Business START Malta 2026
Up to EUR 10,000 in seed funding to turn your business concept into a proper plan. No repayment required.
Who Is This For?
Business START is for founders who have a solid business concept but haven't yet developed a formal business plan. You're past the "idea on a napkin" stage but not yet ready to approach investors or apply for larger grants.
This grant is right for you if:
You have a business concept you've thought through, but you need time and resources to develop it into a proper implementation plan.
You're building something in software, manufacturing, health tech, biotech, or another innovative sector that could eventually serve customers beyond Malta.
You're willing to hire at least one person (even part-time) and commit to developing a formal business plan within the funding period.
This grant is probably not for you if:
You already have a complete business plan and are looking for capital to build your product.
You're building a local service business (restaurant, salon, retail shop) without a technology or export component.
You or your co-founders already run another business in the same sector.
Already have a business plan? Digitalise Your SME covers up to EUR 128,400 for software and digital investments.
How the Funding Works
The EUR 10,000 is paid in three instalments, each tied to a milestone. You don't get the money upfront. You earn it by hitting targets.
Within 3 months of Letter of Approval
What you need to do:
This first payment helps you get started. The employment requirement ensures you're actually building something, not just collecting a grant.
2-6 months after Tranche 1
What you need to do:
The Business Plan needs to meet their standards. It's not a formality. Malta Enterprise will review it and may ask for revisions.
Within 3 months of Business Plan approval
What you need to do:
By this point, you should have a proper business plan, a team member, and a place to work from. You're ready to pursue further funding or start trading.
Important: If you lose your employee during the funding period, Malta Enterprise can adjust or recover the funding. Keep at least one person employed throughout.
Eligible Sectors
Business START is selective about which industries it supports. The scheme targets ventures with growth potential beyond the local market.
Software Development
Apps, platforms, SaaS products, custom software, AI/ML applications, developer tools.
Manufacturing
Physical products, hardware, consumer goods, industrial equipment.
Health, Biotech, Pharma, Life Sciences
Medical devices, diagnostics, therapeutics, health tech, wellness technology.
Industrial Services
Services analogous to manufacturing, such as prototyping, testing, technical services.
Other Innovative Ventures
Products or services enabled by knowledge and technology that are novel or not readily available in the market.
Also Eligible (by NACE code)
The Export Test
Your product or service must have the potential to generate income from various geographical markets. A purely local business won't qualify. You need to show that what you're building could eventually serve customers outside Malta.
Not Eligible
Eligibility Requirements
Business START has specific criteria. Read these carefully before applying.
Business Age and Status
Under 5 years old
Your business must be registered for less than 5 years at the time of application.
Apply within 36 months of establishment
You can't wait until year 4 to apply. Submit your application within 3 years of registering your business.
Small enterprise
Fewer than 50 employees and either under EUR 10 million annual turnover or under EUR 10 million balance sheet total.
Unlisted
Not listed on a stock exchange (alternative trading platforms are fine).
No profits distributed
If your business has already distributed profits to shareholders, you don't qualify. This is meant for pre-profit ventures.
Ownership Rules
These rules prevent established business owners from using start-up funding for side projects.
No significant interests in the same sector
If you or your co-founders own more than 25% of another business operating in the same or a related sector, you don't qualify.
No recently closed businesses
If you or your co-founders closed a business in the same sector within the past 12 months, you don't qualify.
No takeovers or mergers
Your start-up can't have taken over another business's activity, acquired another company, or been formed through a merger. Exception: transactions where the acquired activity is less than 10% of your turnover.
Founder Requirements
The key people in your start-up must have the academic background or hands-on experience needed for what you're building. Malta Enterprise explicitly checks this. A first-time founder with no relevant background will struggle to qualify.
Legal Structure
You must be registered as one of:
- •Self-employed (registered with Jobsplus)
- •Partnership (registered with Malta Business Registry)
- •Limited liability company
- •Cooperative
You can apply before formally registering, but the money only flows after you're properly established.
