Yunus Environment Hub

Name

Yunus Environment Hub

Legal name

Yunus Environment Hub GmbH

Website

https://yunusenvironmenthub.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Business Incubation

NAICS

Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924), Management of Companies and Enterprises (55)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Circular Economy & Resource Efficiency (BPADALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Circular Economy & Sustainable Products (Reuse, Repair, Upcycling) (BPAGALAF), Environmental Education, Capacity Building & Community Engagement (BPADALAO)

Keywords

• Social business incubation
• Circular economy consulting
• Environmental capacity building
• Waste sector training
• Impact accelerator programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Wiesbaden

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Philanthropic Funding: Yunus Environment Hub operates as a non-profit organization (Yunus Environment Hub Philanthropy gGmbH) accepting donations from individual and institutional donors. Donations support ongoing support for social business entrepreneurs, research activities, and CO2 measurement tools for social businesses. Donations can be made via Benevity.org or direct bank transfer to GLS Bank.
2. Program and Consulting Services: The organization designs and implements entrepreneurship programs, builds new ventures with public and private sector partners, provides advisory services, and offers capacity building programs for businesses, government agencies, civil society organizations, and informal sector. Funded by institutional partners including GIZ, EU, BMZ, German Federal Ministry.
3. Expert Network Services: Engages experts for international projects on short or long-term basis through an Expression of Interest process.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Yunus Environment Hub is a global social business network that designs and delivers incubation, acceleration, training, and advisory programs for environmental and circular economy social enterprises. It operates programs across 43 countries that support entrepreneurs, informal waste workers, governments, and corporates through venture building, capacity building, policy advisory, and self-learning platforms. The organization is funded through philanthropic donations, institutional grants, and consulting engagements with public and private sector partners.

Product overview

Yunus Environment Hub is a Global Social Business Network that offers a comprehensive portfolio of programs and services focused on solving the environmental crisis through social business solutions. The organization provides incubation and acceleration programs (CirculaRise Accelerator, GrowUp Incubator, SHE STARS, Build Back Better), training platforms (StartNow self-learning platform, CirculaRise Academy), and specialized initiatives (Zero Plastic Waste Cities, ValuCred, Extended Producer Responsibility Toolbox, ReuseForAll, Marine:DeFRAG, Smart Cities Innovation Program, Amazonas Verde, BIA for Mountains and Islands, Training for the Informal Waste Sector). The programs are designed to support social business entrepreneurs at various stages, from early-stage ideation through growth and scaling, with a focus on circular economy solutions, waste management, and environmental sustainability. Yunus Environment Hub operates globally with particular focus on Africa, Asia, and Europe, supporting entrepreneurs to develop and scale inclusive circular solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CirculaRise Accelerator A 6-month accelerator program based in Germany that supports growth-stage social businesses to develop and scale inclusive circular solutions through structured coaching, expert-led masterclasses, personalized coaching, and peer-to-peer exchange, with 6 months of on-demand support and lifelong community access.
• CirculaRise Academy A training and mentoring program supporting women entrepreneurs to build resilient, sustainable businesses through development of inclusive circular strategies and Just Transition principles.
• GrowUp Incubator A 6-month program supporting early-stage social business entrepreneurs with an environmental focus, providing tailored mentorship, capacity-building workshops, and networking opportunities.
• StartNow A self-learning platform where aspiring entrepreneurs interact and build social business plans to address environmental challenges, combining online and offline experiences with weekly mentoring sessions.
• Circular Impact Procurement Initiative (CIPI) A program funded by the European Union and German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy that transforms procurement practices and empowers social businesses offering circular economy products and services in Germany.
• Zero Plastic Waste Cities A modular social business approach improving municipal solid waste management systems with focus on empowering informal waste workers and vulnerable communities through feasibility studies, trainings, and venture building programs.
• ValuCred Solutions for design and financing of sustainable plastic waste management systems, including a Standard Process Model (SPM) for transparent calculation and valorisation of voluntary EPR and plastic credits.
• Extended Producer Responsibility Toolbox A collection of internationally relevant knowledge on EPR for packaging, containing detailed training materials, practical country examples, and FAQs to promote knowledge exchange and enhance EPR system development worldwide.
• Open Reuse (ReuseForAll) Open-source platform launched in partnership with Common House to drive adoption and expansion of reuse models worldwide, providing step-by-step guides, digital tools, and practical resources for designing, launching, and scaling reuse solutions.
• Waste Wise Partnership Co-led with UN-Habitat, this partnership aims to improve municipal solid waste management in cities and facilitate transition from linear to circular economies for healthier ecosystems and communities.
• Training for the Informal Waste Sector Training programs for informal waste sector workers including Environment Health and Safety (EHS), digital skills for EPR scheme integration, and financial skills to improve working conditions and minimize environmental impacts.
• Circular Ethiopia Comprehensive training program fostering circular economy opportunities through social business entrepreneurship in Ethiopia, including open-access webinars, idea competition, 4-week mentoring program, and Demo Day.
• SHE STARS Program supporting women-owned businesses impacted by Covid-19 and climate risks, providing mentorship, business training, and networking opportunities to build resilient and competitive enterprises.
• Build Back Better Social Business Program Program supporting 25 social businesses in Kenya to harness circular economy advantages for sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic impact.
• CIRCO Hub Vietnam Partnership with GIZ Go Circular Program and CIRCO to drive circular economy practices by training companies in ideation and implementation of circular design strategies using the CIRCO method.
• Smart Cities Innovation Program Specialised program supporting African Innovation Support Organisations to promote cities as drivers for climate action and inclusive development through internal capacity trainings and access to global networks.
• Innovate2PREVENT Program on behalf of PREVENT Waste Alliance with 15 selected innovators worldwide, combining innovation contest with business acceleration to develop inclusive and data-driven circular business solutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 28 social businesses incubated and accelerated across 43 countries
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Yunus Sports HubcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Sister spin-off from Grameen Creative Lab focused on social business solutions for the sports world. Part of the Yunus family of organizations working together on social business movement.
• Grameen Creative LabcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Parent organization that established the Social Business Movement. GCL organized the Global Social Business Summit and created spin-offs including Yunus Environment Hub (2019) and Yunus Sports Hub (2018). YEH is a proud spin-off continuing GCL's mission.
• UN Environment Programme (UNEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN accredited organization. YEH conducts studies on informal waste sector and plastic credit financing instruments for UNEP.
• UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN accredited organization enabling engagement with international climate forums and networks.
• UN-Habitat (Waste Wise Partnership)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded Waste Wise Partnership (WaP) within Waste Wise Cities programme. Partnership aims to improve municipal solid waste management and circular economy transition.
• ALBA Group Asia LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in RECOVER project to optimize plastic waste collection in Ho Chi Minh City. ALBA Group is a world-leading recycling and environmental services company headquartered in Germany.
• Catalyst NowminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for Catalyzing Change Week 2025 session on Circular Impact Procurement, co-organized under CIPI initiative.
• Zero Waste FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSigned MoU at Zero Waste Forum 2025 to strengthen local governance for zero waste cities, build municipal capacities for circular economy, and support sustainable development aligned with SDGs.
• Common House / AlgramocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched Open Reuse platform at Zero Waste Forum 2025, with support from Röchling Foundation. Common House Founder José Manuel Moller is also Vice-Chair of UN Advisory Board on Zero Waste.
• BASFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Starting Ventures program supporting Vietnam's informal waste sector. BASF and YEH provide on-ground training for waste workers on EHS practices and entrepreneurial skills.
• GIZ Go Circular ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with CIRCO to launch CIRCO Hub Vietnam, training companies in circular design strategies using internationally tested CIRCO method.
• CIRCOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational circular economy design organization. Jointly launching CIRCO Hub Vietnam with GIZ Go Circular Program to drive circular economy practices.
• Ellen MacArthur FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Circular Ethiopia webinar series providing global perspective on circular economy solutions.
• PREVENT Waste AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner for Innovate2Prevent program with 15 selected innovators globally, combining innovation contest with business acceleration.
• BNP ParibascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in launch of ClimateSeed, BNP Paribas' first social business venture providing carbon reductions and reporting solutions.
• Grameen TelecomcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint collaboration on Grameen Precious Plastic pilot recycling workspace in Dhaka, Bangladesh with open-source project Precious Plastic.
• Fundación CompazminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Bridges for Peace Program supporting small-holder farmer organisations in rural Colombia.
• Social Enterprise EthiopiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner for Circular Ethiopia mentoring program and social business competition.
• Circular Action HubminorOthersMember organization in the circular economy ecosystem.
• Mountain PartnershipminorOthersMember of UN Mountain Partnership for sustainable mountain development.
• reflecta NETWORKminorOthersMember network in the circular economy and sustainability space.
• ClimateSeedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYEH portfolio social business providing carbon credits from Gold Standard certified sustainability projects. YEH uses ClimateSeed to offset unavoidable carbon emissions and promotes social business practices.
• GLS BankminorOthersYEH banking partner, Germany's first ethical bank focused on cultural, social, and ecological initiatives.
• Greensta / Greenpeace Energy eGminorOthersWeb hosting provider using 100% renewable energy for YEH website.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Direct peers

