded share
Read the storyKey to the application: partner roles and the budget split planned early, so each partner's national funding fits.
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KMU-innovativ · Medical technology
€700k
non-repayable grant
Read the storyKey to the application: a short outline first, with the full application prepared only after a positive assessment.
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Research Allowance · Climate-tech
€75k
certified after appeal
Read the storyKey to the application: the case was re-argued along the three BSFZ criteria and certified on objection.
What founders say about working with us
They turned our browser-based simulation work into a fundable application, and stayed persistent all the way to approval.
A great application for our AI research, approved in record time, with refreshingly down-to-earth advice.
(opens in a new tab)
Prepared clearly despite the bureaucracy, and the full amount was paid out.
Which EU and German programmes do we write for?
Our grant writing services cover twelve German and EU programmes. Pick one to see what it funds, what we prepare and when you can apply.
Europe
EIC Accelerator
Single company · deep tech- Best for
- Startups and SMEs scaling deep tech on their own, no consortium needed.
- Funding
- Grant under €2.5M at up to 70% of eligible costs, plus €1M to €10M equity from the EIC Fund.
- What we prepare
- Short proposal, pitch deck and video, then the full proposal with implementation plan, lump-sum budget, financial plan, freedom-to-operate analysis and letters of intent, and finally jury preparation.
- When to apply
- Short proposals any time. Full proposals at fixed cut-offs, six in 2026.
- Good to know
- Submit the short proposal at least ten weeks before the cut-off you want.
Horizon Europe
Consortium · research and innovation- Best for
- Consortia of at least three independent partners from three EU Member States or associated countries, with at least one in a Member State, working to a call topic.
- Funding
- 100% of eligible costs for research and innovation actions, 70% for companies in innovation actions, plus a 25% flat rate for indirect costs.
- What we prepare
- Call and action-type selection, the technical and impact case, work packages and budget, the consortium paperwork and, once funded, the reporting.
- When to apply
- Fixed deadlines per call topic, in single-stage or two-stage calls.
- Good to know
- Our help is worth most at call selection, before the work plan is fixed.
Eurostars 3
SME-led · cross-border- Best for
- R&D-performing SMEs leading a project with at least one partner in another Eurostars country.
- Funding
- In Germany, up to 50% for SMEs, capped at €500,000 for all German partners per project. Other countries set their own rates.
- What we prepare
- The joint international proposal, the budget split across partner countries and the German national application to DLR-PT.
- When to apply
- Two cut-offs a year. Call 12 closes on 4 March 2027.
- Good to know
- Your team spends six to twelve hours. We prepare both application stages.
EU Innovation Fund
Clean tech · first of a kind- Best for
- First-of-a-kind clean-tech projects in industry, renewables, storage, hydrogen and clean-tech manufacturing.
- Funding
- Up to 60% of relevant costs, usually capital and operating costs minus operating revenues over the first ten years of operation.
- What we prepare
- The technical case, GHG avoidance calculation, cost model, feasibility study, business plan and financial model.
- When to apply
- An annual Net-Zero Technologies call, plus hydrogen and industrial heat auctions.
- Good to know
- Start about six months before the deadline.
Germany
KMU-innovativ
German SMEs · high-risk research- Best for
- German SMEs doing high-risk research in set technology fields.
- Funding
- Usually 50% of eligible costs, up to 70% for small companies doing industrial research, as a non-repayable grant.
- What we prepare
- A project outline of up to ten pages, then, after a positive vote, the full application in easy-Online with cost and work plan.
- When to apply
- Two deadlines a year: 15 April and 15 October.
ZIM
German SMEs · market-oriented R&D- Best for
- German SMEs developing new products or processes, alone or with a research partner.
- Funding
- 25 to 45% of eligible costs for single projects, up to 55% in cooperation.
- What we prepare
- The technical and economic parts of the application, set up as a single or cooperation project.
- When to apply
- Paused since 7 July 2026, with reopening targeted for early 2027. We prepare applications now so they are ready to file.
EXIST
University spin-offs- Best for
- Founders from universities and research institutions, before the company is formed.
- Funding
- A founder stipend of up to €3,000 a month per founder, or research transfer funding for staff and material costs.
- What we prepare
- The idea paper, work plan and expenditure plan, prepared with your university's start-up service.
- When to apply
- Founder stipend any time. Research transfer Phase I at three cut-offs a year.
Research Allowance (Forschungszulage)
Tax credit, not a grant- Best for
- Any company taxable in Germany with R&D projects. No competitive selection.
