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Mid-level read — 5 sections

Founding with a Migration Background

Use opportunities, know the hurdles

One in five businesses founded in Germany is by people with a migration background – this trend has persisted even through the crises of recent years. The desire for self-employment is also particularly high: 31% compared to 23% in the general population [1]. People with a migration background are therefore an important pillar of Germany's start-up landscape. However, there are also particular challenges. We'll show you how to prepare well!

April 21, 2026

Contents

1. Addressing structural barriers & discrimination

Many founders with a migration background report discrimination at government agencies, banks and in networks. According to the "Migrant Founders Monitor 2025", only 55% of founders rate social openness positively [2].

Recommendations for dealing with this:

  • Platforms such as the IQ specialist unit for migrant economy offer advice in various languages and are trained in dealing with discrimination [3]
  • Use multilingual guides such as "Simply start up in Germany", with step-by-step information and link tips [4]

2. Strengthening social capital – networks open up opportunities

Networks are crucial – especially beyond your own community. Supportive structures include:

  • IQ network & specialist unit for migrant economy: Multilingual consultations, business workbooks and consultation hours at various locations in Germany [5]
  • Perspektive: Selbständigkeit (Brandenburg): Placement at free advice centres, networking and initial consultations in several languages [6]
  • Projects such as 2Hearts [7] and Migrapreneur [8] support migrants in the tech sector on an industry-specific basis

3. Securing financing

Stable financing is important for your successful start. You have access to the same funding opportunities as other founders – and beyond:

General start-up funding via employment agency / job centre

  • Advice on starting a business, funding opportunities and residence permits directly on site. The IQ network [5] also provides free support here [9].

The federal government and federal states provide founders with:

  • Interest-subsidised development loans
  • Guarantees
  • Equity capital
  • Non-repayable grants

Mikrokreditfonds Deutschland ("My microcredit")

  • Specifically for founders without bank credit: Loans of up to €25,000 possible, primarily for micro-enterprises, many of which are run by migrants [11].

4. Opportunities for further support

StepWhat you can do immediately
1. Motivate yourselfName your strengths!
2. Inform yourselfUse the start-up portal, IQ network, regional centres
3. Seek out communitiesWirtschaftspaten, "Migrantinnen gründen", SWANS
4. Use tailored fundingESF+, IQ programme, bga (for women)
5. Expand visibility & networkStorytelling, events, collaborations

1. Motivate yourself

  • Be aware: You are part of a highly innovation-oriented group – almost 20% of founders in Germany have a migration background. Your start-ups are particularly growth-hungry, innovative and internationally oriented [2].
  • At the same time, there are challenges: financing barriers, lack of networks and bureaucracy are among the most common stumbling blocks.
  • According to the "Migrant Founders Monitor 2025", migrant founders see their strengths particularly often in their resilience (57% vs. 51%) and willingness to take risks (44% vs. 36%) – both core criteria for successful entrepreneurship.

2. Inform yourself

  • Specifically look for advice centres for migrants, for example via the start-up portal or the "Wir gründen in Deutschland" portal of the IQ network [12].
  • Use regional services such as the Existenzgründerzentrum EGZ Leipzig or Perspektive: Selbständigkeit (Brandenburg), which provide multilingual support – with business plans, administrative matters and workshops with native language support.

3. Seek out communities

  • Network with other migrant founders – for example through programmes such as "Wirtschaftspaten – Migranten werden Unternehmer", which offers free seminars and up to 20 coaching hours [13]
  • Special mentoring initiatives such as "Migrantinnen gründen" offer personal support, workshops and network building [14].
  • Get involved in programmes such as the SWANS Initiative, which supports academics with a migration background and women of color – through training, networking events and role model blogs [15].

4. Use tailored funding

  • Use the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), which supports projects for social integration and professional development – including start-ups [16].
  • Consider the IQ programme ("Integration durch Qualifizierung") if recognition of foreign qualifications, further training or qualification are relevant. Get advice from the Wir gründen in Deutschland [5] programme.
  • Specific funding offers for women with a migration background are provided by the Bundesweite Gründerinnenagentur [17].

5. Promote visibility & growth

  • Show presence: Network, share your story, use media and events – especially as a migrant founder, you are part of an important success story.
  • Continuously foster your network, seek participation in founder events and collaborations – and grow beyond your community.

5. Contact points at a glance

Institution / ProgrammeService
IQ network / specialist unit for migrant economy [18]Advice, business workbooks, consultation hours
Make it in Germany [4]Multilingual information on starting a business and recognition of foreign qualifications
Employment agency / job centre [9]Advice on starting a business, legal situation, funding
Perspektive: Selbständigkeit [6]Free initial consultations, placement at advice centres, networking
Mikrokreditfonds "My microcredit" [11]Access to microfinancing up to €25,000
Local chamber of commerce and industry [19]Advice for professionals from abroad
Migrantinnen gründen [14]Mentoring, workshops and network building for female founders
SWANS Initiative [15]Support for academics with a migration background

Sources

  1. [1]KfW – Migrant Gründungen
  2. [2]Startupverband – Migrant Founders Monitor
  3. [3]Wir-gruenden-in-deutschland.de – Website
  4. [4]Make it in Germany – Existenzgründung
  5. [5]Wir-gruenden-in-deutschland.de – Beratungsstellen Finder
  6. [6]Perspektive-selbststaendigkeit.de – Website
  7. [7]2Hearts – Website
  8. [8]Migrapreneur – Website
  9. [9]Bundesagentur für Arbeit – Existenzgründung
  10. [10]Integrationsbeauftragte – Selbstständige Perspektiven
  11. [11]BMWK – Mikrokreditfonds
  12. [12]Make it in Germany – Existenzgründung
  13. [13]Wirtschaftspaten.de – Von Der Idee Zum
  14. [14]Migrantinnen gründen – Projekt
  15. [15]Swans-initiative.de – Unsere Foerderung
  16. [16]Esf.de – Inhalt
  17. [17](bga) – Website
  18. [18]IQ network / specialist unit for migrant economy – Website
  19. [19]Local chamber of commerce and industry – Business Welcome Service 2253160

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