In Germany, there are thousands of public economic development programs and a vast number of economic development agencies. However, it raises the question of whether this immense selection is beneficial for the companies and startups that are to be supported. Alexander Knuth examines this question in the context of startups from the science and higher education sectors through interviews, surveys, expert workshops, and process analyses. He demonstrates that entrepreneurs need intensive dialogues and continuous support for their startup preparations, as they can hardly navigate the array of funding opportunities available. Additionally, there are significant barriers to cooperation among funding agencies. Therefore, optimal support for startup projects requires coordination of funding offers. The author explains under what circumstances this is necessary.