While in our previous article we presented funding opportunities for more experienced SMEs, in this article we will address entrepreneurs with business ideas that require funding.

We continue the series of good news with Start-Up Nation, a non-reimbursable funding program launching this week, on June 15th. Early-stage entrepreneurs can find real support in this program.

In the following, we will discuss the necessity and objectives of the program, as well as eligibility, deadlines, and the amounts offered.

What is Start-Up Nation?

Start-Up Nation is a state budget funding program designed to support newly established SMEs.

The program offers 200,000 lei (the maximum amount that can be granted) to those who have an idea and want to start a business.

The great advantage of this program is that the non-reimbursable funding covers 100% of the value of eligible expenses. Unlike other funding schemes, the entrepreneur does not have to cover any part of the costs.

The government aims to establish 10,000 new companies and 15,000 – 20,000 jobs through this program.
Start-Up Nation 2017 aims to increase the number of businesses and revitalize the economic environment, increase the number of employees, and reduce the number of unemployed people.

During an event, the Secretary of State within the Ministry for Business Environment, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship, Ilan Laufer, answered questions from those directly interested and gave a presentation of the program:

 

Who can apply?

There are two essential conditions that must be met to access the budget funds: a job must be secured (specifically a position, the employee can be changed) for 24 months, and the applying company must have been established after January 30, 2017.

To benefit from the non-reimbursable funding program, applicants must meet a series of criteria:

  • Companies must be SRL-D or SRL types;
  • Businesses must create at least 1 job and maintain it for a period of at least 2 years after project implementation;
  • Startups must have the CAEN code authorized at the ONRC at the time of submitting the first drawdown request;
  • Businesses must be established after the entry into force of GEO 10/30.01.2017;
  • Businesses must not have debts to the general consolidated budget and local budgets.

The Ministry for Business Environment, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship has even designed a business plan for those who wish to enroll in the program.

The proposed plan can be consulted in Annex 1 of the Start-Up Nation De Minimis Aid Scheme.

Eligible CAEN codes within the Start-Up Nation program

Funds can be accessed by companies operating in fields such as IT, production (manufacturing industry), creative industries, services, trade, and more.

The list of eligible CAEN codes published by the ministry is generous, and there is a high chance that your business idea is listed there. Here you can consult the 19 pages of the list found in Annex 13.

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When can you apply?

According to the Ministry’s announcement, starting from June 15, 2017, at 10:00 AM, the registration application for the Start-Up Nation de minimis aid scheme will become active on the aippimm.ro website.

În vederea înscrierii în cadrul Programului, operatorii economici vor completa şi transmite on-line planul de afaceri începând cu 15.06.2017 ora 10.00, timp de 30 zile calendaristice de la demararea înscrierii în program, până la ora 20.00 a ultimei zile de înscriere, respectiv 14.07.2017, cu posibilitatea de prelungire a termenului până la epuizarea bugetului.

Are you ready to start your own business?

The decision to implement a business idea stirs emotions in any enthusiastic entrepreneur. To reduce the emotions regarding the possibility of failure, we recommend testing the idea and starting out with a business plan.

This way, you ensure that you have minimized the risks and identified all the opportunities in the market.

Start-Up Expertise

Start-ups are not foreign to us, as evidenced by our client portfolio who have launched their businesses with us.

At MKOR, we have gone through this complex process several times – enough to believe that we can do this so well that we can help you outline your marketing and business strategy, as well as the ways in which you will make it a successful project.

If you want to start off one step ahead or if you have questions about how you can more effectively exploit the opportunities of a start-up, leave us a message, and our experienced specialists will respond to you immediately.