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BAFA Funding for SMEs

AI Potential Consulting for SMEs:
—up to 50% BAFA funding available.

Lighthouse Consultings is a consulting firm listed with the BAFA (UBF No. 214399). The customized AI potential assessment is eligible for subsidies for qualifying SMEs: You will receive a prioritized roadmap for implementing AI in your processes, not just information about funding. Approval by the BAFA; no legal entitlement.

up to 50%subsidy available (former federal states)
3,500 EURCalculation basis per consultation
through 2028Funding Guidelines Extended

Schedule a Free Initial Consultation

In the video, 75 seconds

Step by Step Toward an AI Operating System

The starting point

The potential of AI is rarely the problem. The question is where it's really worth it.

Many SMEs know that their processes hold potential for AI, but they don't know where to start. A trial version here, a pilot project there—and in the end, they're left with a patchwork of solutions instead of a strategy.

01

No clear starting point. The most costly mistake in AI projects is rarely choosing the wrong technology, but rather the lack of a starting point: people experiment instead of setting priorities.

02

Budgetary hurdle at the outset. A thorough analysis costs money before its benefits become apparent. BAFA funding helps overcome precisely this hurdle: grants covering up to 50% of consulting costs are available.

03

Unclear priorities. Without an assessment of benefits, effort, and risk, it remains unclear which processes will benefit most from AI and which are better left untouched.

The solution

AI Potential Consulting: Analysis, Assessment, Roadmap

A customized consultation in accordance with the requirements of the BAFA guidelines: a structured analysis with specific recommendations for action, documented in a consultation report. Three components:

Current Situation Analysis

Mapping your processes and data flows: interviews, system landscape, recurring tasks. The foundation upon which every robust AI decision is built.

More on Potential Analysis

Potential Mapping

AI use cases are evaluated based on benefits, effort, and risk, including consideration of data protection and the EU AI Act. This turns gut feelings into a basis for decision-making.

More About AI Agents

Roadmap and Recommendations for Action

Prioritized actions, each with a business case, presented in a consulting report. This way, you'll know what to implement first and what the benefits will be.

Discuss the use case

The Path to Funding

Here's How the Grant Works, Step by Step

Important to note upfront: The application must be submitted before the contract is signed. The BAFA considers the signing of a consulting contract to mark the start of the consulting services, which would then disqualify the project from funding. That is why we strictly adhere to this sequence.

  1. 1

    Free Initial Consultation

    Together, we'll determine whether your company is eligible for funding: SME status according to the EU definition, company headquarters, and available funding allocation.

  2. 2

    You submit the application

    Exclusively online via the BAFA application platform, before the consultation begins. We will provide you with the necessary information regarding the content of the consultation at no additional charge.

  3. 3

    Wait for the informational letter

    Only once the BAFA information letter has been received will the consulting contract be signed and the consulting process begin: current state analysis, potential mapping, roadmap.

  4. 4

    Report, Invoice, Statement of Expenditures

    You will receive the consulting report, pay the invoice by bank transfer, and submit the proof of use to the BAFA within 6 months of receiving the informational letter.

Practical evidence

From Analysis to Implementation

Funding advice alone does not close the gap. Lighthouse Consulting combines potential assessment with genuine implementation expertise drawn from over 20 years of manufacturing and operations experience. Today, the FEW Automotive Group manages production and projects across five plants on three continents from a single, consolidated view: significantly fewer status meetings, faster decisions, and real-time transparency instead of manual weekly reports.

5 Works
3 Continents
1 Dashboard

Read the full case study

Good to Know

Frequently Asked Questions About BAFA Funding

Here are the most important answers right off the bat. We'll go over everything else during our free initial consultation.

Who is eligible for funding?
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as defined by the EU: fewer than 250 employees and either annual revenue of no more than 50 million EUR or total assets of no more than 43 million EUR. Affiliated companies are included in these counts, which means that subsidiaries are generally not eligible for funding. The location of your company’s headquarters is what matters, not our location. We’ll review this together during a free initial consultation.
How much is the grant?
The assessment basis is uniformly set at a maximum of 3,500 EUR per consultation. In the former western states, including Berlin and Leipzig, the funding rate is up to 50%, meaning a maximum grant of 1,750 EUR. In the former eastern states, as well as the Lüneburg and Trier regions, the rate is up to 80%, with a maximum of 2,800 EUR. A maximum of 5 subsidized consulting sessions per company are allowed over the entire duration of the guideline, including any extension, with no more than 2 per year. The grant is non-repayable; however, there is no legal entitlement to it, and approval is granted by the BAFA.
Is AI training also funded?
No. Training courses, workshops, and group formats are expressly excluded from funding. Individual AI potential consultations that include an analysis and specific recommendations for action are generally eligible for funding (subject to approval by the BAFA on a case-by-case basis). The Claude training program often builds on this, but it is a standalone, non-funded follow-up program.
What is the application process?
You must submit your application exclusively online via the BAFA application platform before the consulting services begin. Important: Simply signing a consulting contract is considered the start of the consulting services. That is why we will wait together for the information letter from the BAFA before signing a contract. After the consulting services are completed, you must submit the statement of funds within 6 months.
How long does the subsidy last?
The BAFA has extended the funding guidelines by two years; they will remain in effect until the end of 2028. For applications submitted on or after January 1, 2027, some steps will be simplified (no regional partner meeting, fewer forms, and online banking transaction statements accepted as proof of payment); at the same time, registration via ELSTER or BundID will become mandatory starting in January 2027. Toward the end of 2028, the deadline for submitting the statement of funds used will be shorter, so please do not wait until the last minute.As of: October 29, 2026 · Source: BAFA

Appropriate Next Steps

About TrainingClaude Training for TeamsThe next step after the consultation—which is not funded: Your team learns how to use AI productively in their daily work. About Potential Analysispotential analysisGet an initial assessment in 3 minutes: Where does your company stand in terms of structure, processes, and AI readiness? About Automationprocess automationOnce the roadmap is in place: Automation using n8n and KNIME, implemented in compliance with the GDPR.

Free and with no obligation

Start with a free initial consultation.

The BAFA guideline has been extended through the end of 2028. During our initial consultation, we’ll work with you to determine whether your company is eligible for a grant covering up to 50% of the cost of AI potential consulting. Approval is subject to review by the BAFA after the application is submitted; there is no legal entitlement to funding.

Schedule a Free Initial Consultation

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