Up to €4.2 million in annual funding for your company — including retroactively
Trusted by leading startups and SMEs
What is the Forschungszulage?
The Forschungszulage is a tax-based R&D funding program in Germany. You can get up to 35% of your daily work funded retroactively — up to 4 years back and a maximum of €4.2 million per year.
No basic research needed.
You don't need to do basic research. Software development, product improvements, and process optimization all count.
Legal entitlement.
You have a legal entitlement. If your project meets the criteria, it must be funded — regardless of the budget situation.
What you get with our consulting
We find funding potential you didn't know you had — especially for SMEs
Watertight documentation that holds up to tax office scrutiny
Under 5 hours of your CTO's time — we write, you provide input
40+ companies successfully guided
Find out how we work and what sets us apart
We are technical ourselves and understand your projects.
In just 4 calls, we guide you to your Forschungszulage.
Learn more about usWhy most companies leave money on the table
Funding missed without knowing it.
Most companies don't fully utilize their entitlement. Often only individual projects are filed — instead of all eligible work across multiple years.
Your CTO has better things to do.
Innovation leaders already have GDPR, roadmap, and team management on their plate. Application documentation shouldn't be on their list.
"We don't do research."
You probably do — in the legal sense. You don't need a lab. Software development, new algorithms, technical feasibility studies — it all counts. Most companies underestimate how much of their daily work is eligible.
"Too much bureaucracy for too little money."
That's what most think — and never apply. In reality, it takes under 5 hours of your time. We handle the rest. At an average of €300k in funding, that's the highest hourly rate your CTO will ever earn.
These are the typical objections — and exactly why we exist: Personal consulting from a founder who understands your product technically — backed by our own software that makes every application watertight.
From first call to payout in 4 calls
Under 5 hours of your time. We write, you just provide input. You talk to someone who understands the tech and knows exactly how applications pass at the certification body and tax office.
Initial call
We check if you qualify and identify eligible projects.
Project description
We interview you and write the entire application documentation.
Submission
We submit to BSFZ and the tax office — you don't have to do anything.
Payout
The funding lands in your account. Only then do you pay us.
Why is the Forschungszulage such a good funding option?
Compared to traditional grant programs, the Forschungszulage is the better choice for most companies.
Legal entitlement
No competition for budgets — if criteria are met, funding is guaranteed.
Up to 4 years retroactive
Even completed projects can still be funded.
Industry-neutral
Software, engineering, MedTech, construction — R&D is R&D, regardless of industry.
No profit needed
No tax liability required — the credit is paid out as a refund.
Less bureaucracy
No project plan upfront, no interim reports, no proof of use.
Fully digital
Application via BSFZ portal and ELSTER — no paper, no postal mail.
Thematically open
No rigid topic catalog — product development, process innovation, it all counts.
Broad cost base
Personnel costs, contract research, and fixed assets are eligible.
Examples of funded projects
voize
W22
AI-powered voice documentation for nursing care. €314,825 in Forschungszulage for advancing their AI models.
Read case studyConsulting, backed by our own software
No spreadsheet chaos, no forgotten steps. We built our own software from all our applications, so that every submission is successful and watertight.
Watertight applications
Our software checks every application against hundreds of successful cases. Every formulation, every criterion — nothing gets overlooked.
"Company in difficulty" — automatically checked
Our software checks against commercial register data whether your company qualifies as a "company in difficulty" — before it becomes a problem.
Digital timesheets
Import from Personio & Co., digital signature with one click, automatic email to employees. No manual follow-up.
100% German servers
All data stays in Germany. GDPR compliant. Employee data never leaves the EU.
Customer testimonials
“Erich secured €350k per year in funding, exceeding our expectations by +€75k per year.”
“Erich supported us very well and we could focus on our product. Extremely efficient in just 4 calls.”
“Super fast and efficient support with the Forschungszulage. The process was completed in just 4 calls.”
100% success-based — zero risk for you
Let's figure out how much funding you're entitled to
Free initial call with Erich Lehmann — founder, Y Combinator alumnus, and expert on the Forschungszulage.