- Funding
- 25 to 35% of eligible R&D costs, paid even in loss-making years.
- What we prepare
- The BSFZ application to certification standard, then the claim to the tax office.
- When to apply
- Any time, for open financial years back to 2022. Claims for 2022 expire on 31 December 2026.
- Our fee
- Purely success-based: 10% up to €500k per year, 5% above, invoiced after payout.
Also covered:
Figures are indicative and depend on company size, region, project and call.
See which programme fits before anyone writes a word
Tell us about your project and your target deadline. A funding advisor reviews it by hand, then comes back with feedback or a few follow-up questions. No obligation.
- Which programme and call fit your project
- A first read on the funding amount
- What to prepare before the deadline
How does our grant writing process work?
Our grant writing services run in five steps, from the first call to the payout. You explain the work, we turn it into an application and carry the process, and nothing is filed in your name without your approval.
Your team's time, agreed upfront
In the first call we estimate how many hours your team should set aside. For the Research Allowance and Eurostars that is typically six to twelve hours. Larger EU programmes need more, and we tell you before you start.
Start early
EIC Accelerator short proposals take four to six weeks to assess, so submit at least ten weeks before your target cut-off. For the EU Innovation Fund, start about six months ahead. Competitive EU grants usually take six to twelve months to a decision.
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Week 1 · free
Fit check
We test your project against the programme criteria, pick the call and give you a realistic funding figure before you commit time. If the odds are poor, you hear it here.
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Before writing
Strategy and outline
We map your project to the evaluation criteria and agree the storyline, work packages and budget logic with you. Where a consortium is needed, we plan the partner roles.
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Interviews and drafts
Writing
A few short interviews with your technical leads give us the substance. We write the proposal, budget and annexes, and you review drafts instead of writing them.
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Before the deadline
Review and submission
Every draft is checked against the call's scoring criteria and formal rules before filing. We submit through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal or the national system in your name and handle queries until the decision.
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After submission
Interview, award and reporting
Where the programme holds interviews, we rehearse them with you. Once funded, we support the grant agreement and prepare the reporting that releases each payment.
What makes BeFunded different from other grant writing consultants?
Before BeFunded, we worked through Europe's funding programmes on the client side, for companies we built ourselves. Today a team of technical founders and funding specialists leads every application, from the first fit check to the final report.
1:1
Written for your project
Technical argumentation written for your project, never a template. We name the state of the art, the open questions and how the work could fail, because that is what reviewers test.
DE+EU
Germany and the EU in one pass
We check your project against German and EU programmes together, plan how they combine and make sure the same costs are never claimed twice.
Fit
Straight answers on fit
If a programme is the wrong instrument, we say so before you spend months on it. We would rather drop a weak project than let it drag down a strong application.
A→Z
End to end, authorities included
From the first fit check to the last report, we deal with the funding bodies for you, from the BSFZ to the EU programme offices.
AI
AI-assisted, human-signed
Our own platform, GrantBite, speeds up programme research and checks drafts against the call text. A consultant writes the argument and signs off every section.
€
Fee and effort agreed upfront
You know the fee structure and the hours your team needs before we start. For the Research Allowance, you pay nothing unless the allowance is paid out.
96%
approval rate on Research Allowance applications
€42M
Research Allowance secured for clients
60+
certified projects
BeFunded compared with the alternatives
| BeFunded | Typical consultancy | Writing it in-house | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Programme choice | Matched across twelve German and EU programmes | One or two programmes, rarely questioned | Your own research |
| Technical case | We write it from short interviews with your team | You often draft much of it yourself | Your engineers, on top of their day jobs |
| Funding bodies | We handle them, from the BSFZ to EU programme offices | You often submit and manage it yourself | Every form and deadline is yours |
| After submission | Interview preparation, grant agreement and reporting | Support usually ends at submission | No safeguard if questions come |
| Fee | Agreed upfront: fixed share plus success component. Research Allowance: success-only | Often a fixed fee, due regardless of outcome | Looks free, but ties up your team |
BeFunded
- Programme choice
- Matched across twelve German and EU programmes
- Technical case
- We write it from short interviews with your team
- Funding bodies
- We handle them, from the BSFZ to EU programme offices
- After submission
- Interview preparation, grant agreement and reporting
- Fee
- Agreed upfront: fixed share plus success component. Research Allowance: success-only
Typical consultancy
- Programme choice
- One or two programmes, rarely questioned
- Technical case
- You often draft much of it yourself
- Funding bodies
- You often submit and manage it yourself
- After submission
- Support usually ends at submission
- Fee
- Often a fixed fee, due regardless of outcome
Writing it in-house
- Programme choice
- Your own research
- Technical case
- Your engineers, on top of their day jobs
- Funding bodies
- Every form and deadline is yours
- After submission
- No safeguard if questions come
- Fee
- Looks free, but ties up your team
If your team is developing something genuinely new, you should be able to claim what you are owed without it becoming a second job.
