HAMAG-BICRO Small Loans for Women Entrepreneurs and Start-ups up to EUR 100,000, conditions and status
Note, 30 October 2026. The programme Small Loans for Women Entrepreneurs and Start-up Entrepreneurs is temporarily closed because its funds have been used up, and no reopening date has been published. What is currently open for young people, women and start-ups is covered in our guide Grants and loans for young people, women and start-up entrepreneurs 2026. This article was published in August 2025 as an announcement, and the conditions below have been aligned with the final programme text.
Alongside the EU calls announced for the autumn of 2025 (for example the digitalisation call), HAMAG-BICRO announced a loan for start-up entrepreneurs and women entrepreneurs, aimed at making initial investments easier and encouraging business growth, with the possibility of a principal write-off of up to 50%.
In brief
- Small Loans for Women Entrepreneurs and Start-up Entrepreneurs are HAMAG-BICRO loans of EUR 25,001 to 100,000 at a fixed 0.5% interest rate, with a grace period of up to 1 year and repayment of up to 10 years including the grace period.
- Working capital may make up to 30% of the loan, and the drawdown period is 6 months from disbursement.
- Up to 50% of the drawn principal is written off with regular repayment and new hires, 10% per newly employed person, or 15% if the new employee is a woman or a person under 30.
- They are intended for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises younger than 3 years, enterprises in which women have held more than 50% for at least 2 years, and natural persons who are about to set up a company or a sole proprietorship.
- The programme is temporarily closed because its funds have been used up, and no reopening date had been published by 30 October 2026.
Financial instruments are one of the most effective ways to channel public funds smartly and to encourage the development of the companies that matter most to every economy, small and medium-sized enterprises. By focusing on projects with clear market potential, favourable sources of financing enable investment through loans, guarantees, interest rate subsidies, and equity and quasi-equity financing. In other words, they provide exactly the push that is missing for a good idea to grow into a sustainable business.
The loans are intended for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the following target groups:
- Start-up entrepreneurs (companies up to 3 years old)
- Companies majority-owned by women (for at least 2 years before the application is submitted)
- Natural persons who are only planning to open their own company or sole proprietorship (obrt)
What the loan can finance
With this loan you can cover tangible and intangible investments, from equipment, machinery, software and technologies to investment in business development.
Financing of working capital up to a maximum of 30% of the loan is also allowed.
HAMAG-BICRO
Small Loans for Women Entrepreneurs and Start-ups at a glance
Principal write-off per newly employed person
Who can apply
Programme conditions
- Loan amount is EUR 25,001 to 100,000
- Interest rate: 0.5%
- Grace period: up to 12 months
- Repayment period: up to 10 years, quarterly instalments
- Drawdown period: 6 months
- Principal write-off with new hires, up to 50%
Additional benefits:
- For each newly employed person, 10% of the drawn principal is written off, and 15% for each newly employed woman or person under 30, up to 50% in total. The new employee must work full-time on a permanent contract for at least 12 months, and the total headcount must not fall below the level at application.
The application procedure includes submitting a business plan and supporting documentation. To prepare all the documentation in time and develop a solid business plan, contact us at info@omniasolutions.hr.
While the programme is closed, check the conditions of the Micro Loan for Growth and Inclusion for investments up to EUR 50,000, and what is open for young people, women and start-ups, including the HBOR programme, in our guide Grants and loans for young people, women and start-up entrepreneurs 2026. We track the status of all HAMAG-BICRO programmes in the guide HAMAG-BICRO loans 2026, and how a EUR 50,000 loan compares with an HBOR and a bank loan is worked out in our article HAMAG loan in practice.
Frequently asked questions about Small Loans for Women Entrepreneurs and Start-ups
Can I apply for the HAMAG-BICRO loan for women entrepreneurs now?
No. The programme is temporarily closed because its funds have been used up, and no reopening date had been published by 30 October 2026. What is currently open for young people, women and start-ups is covered in our guide Grants and loans for young people, women and start-up entrepreneurs 2026.
Who counts as a woman entrepreneur in this programme?
An enterprise in which one or more women, as beneficial owners, have held more than 50% for at least 2 years before the application. The owner, or at least one co-owner, must work full-time in the business.
How much of the principal can be written off?
Up to 50% of the drawn principal, 10% for each additional new employee, or 15% if the new employee is a woman or a person under 30. The conditions are regular repayment of the loan and full-time permanent employment for at least 12 months.
Which activities are excluded?
Agriculture and fisheries, trade, financial activities, real estate, leasing, employment services, fossil fuels and tobacco, and residential property is also excluded.
Guide: HAMAG-BICRO loans 2026
- HAMAG-BICRO loans 2026: all programmes of HAMAG-BICRO (Croatian Agency for SMEs, Innovations and Investments) with their status on the date of the check, interest rates and conditions for principal write-off.
- Micro Loans for Growth and Inclusion 2026 (Mikro zajmovi za rast i uključenost): EUR 1,000 to 50,000 at 0.5% interest and a write-off of up to 30% of the principal.
- HAMAG-BICRO loans: advice and application: how we prepare the application and what you need to send us for a check.
>> All 2026 guides in one place
You can also follow all information on new EU and national grant calls on our LinkedIn profile.
About the author
Matija Vlahovski, MSc in Economics
Co-founder and director of Omnia Solutions. He has more than ten years of experience in business financing, mostly with HAMAG-BICRO loans, HBOR loans, investment studies and tax incentives. He has taken part in more than 90 projects, through which clients were awarded more than EUR 12 million in grants and more than EUR 2 million in tax incentives. Before consulting, he worked at Privredna banka Zagreb, preparing loan proposals for small and medium-sized enterprises. He holds a HANFA licence.
