Verification Grants

Verification Grant is a public grant that helps you test and validate an innovative business idea before taking the next step.

The grant is used to reduce risk at an early stage of development, for example by analysing customer needs, market potential, technology or the business model. The goal is to give you a stronger basis for decision-making before investing more time and resources or applying for other financing.

Verification Grant is suitable when you are at an early stage and need answers to key questions before committing time and money.

It is particularly valuable if you want to assess whether your idea is feasible, unique and attractive to customers. The grant helps you avoid unnecessary risks and focus on the right next steps.

Almi’s Verification Grant is aimed at Swedish small and medium-sized enterprises in an early phase, as well as established companies that want to develop an innovative business idea.

In some cases, private individuals may also be eligible. See the question below for the applicable conditions.

Yes, in some cases private individuals can apply for the Verification Grant.

To be eligible, you must:

• have a Swedish personal identity number
• have an account with a Swedish bank
• have a clear intention to start a business in Sweden

The purpose is to ensure that the grant supports business ideas with the potential to develop into Swedish companies.

Private individuals who do not have a Swedish personal identity number, a Swedish bank account or the intention to start a business in Sweden are not eligible for the Verification Grant.

No. Both new and established companies can receive the Verification Grant.

What matters is that the business idea is in a development phase and needs to be verified before the next step is taken.

When assessing an application, Almi evaluates whether the business has development potential, or whether the idea is promising but expected to take longer to reach growth.

One purpose of the Verification Grant is to validate the potential of the idea. It is therefore entirely possible that the verification leads to a reassessment of the business idea. This is considered a natural and valuable outcome of the process.

Verification Grant is used to purchase external services that help verify critical parts of your business idea.

Examples of eligible costs include:

• verification of customer needs and market potential
• market and competitor analyses
• novelty searches or Freedom to Operate (FTO) analyses
• development of a simple MVP (Minimum Viable Product)
• legal or regulatory assessments

The purpose is to generate knowledge, data and insights that reduce risk in the next phase.

Verification Grant may not be used for costs that are not directly related to verification.

This includes, for example:

• travel and travel expenses
• representation
• marketing
• training or education
• patent applications
• prototypes or investments that create lasting value

The grant is intended for analysis and risk reduction, not for implementation or production.

In many cases, companies can receive up to SEK 100,000 in funding. Private individuals can receive up to SEK 25,000.

The amount depends on the region and the assessment of the business idea. The exact amount is determined in dialogue with your advisor.

The Verification Grant normally does not require any co-financing.

This means you do not need to match the grant with your own funds or other financing.

Verification Grant is provided as so-called de minimis aid.

This means there is a cap on how much public aid a company may receive over a rolling three-year period.

• The period is rolling and includes the current year and the three preceding years
• The total amount of de minimis aid must not exceed EUR 300,000 during this period
• All de minimis aid is included, regardless of whether it comes from the state, a region, a municipality or another public authority
• The amount is calculated at group level and refers to the gross amount, before tax or deductions
• The calculation is based on the date when the right to the aid is granted, not when the funds are paid out

Your advisor will help review any previous public aid and ensure compliance with the rules

To apply for the Verification Grant, you first need to be in contact with an advisor at Almi.

In the dialogue, you discuss your idea, what needs to be verified and whether Verification Grant is the right support for you. You will then be given access to Almi’s e-service for submitting the application.

This ensures that the application is relevant, complete and tailored to your situation.

You need to be able to describe your business idea and what you want to verify.

The documentation usually includes:

• a short description of the idea and business model
• what you want to verify and why
• how the verification will be carried out
• a simple budget and timeline

Your advisor will guide you if additional material is required.

Processing usually takes up to a few weeks once the application is complete.

The timeframe may vary depending on the scope of the case and the number of applications received.

Once the grant is approved, you can start carrying out the verification activities that have been approved.

You will also receive follow-up from Almi in accordance with the applicable grant conditions.

Even if the business idea does not move forward, you will have gained valuable insights into what needs to be adjusted or why the concept does not hold.

This is a natural part of the innovation process and helps you make better decisions going forward.