AVGS Coaching Brochure — Download
All key information on AVGS founder coaching summarized in one document — for printing or for your meeting with your case worker.
Table of Contents
The AVGS (Aktivierungs- und Vermittlungsgutschein — German Activation and Mediation Voucher) is the entry point into self-employment for many founders in the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. As Germany's second-largest city with nearly 2 million inhabitants, Hamburg offers a diverse founder scene — from port logistics and aviation suppliers to media start-ups. With the AVGS, you can receive your founder coaching completely free of charge.
1. What is an AVGS and who is eligible?
The AVGS pursuant to § 45 SGB III (German Social Code, Book III) is a funding instrument of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit (German Federal Employment Agency). It allows you to receive professional founder coaching with 100% of the costs covered.
Eligibility for the AVGS
- ALG I: You currently receive ALG I (German unemployment insurance benefit), or
- Bürgergeld: You receive Bürgergeld (German basic welfare, formerly ALG II / Hartz IV)
- Intent to found: You plan to enter full-time self-employment
- Remaining entitlement: You still have sufficient remaining entitlement to benefits
- Suitability: You are personally and professionally suited for self-employment
Important: No legal entitlement
The AVGS is a discretionary benefit — you have no automatic right to it. The decision lies with your case worker. A convincing founder concept and professional preparation significantly increase your chances.
2. AVGS in Hamburg — where to apply
Depending on which benefit you receive, a different authority is responsible for your AVGS application:
| Your situation | Responsible authority | Address |
|---|---|---|
| ALG I | Agentur für Arbeit Hamburg | Kurt-Schumacher-Allee 16, 20097 Hamburg Phone: 0800 4 55 55 00 |
| Bürgergeld | Jobcenter team.arbeit.hamburg | Raboisen 28, 20095 Hamburg Phone: 040 2485-1444 |
Good to know: More than a dozen locations
The Jobcenter team.arbeit.hamburg operates more than 12 locations across all city districts — Altona, Harburg, Bergedorf, Wandsbek, Barmbek, Mitte, Nord and others. The location responsible for you is determined by your place of residence.
The path to the AVGS — step by step
Step 1: Meeting with your case worker
Day 1Inform your case worker about your intent to found a business and request a consultation about the AVGS.
Step 2: Prepare your founder concept
Weeks 1-2Prepare a short summary of your business idea (1-2 pages is sufficient).
Step 3: Select a coach
Week 2Choose an AZAV-certified coaching provider (we cooperate with certified carrier providers).
Step 4: Apply for the AVGS
Weeks 2-3Submit the application to your case worker together with the provider's measure description (Maßnahmenbeschreibung).
Step 5: Start coaching
After approvalOnce approved, coaching can start immediately — with us also fully online.
3. What happens during the coaching?
AVGS founder coaching is not a theoretical training course — it is intensive 1:1 support on your way into self-employment.
Typical coaching content
- Business model: sharpening your idea, target group, unique selling proposition
- Market analysis: competitors, market potential, positioning in the Hamburg metropolitan region
- Financial plan: capital requirements, revenue forecast, liquidity planning
- Business plan: bank-ready documentation for funding applications
- Administrative steps: trade registration, Handelskammer Hamburg (Hamburg Chamber of Commerce) / Handwerkskammer, tax office
- Funding: Gründungszuschuss (German start-up grant), BAFA, IFB Hamburg (InnoFounder, InnoRampUp)
Number of hours
A typical AVGS founder coaching consists of 80-120 coaching units spread over several weeks to months. The exact duration depends on your individual needs.
4. Which training provider is responsible in Hamburg?
The AVGS can only be redeemed with an AZAV-certified training provider (AZAV is the German accreditation framework for training providers). Business Start EU cooperates with certified carrier providers who meet the formal requirements — while we, as your coach, take care of the actual content work.
Our model
We ourselves are not AZAV-certified; instead, we cooperate with established carrier providers (e.g. Starthilfe Bildungswerk). The result for you is identical: professional coaching, 100% free of charge via the AVGS — but with the BAFA quality standard that we bring as a listed consultant.
5. Hamburg's funding landscape — universities and contact points
Hamburg offers a dynamic founder scene. As a founder, you benefit from:
Universities and incubators
| Institution | Founder program |
|---|---|
| Startup Port (formerly beyourpilot) | Network of 10 universities in the metropolitan region, incubation center at the Harburg Binnenhafen |
| TU Hamburg (TUHH) | Startup Port @TUHH — focus on engineering and technical sciences |
| HAW Hamburg | Dedicated GründungsService with Startup Port connection |
| Universität Hamburg | ~45,000 students, various entrepreneurship programs |
Networks and contact points
- Startup City Hamburg — the city's official start-up platform
- Hamburg Invest — economic development agency, Wexstraße 7, Phone: 040 227019-0
- Handelskammer Hamburg — Adolphsplatz 1, founder consultation: 040 36138-433 (note: Hamburg has a Handelskammer, not an IHK!)
- Handwerkskammer Hamburg (Hamburg Chamber of Skilled Crafts) — Holstenwall 12, business consultation: 040 35905-361
- IFB Innovationsstarter — InnoFounder (€2,500/month) and InnoRampUp (up to €150,000)
6. Common mistakes when applying for the AVGS
The most common reasons for problems with the AVGS application:
- Applying too early: without a clear founder concept, the funding does not appear effective
- No coach selected: without a concrete provider/coach, the case worker cannot process the application
- Weak concept: if the viability of the idea appears doubtful
- Poor communication: if the case worker does not see the benefit for your re-integration
Our advice
Come to us before you apply for the AVGS. We help you with the preparation and ensure your application meets all success criteria.
7. How we support you in Hamburg
Business Start EU (BAFA No. 205985) successfully supports founders from Hamburg and the metropolitan region — online, with flexible scheduling and the quality standard you can expect from a BAFA-listed consultant.
Our approach
- Free initial consultation: we clarify your situation, funding options and next steps
- AVGS preparation: we help you present your business idea to the case worker
- Provider matching: we connect you with a suitable AZAV-certified provider
- Coaching: intensive 1:1 support by our experienced coaches
- Follow-up perspective: Gründungszuschuss, BAFA funding, bank meeting (e.g. with Haspa)
What a BAFA-listed coach brings to the table
As BAFA-listed consultants (No. 205985), we meet strict quality criteria. Over 200 business plans, €55+ million in financing volume for our clients, zero rejections due to quality issues — that is our track record.