Kirill & Aydan, co-founders
How do we use AI in grant writing?
We built GrantBite, an AI funding platform, to take the slow research out of grant work. It searches thousands of verified programmes and includes an AI Grant Writer with four modes: Plan, Write, Review and Ask.
- Plan An outline built from the programme rules
- Write Drafting with your project context
- Review A compliance and gap check against the call
- Ask Answers from the guidelines and your documents
In our own work, GrantBite helps match projects to calls, answers questions on long guideline documents and flags gaps against the call text. Your consultant still writes the argument, checks every figure and signs off each section.
Prefer to draft in-house? Your team can use GrantBite directly and bring us in to review the application before you submit.
GrantBite is operated by Wheels & Wings Lab GmbH, the company behind BeFunded.
How much do grant writing services cost?
There is no fixed price list, because no two applications need the same work. We quote per project once we know the programme and the support you need, and the fee is agreed before work starts.
Grants and EU programmes
A fixed share plus a success component, both agreed in advance. You know the full cost structure before we write a word.
Research Allowance
Purely success-based: 10% of the funding up to €500k per year and 5% above that, invoiced only after payout. No approval, no fee.
What shapes your quote
The programme and how many stages it has
How much we write and how much we review
Consortium size and the number of partner budgets
Annexes such as financial models or GHG calculations
Time left until the deadline
The first call and the funding assessment are free.
Grant writing questions, answered
Last updated: October 2026
Grant writing services prepare a funding application for you: choosing the programme, writing the technical and impact case, building the budget and annexes, and submitting on time. At BeFunded, the service runs from the first fit check to post-award reporting.
A grant writer turns your project into the format evaluators score: call fit, objectives, work packages, impact, risks and budget. For the EIC Accelerator, that also means the pitch deck, video and preparation for the jury interview.
It depends on the programme and the support you need. At BeFunded, grant applications are quoted as a fixed share plus a success component, agreed in advance. The Research Allowance is purely success-based: 10% up to €500k per year, 5% above.
At EU level: the EIC Accelerator, Horizon Europe, Eurostars 3 and the EU Innovation Fund. In Germany: KMU-innovativ, ZIM, EXIST, GRW, WIPANO, BAFA EEW, KfW innovation loans and the Research Allowance. If another programme suits you better, we say so.
We estimate it in the first call and agree it upfront. For the Research Allowance and Eurostars it is typically six to twelve hours. Larger EU programmes such as the EIC Accelerator or Horizon Europe need more.
EIC Accelerator short proposals take four to six weeks to assess, so submit it at least ten weeks before your target cut-off. For the EU Innovation Fund, start about six months ahead. Competitive EU grants usually take six to twelve months to a decision.
AI can draft text, but it cannot judge which claims an evaluator will believe. We use our own platform, GrantBite, for programme research, guideline questions and gap checks. A consultant writes the argument and signs off every section.
A rejection is rarely the end. The evaluation usually names the reason, many programmes allow a new submission in a later round, and sometimes another programme fits better. For grants, the fixed share agreed in advance applies; for the Research Allowance, you pay nothing.
Yes. We support startups and SMEs across Europe on EU programmes such as the EIC Accelerator, Horizon Europe, Eurostars and the EU Innovation Fund. German national programmes are open to companies based or taxable in Germany.
Yes. Your details stay private and are never shared, and project data is processed and stored in the EU. Nothing is submitted in your name until you have approved it.
Further reading
Programme guides
From the blog
- EIC Accelerator 2026: Grant, Equity, Cut-off Dates and How to Apply
- Horizon Europe Grants: What Your Company Pays, Receives and When
- TRL Levels Explained: What Each Technology Readiness Level Means for EU Grants
- EU Funding Guide: How the Main Programmes Fit Together
- Eureka Eurostars: How SME-Led Cross-Border Consortia Get Funded
Tell us about your next grant application
Share the programme, the deadline and a few lines on the project. We will assess your case by hand and tell you whether it is worth writing. No prep, no obligation.