What Malta Enterprise Looks For
Your application will be evaluated on feasibility and quality. Here's what matters.
Three Feasibility Tests
Commercially Feasible
Does your product or service address a real gap in the market? Can you offer something better than existing alternatives?
Financially Feasible
After accounting for investment and operating costs, can you reasonably expect to generate returns within a sensible timeframe? Your assumptions need to be logical.
Technologically Feasible
Is your project based on sound technical concepts? Do you have access to the technology you need?
Quality Factors
Innovation
How does your business stand out from competitors? What's genuinely different?
Market
Have you identified your target market? Do you have clear strategies for reaching customers?
Process
Can you explain your business model? Have you thought through workflows, value chains, and how you'll actually operate?
Knowledge and Know-how
Do you (or your team, or your advisors) have the expertise to execute this?
Common Pitfalls
Malta Enterprise explicitly warns about these problems:
Take the application seriously. A rushed or vague submission will be rejected.
How to Apply
The process is straightforward. Prepare well, submit a thorough application, and hit your milestones.
Talk to CEBI (Recommended)
Malta Enterprise recommends that applicants who are still developing their business concept seek advice from the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Business Incubation (CEBI) at the University of Malta. They can help you assess whether your value proposition is ready.
Prepare Your Feasibility Report
Your application needs to cover: start-up formation details, the business opportunity, details on your product or service, information on the market and competitive landscape, operations and financials, and the team.
Submit Your Application
Applications go through Malta Enterprise's client portal. Deadline is 30 October 2026, but the EUR 1M budget may run out earlier. Incomplete applications are rejected outright.
Malta Enterprise Reviews
If approved, you receive a Letter of Approval with any specific conditions. You then have 3 months to return the signed letter and provide employment evidence.
Hit Your Milestones
Receive tranche payments as you complete each milestone: employment evidence (EUR 3,000), business plan submission (EUR 3,500), and plan approval with business address (EUR 3,500).
Monitoring
Malta Enterprise (or third parties they commission) may conduct on-site visits to verify you're implementing the project as described. Keep records of your employment, business plan development, and progress.
Submit Through Malta Enterprise
Applications go through the Malta Enterprise client portal.
clientportal.maltaenterprise.comDeadline: 30 October 2026
Budget: EUR 1 million total. If funds run out before the deadline, the scheme closes early. Don't wait until the last minute.
For tips on writing a strong Feasibility Report, see our investment proposal guide.
For Software Start-ups
Software development is one of the core eligible activities for Business START. If you're building a software product, this grant can help you get from concept to plan.
What EUR 10,000 Gets You
It's not a huge amount, but for an early-stage software start-up it can cover:
- •2-3 months of a part-time developer or co-founder salary
- •Initial infrastructure costs (servers, tools, subscriptions)
- •Basic market research and customer interviews
- •Legal and accounting setup
- •A proper business plan with financial projections
The Real Value
The money matters, but the process might matter more. Being forced to write a formal business plan, hit milestones, and demonstrate progress creates discipline. Many start-ups fail because they skip this stage.
What Comes Next
Once you have your Business Plan approved by Malta Enterprise, you're in a much stronger position to:
Angel Investors or VCs
Approach investors with a credible, approved plan.
Start-up Finance
EUR 500K to EUR 1.5M repayable advance from Malta Enterprise.
A Note About Our Role
We're a software development agency. Business START doesn't pay for development services. It pays for business plan development.
But if you're a software start-up that completes Business START and is ready to build your product, that's where we come in. We work with start-ups and SMEs to develop custom software, from MVPs to full production systems.
If your plan involves building software, we can help you scope it properly during the planning phase, even if you're not ready to build yet.
Common Questions
Related Malta Business Grants
Already Have a Business Plan?
If you're past the planning stage and ready to invest in software, hardware, or digital transformation, this EU-funded scheme covers 50-85% of your costs. Different eligibility requirements, bigger amounts.
Building a Software Start-up?
If your business plan involves building software, we can help you scope it properly.
Get in Touch