Start-Up Nation: grant of up to 250,000 lei for new firms, 2026 status

Start-Up Nation is the government programme under which newly established firms receive non-refundable de minimis aid to start a business. In the current edition, Start-Up Nation România, governed by Ordinance No. 29/2024 and funded from the Education and Employment Programme 2021-2027, the grant is a maximum of 250,000 lei per firm and covers at most 90% of eligible costs. The money is awarded only to firms set up by graduates of the entrepreneurship courses organised under the programme. The first call window has closed: the lists of firms enrolled for funding were published on 4 June 2026. A second call window had not been officially launched as of 27 September 2026.

In brief

• Definition: a de minimis aid programme for setting up and developing new SMEs, in two stages: a free entrepreneurship course, followed by funding for the firm established by the graduate.
• Legal act: Government Ordinance No. 29/2024 (Official Gazette No. 814 of 14 August 2024) and the Implementation Procedure approved by order of the Minister of Economy, amended several times.
• Authority: the Ministry of Economy, Digitalisation, Entrepreneurship and Tourism (MEDAT), together with the territorial agencies for SMEs and tourism (AIMMT).
• Total budget: 446,185,295 euro, of which 295,750,000 euro for Pillar I and 150,435,295 euro for Pillar II.
• Value per project / intensity: a maximum of 250,000 lei and at most 90% of the eligible value. The beneficiary provides co-financing of at least 10%.
• Key obligations: at least 2 full-time, permanent jobs, maintained for a minimum of 24 months after implementation.
• Status: call window 1 has closed (lists published on 4 June 2026). There is no official timetable yet for call window 2.

What is Start-Up Nation and which editions have there been?

The programme started in 2017, on the basis of an emergency ordinance from the same year. Since then, the ministry has run several editions, and the programme's official page lists the 2022 and 2024 editions separately. The 2024 edition is the fourth. Compared with earlier editions, it has one important difference: funding is no longer obtained directly, but only after completing an entrepreneurship course within the programme.

The ordinance was adopted on 8 August 2024. According to the ministry, it is funded from non-refundable EU funds through the Education and Employment Programme 2021-2027 (European Social Fund Plus). At least 85% of the budget is allocated to financial aid for firms. The whole process takes place online, on the minimis.imm.gov.ro platform.

Who can apply?

The ordinance divides the target group into two pillars:

• Pillar I — young people aged 18 to 30 (not yet 31 at enrolment), from the less developed regions and from Bucharest-Ilfov. At least 10% of places are reserved for people from the Roma minority. The target is 25,000 trainees and 5,250 funded firms.
• Pillar II — young people aged 30–35, jobseekers, the unemployed, the long-term unemployed, inactive people and people from disadvantaged groups. Pillar II applies exclusively in the less developed regions, meaning not in Bucharest-Ilfov. The target is 4,600 trainees and 2,500 firms.

The funded firm must be newly established by the person from the target group and qualify as an SME. The registered office and the implementation must be in the applicant's region of residence. During implementation and the sustainability period, the associate may not transfer their shares.

How it works, step by step

1. The entrepreneurship course. It is free, lasts at least 40 hours and ends with a certificate. In the first call window, enrolment opened on 15 April 2025 at 10:00 on minimis.imm.gov.ro.
2. Setting up the firm. The graduate establishes the firm after finishing the course, in accordance with Law 31/1990 or OUG 6/2011.
3. The funding form. The business plan is submitted online and receives an automatic score. The minimum threshold is 50 points out of 100. Applicants are ranked in descending order on separate lists, by category.
4. The contract and the advance. After contracting, the ministry may pay an advance of up to 50% of the grant.
5. Implementation and reimbursement. The firm makes the purchases, hires at least two people and submits the reimbursement claim with the invoices and supporting documents.

Worked example. To receive the maximum grant of 250,000 lei at an intensity of 90%, the project must have eligible costs of at least 277,778 lei, and your co-financing is 27,778 lei. The advance can be up to 125,000 lei, i.e. 50% of the grant. For an eligible project of 200,000 lei, the grant is 180,000 lei and the co-financing is 20,000 lei.

Which costs are eligible?

The procedure currently in force allows, among other things:

• technological equipment;
• renewable energy systems;
• furniture and office equipment;
• a website, e-commerce and software;
• salaries, rent, utilities and accounting, within the limits set by the procedure;
• consultancy;
• a single car per beneficiary, with an eligible value of up to 50,000 lei.

Ineligible items include, for example, cryptocurrency mining equipment, gambling machines, second-hand goods that have already been subsidised, and certain taxes and fees. Some sectors are also excluded through CAEN codes, such as primary agricultural production and fishing.

What happened in 2025–2026?

The deadline for enrolling firms for funding was amended by Order No. 2338 of 21 November 2025: 45 working days, with a possible extension of up to 7 working days after the last course ends. On 4 June 2026, MEDAT published the lists of firms enrolled in the first call window, for over 5,800 places:

• 382 places for young people aged 18–30 in Bucharest-Ilfov;
• 42 places for young Roma people in Bucharest-Ilfov;
• 2,561 places for young people in the less developed regions;
• 285 places for young Roma people in the less developed regions;
• 2,575 places for people over 30 in the less developed regions.

The Minister of Economy has said publicly that a second call window, with courses followed by funding, is expected to be launched in autumn 2026, but gave no date. As of 27 September 2026, the ministry had not officially published the timetable, the number of places or the conditions of call window 2. All of this is to be set out in the official announcement.

What this means for your business

The recommendations below come from our consultants and are not official conditions.

• Check your eligibility now. Age is calculated at the date of enrolment, and Pillar II does not cover Bucharest-Ilfov. If you turn 30 or 35 soon, every month counts. You can check quickly with the eligibility check.
• Do not set up the firm before the course. Funding is given only to firms established after graduation by a person from the target group.
• Budget for salaries over at least three years. The two full-time jobs must be maintained for 24 months after implementation, and the business for three years. This is the most common cause of problems after receiving the money.
• Ensure you have liquidity. The advance is at most 50%. The rest is received through reimbursement, so you need co-financing and cash for interim payments.
• Build the plan around the scoring grid. Selection is automatic, based on score, so every criterion correctly ticked counts.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply to Start-Up Nation now?

No. The first call window of the 2024 edition has closed, and the lists were published on 4 June 2026. A second call window has been publicly announced for autumn 2026, but as of 27 September 2026 it has no official timetable.

How much do I receive and how much must I contribute?

A maximum of 250,000 lei, i.e. at most 90% of eligible costs. Your own co-financing is at least 10%. For example, for an eligible project of 277,778 lei, you receive 250,000 lei and contribute 27,778 lei.

Do I have to take a course first?

Yes. The programme's entrepreneurship course, of at least 40 hours, is free and mandatory. Only firms established by graduates can apply for funding.

Can I use a firm I already have?

No. The programme funds newly established SMEs set up by people from the target group after completing the course, with their registered office in their region of residence.

How many employees must I have?

At least two full-time, permanent jobs. These must be maintained for at least 24 months after implementation is completed.

Official sources

• Ordinance No. 29/2024 on the Start-Up Nation România programme, 2024 edition
• Start-Up Nation 2024 Implementation Procedure, updated version (Legislative Portal)
• MEDAT: adoption of the ordinance for the fourth edition
• MEDAT: lists of firms enrolled for funding in the first call window (4 June 2026)
• MEDAT: enrolment for the free entrepreneurship courses
• MEDAT: extension of the funding enrolment deadline
• The Start-Up Nation 2024 page on imm.gov.ro

Information checked on 27 September 2026. Conditions may be amended by the managing authority — check the guide in force before submitting.