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The AVGS (Aktivierungs- und Vermittlungsgutschein — German Activation and Mediation Voucher) is the entry point into self-employment for many founders in the Lichtstadt and university city of Jena. As the location of Germany's largest center of the Optical Valley, with a tradition-rich university and a growing optics technology cluster, Jena offers unique conditions — and with the AVGS, you can receive your founder coaching completely free of charge.
Jena: optics economy meets founder spirit
Jena's start-up scene is strongly shaped by the optics future cluster Beutenberg Campus (OTC) with the Digital Ocean Lab and the International Photonics Innovation Accelerator — as well as by the health economy cluster OptoNet — Photonics Cluster Thuringia. If you found a business here, you can combine the AVGS coaching with the university structures of the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena (FSU) (Center for Entrepreneurship, founder spaces) in a targeted way. At the same time, the AVGS coaching market in Jena is occupied by several local providers — our strength: nationwide online support with the BAFA quality standard and full business plan expertise.
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, contribution-based), or
- Bürgergeld: You receive Bürgergeld (German basic welfare benefit since 2023, formerly ALG II)
- 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 Jena — where to apply
Depending on which benefit you receive, a different authority is responsible for your AVGS application. Important for Jena: the Jobcenter (German welfare/job placement office) for the city of Jena is the Jobcenter Jena „jenarbeit" — not the separate Jobcenter for the rural district of Jena.
| Your situation | Responsible authority | Address |
|---|---|---|
| ALG I | Agentur für Arbeit Jena | Stadtrodaer Straße 1, 07749 Jena Phone: 0800 4 55 55 00 (toll-free) |
| Bürgergeld | Jobcenter Jena „jenarbeit" | Stadtrodaer Straße 1, 07749 Jena Phone: 0800 4 5555 00 (free) |
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 (AZAV is the German accreditation framework for training providers under SGB III; 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 Maßnahmenbeschreibung (German measure description) and Maßnahmenummer (training-measure number, format XXX/YYYY/ZZZZ).
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 Jena and the region
- Financial plan: capital requirements, revenue forecast, liquidity planning
- Business plan: bank-ready documentation for funding applications
- Administrative steps: trade registration, IHK/HWK (Chambers of Commerce and Skilled Crafts), tax office
- Funding: Gründungszuschuss (German start-up grant), BAFA (Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control), Thüringer Gründungsprämie (TAB) (Thuringia founder scholarship), Gründungsrichtlinie of the TAB (micro-loan)
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 Jena?
The AVGS can only be redeemed with an AZAV-certified training provider. 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 GmbH). 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. Jena's founder landscape — optics economy and universities
As the location of Germany's largest center of the Optical Valley and as a university city, Jena offers an unusually broad founder landscape — from optics technology to the health economy. As a founder, you benefit from:
Universities and founder centers in Jena
| Institution | Founder program |
|---|---|
| Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena (FSU) — K1 Gründungsservice | Supports 60+ start-up projects per year across all faculties (natural sciences, humanities, social sciences); from idea to implementation, founder spaces and incubation support |
| Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule Jena (EAH) | Application-oriented university of applied sciences; partner in the Nucleus-Jena transfer initiative with FSU and the Jena University Hospital |
| Beutenberg Campus — Lichtwerkstatt Jena | Maker-space for optics and photonics projects; co-located with Fraunhofer IOF, Fraunhofer ITMP and the Hans Knöll Institute |
| JENAINNOVATION (since April 2026) | Joint initiative of EAH Jena, FSU Jena and Jena University Hospital (UKJ) — opened on 8 April 2026 to strengthen technology transfer |
| ThEx — Thüringer Zentrum für Existenzgründung und Unternehmertum | State-wide start-up and accelerator platform for Thuringia (hosted at the Thüringer Aufbaubank); coordinates the ThEx AWARD 2026 (prize money €71,000, application deadline 9 Sept 2026) |
Local contact points and networks
- IHK Ostthüringen zu Gera (Industrie- und Handelskammer — East-Thuringia Chamber of Industry and Commerce) — Gaswerkstraße 23, 07546 Gera, Phone: 0365 8553-0 · Sprechtag in Jena (Jena consultation day) on the 2nd Monday of each month, 9–11 AM at TIP Jena, Hans-Knöll-Straße 6, 07745 Jena · fachkundige Stelle (qualified expert body) for the Gründungszuschuss: Einheitlicher Ansprechpartner Gründer (single point of contact for founders), Phone 0365 8553-211, email ea@gera.ihk.de
- Handwerkskammer Erfurt (Chamber of Skilled Crafts, responsible for all of Thuringia including Jena) — Fischmarkt 13, 99084 Erfurt, Phone: 0361 6707-0 · qualified expert body for skilled-crafts start-ups
- JenaWirtschaft (Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft Jena mbH) — Leutragraben 2-4, 07743 Jena, Phone 03641 87300-0 (Markus Henkenmeier, funding consulting: 03641 87300-31) · location marketing, funding consulting in cooperation with the Thüringer Aufbaubank and Bürgschaftsbank Thüringen
- OptoNet e. V. — Photonics cluster Thuringia with 130+ companies, institutes and universities; founded 1999, the backbone of the Optical Valley network
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 (Tragfähigkeitsbescheinigung — German business viability certificate later required for the Gründungszuschuss) appears doubtful
- Wrong Jobcenter: in Jena the rule is: ALG I → Agentur für Arbeit Jena, Bürgergeld → Jobcenter Jena „jenarbeit" (not the separate Jobcenter of the rural district of Jena)
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 Jena
Business Start EU (BAFA No. 205985) supports founders from Jena and the wider Thuringia region online, with flexible scheduling and the quality standard you can expect from a BAFA-listed consultant. Personally, I have supported over 200 founders across Germany in recent years — including from Thuringia. We do not have an on-site office in Jena; all consultation sessions take place by video or phone.
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, Thüringer Gründungsprämie (TAB) (for innovative start-ups), bank meeting
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.