This. Is founded (and liquidated) my GmbH with only 12.500€ deposited to the business bank account. Note this is not a cost, it just moves to the corporate account and can be used to pay expenses (notary, lawyers, hardware etc.). The remaining 12.500 are a permanent loan that the proprietory needs to cover on in case there is a liquidity shortage or liability suit etc. In my case I never paid the remaining 12.500€, and in liquidation process it balances out to zero.

But if you think founding a german company is difficult, wait until have you do an ordered liquidation (not bankruptcy) - that is madness on its own.