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1. Access to information

2. Access to capital

Access to information

Young Entrepreneurs Association Hungary (FIVOSZ)

One of the most significant advocates of start-up supporters is the National Association of Young Entrepreneurs (Fiatal Vállalkozók Országos Szövetsége, FIVOSZ), which provides information on government and private opportunities on its website. (For more information on the FIVOSZ, see 3.2.)

Design Terminal

The main coordinator for public opportunities of start-up funding is Design Terminal, a non-profit organisation, dealing with business and cultural talent management. Its operations are funded by government grants and company partnerships. State grants are provided in the form of a public service contract signed with the Prime Minister's Office (Miniszterelnökség). As such, Design Terminal is required to provide regular reporting, including the submission of annual and project-based financial statements.

Their activities include a Mentoring Program for start-ups; professional guidance, networking possibilities, funding for space industry entrepreneurs and the digitalization of the start-up sector, in cooperation with the Hungarian Chamber of Agriculture. They are also running a start-up scholarship programme, supporting start-ups to become a 'Fintech' and contribute to the success of Europe's space programmes by exploring innovative ideas.

Confederation of Hungarian Business

The Confederation of Hungarian Business (Vállalkozók és Munkáltatók Országos Szövetsége, VOSZ) tasks include interest representation of entrepreneurs and increasing the capital strength and marketability of small and medium-sized enterprises. They also provide information on regulatory changes, provide support to business development and networking, and represents entrepreneurs in legislation and other processes. 

They have a start-up support programme, called VOSZPort, in which they promote member engagement, support the expansion of memebership and facilitate dialogue between entrepreneurs and cultural and social opinion leaders. They plan to improve this programme to provide start-up enterprises with access to free guidance to support the management of their daily business operations.

According to ministry information, in 2025, the confederation plans to establish a nationwide advisory network to deliver a wide range of targeted and personalised services to meet the specific needs of participating enterprises. They will also organise workshops across the entire country, where experts and representatives of business interest organisations can support entrepreneurs to improve their knowledge and competencies. These workshops will also provide opportunities for participants to benefit from personalised business counselling services.

Access to capital

National Research, Development and Innovation Office

The mission of the National Research, Development and Innovation Office (Nemzeti Kutatási, Fejlesztési és Innovációs Hivatal) is to support the scientific and innovation ecosystem to build a competitive Hungary.

The Office also supports business innovation and market-oriented research and development activities, partly carried out in business-academia cooperation, through programmes with an investor approach.

Hiventures

One of the biggest start-up funding organisations is Hiventures.

'Hiventures' mission is to support Hungarian startups from the idea phase to international expansion. We provide hands-on support for our founders while contributing financially to their long-term vision.'

The Fund is a state-owned venture capital company that aims to provide financing solutions to Hungarian entrepreneurs with capital using their own and EU resources. The National Research, Development and Innovation Office (Nemzeti Kutatási, Fejlesztési és Innovációs Hivatal) and the Hungarian Development Bank are their professional supervisor. Their target group includes SMEs and large companies and their aim is to establish long-term strategic cooperation with them. They have a mentor network also and the companies have the opportunity to receive professional support for the ventures in the 'pre-seed phase'. Though the Fund does not aim specifically at young people, they can apply for a support as well.

Széchenyi Funds

The Széchenyi Funds (Széchenyi Alapok) also has a significant role in funding. Its aim is to improve the competitiveness of the Hungarian economy, to help develop innovative industries, to enable domestic SMEs to go public, and to achieve economic development goals. At first, they funded only SMEs, then, from 2020, the Fund expanded its portfolio and it focuses primarily on large companies and from 2023, start-ups are also included in the funding which means young people also have the opportunity to receive support (though they are not explicitly considered as a target group of the funding).

Budapest Enterprise Agency Public Foundation

Other important initiatives in Budapest are coordinated by the Budapest Enterprise Agency Public Foundation (Budapesti Vállalkozásfejlesztési Közalapítvány).

'The two pillars of the activity of the Agency are innovative SME development and non-profit microfinancing. BEA is one of the few European SME development organizations that provide both low-amount (below 32 000 EUR) financial services for micro entrepreneurs and non-financial, business development services to SMEs. Women and young entrepreneurs are emphasised target groups of the services of the BEA.'

Foundation for Small Enterprise Economic Development (SEED)

The Foundation for Small Enterprise Economic Development [Kisvállalkozás-Fejlesztési Alapítvány (SEED alapítvány)] supports the competitiveness of small enterprises through the development of entrepreneurial knowledge through the reinforcement of the non-profit sector, and by pursuing activities in the field of equal treatment. The Foundation has programmes that include young people as a specific target group, such as the National Entrepreneurial Mentoring Programme that provides a mentor for young entrepreneurs and supports them in developing their business. They also launched the 'Kurázsi' Consortium that aims at tackling the problem of low entrepreneurial activity among young people with providing practice-oriented preparation outside formal education systems, from primary school pupils to those in secondary and higher education.

SME Technology Plus Loan Programme

The government nationwide loan programmes aim at supporting technological development of SMEs. One of the main programmes is the SME Technology Plus Loan Programme (KKV Technológia Plusz Hitelprogram). The goal is the technological and organisational support of SMEs to increase the productivity and added value of enterprises. The loans are available with a fixed interest rate of 0%, and can be used to get new equipment, to implement real estate and for renewable energy investments. Entrepreneurs can also purchase intellectual property and electric vehicles.

In addition, the loan may also be used to finance training and advisory services, as well as inventory purchases. The programme is also accessible to start-up enterprises without a closed business year and even to companies with no employees, as well as to sole entrepreneurs. Start-up enterprises may apply for loans of up to HUF 25 million (about EUR 62 500). Though the loan is not targeted specifically at young people, they can also apply for it.

Széchenyi Card Programme

The aim of the Széchenyi Card Programme (Széchenyi Kártya Program) is to provide businesses with stable and predictable financial resources, either to maintain their day-to-day operations or to finance longer-term developments and investments. The programme offers a wide range of financial products available from November 2025, including microloans, investment loans, overdraft facilities, liquidity loans with a fixed annual net interest rate of 3%, and leasing arrangements, as well as specialised products for enterprises operating in the tourism and agricultural sectors. 

The microloan can be applied for even without a closed business year, and start-up enterprises may receive up to HUF 50 million (about EUR 125 000). Furthermore, the Agricultural Széchenyi Investment Loan (Agrár Széchenyi Beruházási Hitel) may also be applied for without an operational history if the loan is used to finance the purchase of agricultural land.