LAISF
Lean AI Startup Funding 2026/27
1 September 2026 – 28 February 2027
LAISF is a six-month scholarship for teams with an innovative, AI-driven idea. Quickly test and validate your idea in AI and turn it into a prototype and business case — APPLY NOW!
6 months of funding
1 September 2026 – 28 February 2027
for up to either two persons full-time or up to three persons in part-time (if the funding is split accordingly)
5,000€ material expenses
Up to 30,000 € to win at the mid-term presentation
for everything you need to prototype and test your idea
Scholarship
2 persons full-time
splittable across up to 3 people · ≤ 200% total
The LAISF is a scholarship with conditions based on your qualification (similar to the EXIST Gründerstipendium).
Deadline
10 August 2026, 12:00 noon (CEST)
Apply now!
The LAISF program
The goal of the Lean AI Startup Funding is to turn innovative AI ideas into successful ventures. The program supports innovative AI startup ideas – from research-driven spin-offs to market-oriented innovations with strong growth potential. While research-driven ventures are often highly technology-focused and still require market validation, LAISF gives founders the time, funding, and guidance to validate their business model, develop a prototype, and increase their investment readiness.
Application process
- Voluntary Workshop on the LAISF application on 8 July and 5 August
- live FAQ sessions on 20 July and 29 July
- The application must be submitted by 10 August, 12:00.
- The selected teams for the final round will be announced on 12 August.
- The final round will take place between 14 and 20 August, with a 3-minute pitch and 3-minute Q&A with the jury, depending on the final jury schedule.
- The scholarship period starts on 1 September 2026 and ends on 28 February 2027.
Requirements
Apply until
10 August
You can submit an application for the LAISF if you have
- A a research-driven and/or innovative AI business idea
- Not incorporated your company yet.
- No other parallel funding of this project running
Unsure if you should apply?
Required documents:
When you fill out the hessian.AI application form, you will be asked to provide a detailed project description that demonstrates:
- your AI Core and its innovation level
- the value proposition of the solution
- technical descriptions & potential use cases
- your market environment
- your market entry strategy
- shows how you plan to realize the project
See the online application form for details:
Key dates 2026
Workshop on the LAISF application!
Do you have a research-driven and/or innovative AI business idea and want to apply for the Lean AI Startup Funding (LAISF)? In this virtual preparation workshop, we’ll help you sharpen your concept and put together a compelling application.
- What makes an AI innovation, and how innovative is yours?
- How do you describe your AI technology?
- How do you demonstrate value creation and market fit?
- How do you plan your project?
- What do evaluators look for in a strong application?
Choose between two dates:
Workshop — LAISF Funding-Ready
Shape Your AI Startup Concept – by Philip Travers
8 July, 10:00 – 12:00
Workshop — LAISF Funding-Ready
Shape Your AI Startup Concept – by Philip Travers
5 August, 10:30 – 12:30
Application FAQ (live)
20 July, 14:00
29 July, 16:00
Application deadline
Our LAISF-Jury:
David Schäffler
Investment Manager, neosfer
Michael Klesel
Professor of Information Systems
Submission:
Please fill out and submit your application here:
FAQ
No. This is an early-stage support and incorporation within the funding period should be avoided, too, in order to not endanger your follow-up financing through other grants.
Yes, if your idea is good and you can argue why your business idea needs this kind of support, we are happy to hear from you. Please note that ideas for AI consultancy are not accepted.
After three months you will have to give a presentation about the progress of your project. If you can convincingly explain how your project could benefit from additional funding over the next three months, you will have the opportunity to win up to 30,000 EUR in additional funding.
A written project documentation has to be handed in 6 weeks after the funding period has ended.
Working besides the funding is allowed for up to 5h per week. However, it is possible to split the funding. In that case working part-time is allowed.
For receiving the Scholarship the funded team member needs to have a permanent residency within the Federal Republic of Germany.
The amount of the scholarship is based on the graduation of the applicants with the rates corresponding to a full-time equivalent:
• Students who have completed at least half of their studies:
1 000 euros per month
• Technical staff:
2 000 euros per month
• Graduates with at least a university degree:
2 500 euros per month
• Founders with a doctorate:
3 000 euros per month
• (For dependent children of the founders, 150 euros per child per month are granted as
a child supplement).
Every funded team member has to be registered at a German residency address for the duration of the scholarship. A residency in Hesse is not needed.
The LAISF is an early-stage validation fund. You can apply for the program without any proof of prior work. However, any validation work and the status of the prototype should be mentioned in the application. The overall goal of the scholarship is to have a validated working prototype and a clear business perspective at the end of the funding.
Yes, you can apply as a solo founder. You should be able to execute the technical prototyping, validation activities and the business development of your project.
Any idea that incorporates state-of-the-art or novel AI/ML-frameworks as a core of the business model to solve an existing problem. You should give details on the used algorithms, models and datasets in the application. Information about your team’s background help as well.
For further questions please contact the AI Startup Rising project team at – we are happy to help!
Supported Projects
