KfW reports surge in demand for ERP startup loans

KfW has reported a significant increase in demand for its ERP startup loan program, known as ‘StartGeld’, during the first half of 2026. Between January and June, the development bank issued approximately 2,320 approvals, representing a 34 percent increase compared to the same period in the previous year.

The total committed funding volume rose by 75 percent to 225 million euros. The program supports new business founders, freelancers, and young companies that have been active in the market for no more than five years. It also facilitates business successions and the expansion of existing young enterprises.

To facilitate lending, KfW assumes 80 percent of the credit risk, which assists commercial banks in the lending process. The maximum loan amount for the program was recently increased from 125,000 euros to 200,000 euros.