• PREVENT Waste Alliance: BMZ-funded multi-stakeholder platform on waste prevention that commissions YEH to deliver Innovate2PREVENT and informal waste sector training; directly comparable in mandate, funder base, and program design.
• Ashoka: Global social entrepreneur support network and fellowship program with operations across dozens of countries; directly comparable to YEH in mission, entrepreneur-selection approach, and global changemaker network model.
• Grameen Creative Lab: Parent organization and front-runner of the Social Business Movement founded by Prof. Muhammad Yunus and Hans Reitz in 2009; YEH is a direct spin-off of GCL and shares the same social business incubation model and network.
• Acumen: Impact organization that invests in early-stage social enterprises and runs accelerator programs in East Africa, South Asia, and Latin America; competes for similar funder dollars and social-business founders as YEH.
• Yunus Sports Hub: Sister spin-off from Grameen Creative Lab (launched 2018) applying the same social business model to the sports sector; shares Yunus/Grameen brand, methodology, and operational playbook as YEH.
• Echoing Green: Fellowship and leadership network for emerging social entrepreneurs globally; comparable in mission, cohort-based support, and global alumni network to YEH's incubator/accelerator programs.

Broad incumbents

• Ellen MacArthur Foundation: Leading global circular economy foundation that partners with YEH on Circular Ethiopia webinars; much larger and broader in scope, but addresses overlapping circular-economy audiences and policy forums.
• Social Enterprise UK: UK membership body representing social enterprises and providing policy advocacy, peer learning, and programs; shares YEH's mission of supporting social businesses but is more advocacy- and membership-focused.
• Circle Economy: Dutch impact organization producing the Circularity Gap Report and running circular economy accelerator and tooling programs for businesses and governments; overlapping with YEH on circular economy capacity-building and policy advisory.

Others

• UN-Habitat Waste Wise Cities: UN agency program with which YEH co-founded the Waste Wise Partnership; both work on municipal solid waste management and circular economy in developing cities, though UN-Habitat is a multilateral agency and YEH a non-profit implementer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@yunusenvironmenthub
• Facebookfacebook.com/Yunusenvironmenthub
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yunuseh
• Instagraminstagram.com/yunusenvironmenthub
• Xx.com/YunusEnvHub

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Yunus Environment Hub