Preparing for your meeting at the Agentur für Arbeit Jena
Two fillable PDFs to help you prepare for your meeting with the placement officer in Jena — the start-up project overview (Gründungsvorhaben-Übersicht) and the official BA template for the expert opinion (fachkundige Stellungnahme). They complement the bank-ready business plan we prepare for you. Note: the forms are in German, as required by the Agentur für Arbeit.
Table of contents
The Gründungszuschuss (start-up subsidy) is the most important funding for ALG I recipients on the path into self-employment. It is aimed at internationals, skilled workers and expats in Germany who are currently drawing unemployment insurance benefit (ALG I) from prior insured employment. In the "City of Light" Jena — known as the "Optical Valley" and one of Germany's ten most important start-up hubs (source: IHK Ostthüringen), home to the University of Jena (FSU, with its K1 start-up service), the EAH university of applied sciences, the Beutenberg Campus and more than 9,000 skilled workers in the photonics industry — your chances are good if your application is professionally prepared.
1. What is the Gründungszuschuss?
The Gründungszuschuss under § 93 SGB III is a subsidy from the German Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) for unemployed people who want to become self-employed on a full-time basis. It consists of two phases:
The two phases
| Phase | Duration | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1: Base funding | 6 months | Your ALG I + €300/month for social insurance |
| Phase 2: Build-up phase | 9 months (on request) | €300/month for social insurance |
2. Requirements — who qualifies in Jena?
- ALG I entitlement: You currently receive Arbeitslosengeld I (unemployment insurance benefit — not Bürgergeld!)
- Remaining entitlement: At least 150 days of remaining ALG I entitlement at the time of founding
- Full-time: The self-employment must be your main occupation (at least 15 hours/week)
- Expert opinion: Viability confirmed by the IHK, HWK or a BAFA-listed consultant
- Personal suitability: Professional and personal requirements met
Important: no legal entitlement — the reality in Jena
The Gründungszuschuss is a discretionary benefit. The Agentur für Arbeit Jena (Thuringia-East) decides at its own discretion. Around 90% of all applications — in Jena too — are rejected or never even submitted; a professional application makes the difference.
3. How much money do you receive?
Example calculation for Jena
Assumption: Your ALG I is €1,400/month
Phase 1 (6 months):
(€1,400 + €300) x 6 = €10,200
Phase 2 (9 months):
€300 x 9 = €2,700
Total: €12,900
The higher your previous salary was, the higher your Gründungszuschuss will be. In the City of Light Jena, with its above-average IT salaries, the total amount can easily reach €20,000 or more.
4. Where to apply in Jena
The Gründungszuschuss is applied for at the Agentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency) — in Jena that is:
Agentur für Arbeit Jena (Thuringia-East)
Address: Stadtrodaer Straße 1, 07749 Jena
Phone: 0800 4 5555 00 (free)
Online: The application can also be filed via the Federal Employment Agency portal
Important: Submit the application before you register your business (Gewerbe). The funding starts on the day of founding — there is nothing paid retroactively.
5. The qualified expert body in Jena
A key requirement for the Gründungszuschuss is the fachkundige Stellungnahme (expert opinion) on the viability of your venture. In Jena, the Agentur für Arbeit accepts opinions from:
| Qualified expert body | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| IHK Ostthüringen zu Gera (Chamber of Industry and Commerce) | Gaswerkstraße 23, 07546 Gera (IHK Ostthüringen; consultation day in Jena: 2nd Monday of the month, TIP Jena) | 0365 8553-0 |
| Handwerkskammer Erfurt (Chamber of Skilled Crafts) | Fischmarkt 13, 99084 Erfurt (HWK Erfurt for Thuringia) | 0361 6707-0 |
| Tax advisers (Steuerberater) | Various in Jena | - |
| BAFA-listed consultants | e.g. Business Start EU (BAFA no. 205985) | 06221 - 3215930 |
Our offer
As a BAFA-listed consultant, we can issue the expert opinion (fachkundige Stellungnahme) for you — based on a professional business plan that we develop together with you.
6. Why 90% of applications are rejected
The most common reasons for rejection:
- Weak financial plan: Unrealistic figures, no clear derivation, no scenarios
- Viability not demonstrated: "Can this person make a living from it?" — if unclear, the application is rejected
- Business plan too thin: No clear target group, no unique selling point
- Negative expert opinion: Doubts from the IHK carry over to the Agentur für Arbeit
- Remaining entitlement too low: Fewer than 150 days of ALG I entitlement
The Agentur asks itself:
Can this person make a living from it? Are the figures realistic? Have they thought of everything? — If you cannot answer these questions clearly, your application will be rejected.
7. Step by step to an approved application in Jena
Step 1: Consultation with your placement officer
Week 1Announce your intention to start a business and ask for the application documents.
Step 2: Create the business plan and financial plan
Weeks 2-4A professional business plan with a complete financial plan — the heart of your application.
Step 3: Obtain the expert opinion
Weeks 4-5The IHK Ostthüringen zu Gera, HWK Erfurt or a BAFA-listed consultant reviews the viability of your venture.
Step 4: Submit the application
Weeks 5-6Submit your complete file to the Agentur für Arbeit Jena (Thuringia-East).
Step 5: Approval and founding
Weeks 6-10Once approved: register your business (Gewerbe) and get started. The subsidy begins on your founding date.
8. The Jena funding landscape — what else applies
Alongside the Gründungszuschuss, Thuringia offers further funding programmes that you can combine:
| Programme | Funding |
|---|---|
| TAB Gründungsprämie (start-up premium) | Up to 80% of consulting costs in the pre-founding phase |
| TAB Gründungsrichtlinie / Gründungsprämie | Development loans from €5,000 to €2 million |
| ThEx AWARD 2026 (application deadline 9 September 2026, €71,000 in prize money) | Up to €200,000 for innovative start-ups |
| BAFA funding consultancy | Up to 50% of consulting costs (max. €1,750) |
Our tip
Combine AVGS coaching (free of charge) → Gründungszuschuss → BAFA funding for post-launch consultancy. This maximises your funding and minimises your financial risk.