5 grants and subsidies for entrepreneurs

Increasingly, young talents  are committed to entrepreneurship, is a decision that is becoming quite common among people who finish their studies. And, although it is an option that is usually very rewarding in the long run, it also has its difficult side (like everything...).

Finding financing is one of the most complicated parts when starting a business, but that does not mean it is impossible to get it. Luckily, today there are hundreds of grants and subsidies that will help you make the bold decision to start a business. Even so, there are more aspects of entrepreneurship that you should take into account.

Another question that usually arises for an entrepreneur or a startup is: where can I develop my activity and grow my business? Most of them choose a coworking space. And it's no wonder! Sharing an office with other coworkers who are in the same situation as you turns out to be very comforting. In addition, you always learn something new from other people.

Before learning about 5 of them, you should know that subsidies are announced each year by the Autonomous Communities and the State, classifying them by their sector of activity. So, for trying, you lose nothing!

1- Program to promote self-employment

We started with a national program. It is aimed at unemployed people and is managed by each of the Autonomous Communities through their Employment Department. Funding is regulated by the European Social Fund.

The proposals of this program are the following two:

• Aid provided in the program to promote self-employment.
• Program in force in each autonomous community.

2- Aid for young entrepreneurs

Enisa's Participatory Loan for Business Creation for Young People facilitates access to credit for young entrepreneurs. In our country there is a youth unemployment of more than 50% of the population. This has to change! And for this there are these aids.

Of course; to qualify for this subsidy you must meet certain requirements:

• Be under 40 years of age.
• That the main activity and registered office are developed in national territory.
• Be an SME incorporated as a commercial company.
• Propose an innovative business with competitive advantages. In addition, it must be viable.
• Members must contribute at least 50% of the loan.

3- ICO Loans

Also known as ICO loans, these are loans that allow the financing of projects such as entrepreneurship.

It is a financing aimed at freelancers, public and private entities, and companies. But, as often happens, a series of conditions must be taken into account. These are the concepts that can be financed by ICO:

• Liquidity.
• Investment in national territory: vehicles, acquisition of companies, rehabilitation of homes...

This subsidy has many options to acquire it and is a good financial alternative for this group of entrepreneurs. So check their website and go for it.

4- COSME

At the European level, there is COSME, a grant program that has a clear objective: to help entrepreneurs launch in this world.

COSME gives new startups the opportunity to access financing and also to internationalize, which is very important in entrepreneurship. It is the continuity of the Program for Business Initiative and Innovation (EIP).

5- Business Angels

Perhaps the name gives us a clue as to what this aid is. A business angel is a profile that provides money and/or experience to an entrepreneur.

Business angels have come to our country to stay. There has been a very considerable growth in startups in recent years thanks to this profile. As AEBAN says, "a business angel is an individual who makes their own investment decisions and contributes their own money and sometimes their time."

Adeyemi Ajao, Albert Armengol and Aitor Sancho are some of the most influential business angels in Spain. Don't forget their names!

We hope this information helps you make the decision to start your business. And if you also want to launch your business in a coworking space, you just have to let us know.

We have shared offices in different locations in Barcelona: in Urquinaona, in Poblenou and in Hospitalet de Llobregat. Start your business at Aticco Coworking![:]