ifectis

What ifectis does

ifectis Innovationsförderung GmbH is a privately held German consulting firm headquartered in Lahr, Baden-Württemberg, specializing in strategic R&D funding advisory for technology-driven companies ranging from startups to mid-sized enterprises (Mittelstand). Founded by Dr. Björn Mamat and operating for nearly 20 years, the firm holds go-inno authorization from the Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz (BMWi) and offers end-to-end support across German national programs (ZIM, KMU-innovativ, DBU, BMBF, Forschungszulage), European instruments (Horizon Europe, including the Accelerator and collaborative projects, and Eurostars), and transatlantic opportunities (US SBIR/STTR for German clients with US subsidiaries). Its Blended Finance service extends the offering beyond pure grant advisory by combining public subsidies with equity financing through digital matching access to over 1,600 investors.

The firm's service portfolio is structured around six core advisory lines — national R&D funding, Horizon Europe, Blended Finance, the Forschungszulage tax-based subsidy, project management of funded projects, and business plan/pitch deck optimization — plus consortium-building support for transnational collaborative projects. There is no proprietary software platform; the offering is expert-led consulting grounded in the founder's 25 years of R&D and finance experience (Max Planck Institutes, deCODE genetics, Deutsche Bank technology M&A) and a partner ecosystem that includes a leading EU funding specialist with over 450 approved projects, the High-Tech Gründerfonds expert network, Science4Life (where the firm has evaluated for 10 years), the Life Science Consulting Network, Concepts4Value (equity financing), and Peak Consulting (CFO services), along with a European partner network spanning more than 10 countries.

Go-to-market is sales-led and direct: the firm offers free initial consultations and on-site project pre-validation as the primary conversion mechanism, with lead generation driven by expert network listings, client referrals, and the founder's reputation. Pricing is structured as largely success-dependent professional services, with the majority of fees only due upon successful project approval or funding acquisition, applied across ZIM, DBU, Eurostars, BMBF calls, and similar programs. The team consists of four named individuals — Managing Director, Proposal Writer, Project Management, and HR — making the firm a boutique practice heavily dependent on the founder's personal client relationships and network.

Name

ifectis

Legal name

ifectis Innovationsförderung GmbH

Website

https://ifectis.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ifectis Innovationsförderung GmbH is a German consulting firm providing strategic R&D funding advisory, blended finance, and grant application services to startups and mid-sized companies across national, EU, and US funding programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

R&D Funding Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Assistance, Policy Lending & Capacity Building Programs (BPADACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Development Finance & Blended Finance Facilities (BPADAOAD), Private Sector & Blended Finance Arms (IFC-type) (BPADACAJ)

Keywords

• R&D funding consulting
• Innovation financing advisory
• Public grant consulting
• Blended finance advisory
• Horizon Europe consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Lahr

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Strategic R&D Funding Consulting: ifectis provides strategic consulting services to help companies secure public R&D subsidies and blended finance solutions. Fees are structured as largely success-dependent, with the majority of the honorarium due only upon successful project approval or funding acquisition. Additional services include project management, business plan preparation, and corporate finance advisory, all billed as professional services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

ifectis Innovationsförderung GmbH is a German consulting firm that advises startups and mid-sized companies (Mittelstand) on accessing public R&D funding, EU programs such as Horizon Europe, R&D tax allowances (Forschungszulage), and private blended-finance capital. The firm pairs strategic funding advice with project management support and the preparation of business plans and pitch decks, operating under a success-dependent fee model with nearly 20 years of specialized experience.

Product overview

ifectis is a strategic innovation funding advisory company offering a comprehensive suite of consulting services for R&D funding. The core offering consists of advisory services for national R&D funding programs (Nationale F&E-Förderung), EU funding through Horizon Europe, Blended Finance strategy combining public subsidies with equity, tax-based research allowances (Forschungszulage), project management for funded projects, and business plan/pitch deck optimization. The company also guides clients through specific funding instruments including ZIM, KMU-innovativ, the Horizon Europe Accelerator, Eurostars, SBIR/STTR (USA), and Horizon Europe collaborative projects. These services are designed for companies from startups to mid-sized enterprises across all industries seeking to finance innovative products, processes, and services through public funding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nationale F&E-Förderung (National R&D Funding Consulting) Strategic advisory service helping German startups and mid-sized companies identify, apply for, and manage national R&D funding programs such as ZIM and KMU-innovativ. Targeted at German SMEs and innovation-driven companies lacking in-house grant expertise.
• Horizon Europe / EU-Förderung (EU Funding Consulting) End-to-end advisory for Horizon Europe and related EU framework programs, including consortium building, proposal writing, and project coordination. Targeted at European SMEs, research-driven companies, and project consortia seeking EU R&D grants.
• Blended Finance Advisory Strategic advisory that combines public R&D grants with private investment capital to fund innovation projects, supported by a network of 1,600+ investors. Targeted at innovation-intensive German SMEs seeking capital structures beyond pure grant funding.
• Forschungszulage (R&D Tax Allowance Advisory) Advisory on Germany's Forschungszulage (R&D tax allowance) program, guiding companies through eligibility assessment, application, and compliance. Targeted at any German company conducting qualifying R&D activities.
• Projektmanagement (Project Management) Project management support for clients executing funded R&D projects, including reporting, milestone tracking, and consortium coordination. Targeted at SMEs participating in national or EU-funded R&D projects.
• Businesspläne und Pitch Decks Preparation of business plans and investor pitch decks tailored to funding applications and private capital raises. Targeted at startups and SMEs preparing submissions to public programs or approaching private investors.
• ZIM Funding Advisory Specialist consulting for the ZIM central innovation program for Mittelstand companies, supporting application, project structuring, and reporting. Targeted at German mid-sized companies pursuing innovation projects.
• KMU-innovativ Advisory Advisory on the KMU-innovativ federal program supporting innovative SMEs, including topic identification, application support, and project coordination. Targeted at German SMEs with high-innovation projects.
• Horizon Europe Accelerator Advisory Specialist consulting for the EIC Accelerator instrument under Horizon Europe, including application strategy and submission support. Targeted at high-growth European SMEs and startups seeking blended grant/equity funding.
• Eurostars Advisory Consulting for the Eurostars program for R&D-performing SMEs, including consortium building and application support. Targeted at SMEs across Eurostars member countries undertaking cross-border R&D.
• SBIR/STTR (USA) Advisory Advisory on US Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, delivered via ifectis's Cambridge, Massachusetts operations. Targeted at German SMEs and startups seeking access to US federal R&D funding.
• Verbundprojekte in Horizon Europe (Collaborative Projects Advisory) Consulting for Horizon Europe collaborative R&D projects, including consortium structuring, proposal development, and cross-border project management. Targeted at European project consortia applying for collaborative Horizon Europe calls.

