Application Guide

Step by step

How to apply for the Berlin Startup Scholarship

The sixth round (BSS VI) starts on 1 November 2026. Here is the whole route: every date, every document and a checklist that thinks along with you.

Timeline BSS VI

From the call to the programme start

1. 01

   Thu, 18.06.2026

   Call published

   The call goes online, which opens the application phase for BSS VI. The two online info sessions took place on 21.07. and 20.08.2026.

2. 02

   Sun, 13.09.2026 · 23:59

   Application deadline

   Your complete application has to be submitted by this date: idea paper, milestone plan and all personal documents. What exactly belongs to it is listed below.

3. 03

   Mon, 21.09.2026

   Pre-selection of the top 20

   The 20 strongest teams are picked from all applications. Every team is notified on Wednesday, 23.09.2026.

4. 04

   29./30.09.2026

   Selection pitch

   The pre-selected teams pitch in front of the jury. The final decision is made on 01.10.2026.

5. 05

   01. to 20.10.2026

   Signing the contracts

   The selected teams sign their contracts. By the funding commitment at the latest, every team member needs a registered address in Berlin.

6. 06

   Sun, 01.11.2026

   Programme start

   Here we go, onboarding follows on Monday, 02.11.2026. From then on: 2,500 € gross per person and month, working on site in the SIB co-working space. The closing pitch of the round is scheduled for 20.04.2027.

The documents

What a good application contains

The application form takes you through six phases, and that is how your application is built:

1. 01

   Founding team

   Team name and number of founders: 1 to 4 people, at least 51 % of them identifying as female, diverse or non-binary. This holds even if you apply on your own.

2. 02

   Personal details

   For each team member: name, e-mail, phone number and the registered address in Berlin.

3. 03

   University & degree

   University, course of study and year of graduation per member. A degree is preferred, but not a must.

4. 04

   Personal documents

   Per person as PDF: CV, university certificate and registration certificate.

5. 05

   Idea & concept

   The heart of it: idea paper (max. 8 pages), milestone plan for the scholarship period, a pitch deck and a prototype (demo or click-dummy to test).

6. 06

   Founding status & formalities

   Details on your founding status and the digital signature. Important: the company must not be active on the market yet.

Let it think along

Your application checklist

Tick off what is done. The state stays in your browser, nothing is transmitted.

Read on

Go deeper

• FAQ

  Frequently asked questions

  Requirements, funding, how the programme runs: the questions we are asked most often.

• Programme

  To the BSS programme page

  Every detail on the funding, the self-check and the application, straight from the source.