IFB Innovationsstarter

IFB Innovationsstarter GmbH, established in 2013 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Hamburgische Investitions- und Förderbank (IFB Hamburg), serves as a crucial innovation funding and investment entity for the City of Hamburg. Its primary mission is to bolster the local startup ecosystem by providing financial support and strategic guidance to innovative companies. Operating from Hamburg, Germany, the firm plays a pivotal role in fostering economic growth and technological advancement within the region, acting as a bridge between promising ideas and the capital needed for their development.

The firm manages distinct funding programs tailored to different stages of a company's lifecycle. One such program is InnoRampUp, designed to support early-stage and seed companies with innovative business models. This program primarily offers grants, providing essential non-dilutive capital to help nascent ventures validate their concepts and achieve initial milestones. Through InnoRampUp, eligible companies can secure funding of up to 150,000 Euros, enabling them to accelerate their product development and market entry efforts without immediate equity dilution.

For more mature, growth-stage companies demonstrating high potential, IFB Innovationsstarter offers the InnoGrowth program. This initiative focuses on direct investments, typically structured as silent partnerships or convertible loans, rather than traditional equity stakes. The InnoGrowth program is designed to provide substantial capital injections to help companies scale their operations, expand into new markets, and further develop their products or services. Under this program, the firm can invest up to 1,000,000 Euros, making it a significant source of growth capital for Hamburg's most promising innovative enterprises.

Collectively, IFB Innovationsstarter GmbH's programs are instrumental in nurturing a vibrant innovation landscape in Hamburg. By offering a blend of grants and strategic investments, the firm addresses critical funding gaps often faced by startups and scale-ups. Its commitment to supporting local innovation underscores Hamburg's dedication to becoming a leading hub for technology and entrepreneurship, contributing significantly to job creation and economic diversification within the city.