Quantifiable outcome

• ≥95% success rate for ZIM applications managed by ifectis
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and moderate.

• High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF)coreGTM or Marketing Partnerifectis is listed in the expert network of the High-Tech Gründerfonds, Germany's leading early-stage investor for technology startups. This listing positions ifectis as a recommended service provider for HTGF portfolio companies seeking R&D funding.
• Science4LifecoreGTM or Marketing Partnerifectis has supported Science4Life, Germany's most important business plan competition in the life sciences sector, as an evaluator for 10 years. This positions the firm within the Science4Life ecosystem and generates referral leads from competition participants.
• Life Science Consulting Network (LSCN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFor comprehensive support of Life Science companies, ifectis works closely with the Life Science Consulting Network (LSCN).
• Peak ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThrough its cooperation with Peak Consulting, ifectis can offer CFO Services to its clients, complementing its R&D funding and project management offerings.
• Leading EU Funding SpecialistcoreStrategic or Co-development Partnerifectis cooperates with one of Europe's leading specialists in EU funding (Horizon Europe) and US funding (SBIR/STTR) programs. This partner has >450 approved EU projects, providing ifectis clients with an exceptionally high success rate. This partnership is particularly critical for Horizon Europe Accelerator applications and collaborative projects, as well as for SBIR/STTR support for German companies with US subsidiaries.
• European Partner Network (Spain, Italy, France, Austria, Hungary, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Israel)moderateStrategic or Co-development Partnerifectis maintains a European network of experienced partners for the preparation, consortium building, and support of transnational and European projects. Partners are located in Spain, Italy, France, Austria, Hungary, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, and Israel, enabling ifectis to facilitate cross-border R&D project consortia for its clients.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• euradia GmbH: German consulting firm specializing in R&D funding, innovation management and Horizon Europe applications for SMEs. Closely comparable to ifectis in service scope (ZIM, national and EU programmes) and Mittelstand/startup target market.
• EurA AG: German innovation consultancy with offices across multiple Länder, supporting SMEs on R&D funding (ZIM, KMU-innovativ), Horizon Europe and innovation projects. Direct peer offering overlapping services to a similar Mittelstand client base.
• accelopment AG: Switzerland-based consultancy specialised in EU research funding proposal writing and project management, with strong focus on Horizon Europe collaborative projects. Comparable to ifectis's EU funding and consortium-management service lines.
• PNO Consultants: One of the largest EU funding and innovation consultancies in Europe, helping companies secure national and EU grants. Direct competitor to ifectis on Horizon Europe, Eurostars and national R&D funding advisory mandates.
• ZENIT GmbH: North Rhine-Westphalia-based innovation consultancy advising SMEs on national and EU R&D funding, technology commercialisation and innovation management. Comparable German Mittelstand funding advisory peer.
• inspiringIT / Inspiring Advisory: Boutique EU funding and innovation consultancy advising SMEs and research institutions on Horizon Europe and other public funding programmes. Closely comparable to ifectis on size, service scope and target customers.
• ICON-Project: EU-focused consulting firm offering proposal writing, project management and consortium building for Horizon Europe and other EU funding programmes. Comparable in scale and service mix to ifectis's EU funding practice.

Broad incumbents

• Steinbeis GmbH & Co. KG für Technologietransfer: Large, established German technology transfer and innovation consultancy network with significantly broader service portfolio (R&D, funding, M&A, education) and much larger headcount. Competes in overlapping Mittelstand R&D funding advisory mandates.
• VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH: Major German innovation service provider supporting government and industry on R&D programmes, including project management of large BMBF/BMWi initiatives. Adjacent incumbent operating at programme level rather than purely advisory level.
• RINA Consulting (RINA S.p.A.): International engineering consultancy with an EU funding advisory practice helping companies access Horizon Europe and related innovation programmes. Larger, broader incumbent with overlapping capability but wider portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ifectis