The Possibilists

What The Possibilists does

The Possibilists is a Berlin-based, non-profit global alliance of youth social innovation networks, initiated in 2021 and operated by ChangemakerXchange gGmbH. It serves young changemakers, activists, and social entrepreneurs aged 15–35 by producing bi-annual scientific studies on their lives, challenges, and needs, and by maintaining an open global Directory of 600+ grant-making, capacity-building, and support programs. The 2023 wave surveyed 1,656 changemakers across 135 countries, and the alliance's research output has expanded to include the Europe Report 2024, the AI Deep Dive 2025, the Global Report 2025, and an announced Future Economy Report 2026.

The alliance comprises 20 of the world's largest youth social innovation networks (including Ashoka, One Young World, Enactus, Obama Foundation, and the Kofi Annan Foundation) plus nearly 50 local and regional youth organizations, collectively reaching hundreds of thousands of changemakers. Distribution of research and the Directory flows through these alliance partners' own communities. The Directory platform includes an AI-powered Support Finder chatbot that helps users search opportunities by geography, support type, and sector.

The organization is a non-profit and generates no commercial revenue. It is funded through institutional grants and foundation backing from SAP, Google.org, and Enlight Foundation, with academic partnership from Wirtschafts Universität Wien. The Possibilists® and ChangemakerXchange® are registered EUIPO trademarks. The core team is 1–10 employees based in Berlin. GTM motion is community-led, with the bi-annual study serving as the primary demand-generation and credibility mechanism for attracting new alliance members and co-creating systemic solutions.

Name

The Possibilists

Legal name

ChangemakerXchange gGmbH

Website

https://thepossibilists.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Possibilists is a Berlin-based non-profit global alliance, operated by ChangemakerXchange gGmbH, that runs bi-annual scientific studies and a 600+ organization Directory to support young changemakers aged 15–35 across 135+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Research and Alliance Platform

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

Keywords

• Youth social innovation
• Nonprofit research alliance
• Changemaker support directory
• Global youth research
• Philanthropic knowledge platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Institutional Grants and Foundation Funding: The Possibilists operates as a non-profit initiative under ChangemakerXchange gGmbH and is funded through grants, institutional support, and foundation backing. The alliance is kindly supported by organizations such as SAP, Google.org, and Enlight Foundation.
2. Alliance Membership and Licensing: The alliance model involves large youth social innovation networks (e.g., Ashoka, One Young World, Enactus) and local/regional youth organizations joining as members. Social Impact Award operates a licensing model enabling local impact across 29 countries.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Possibilists is a global alliance that produces bi-annual scientific studies on the lives, challenges, and needs of young changemakers worldwide and operates a free, open Directory platform listing 600+ grant-making, capacity building, and support programs. It also functions as a collaborative ecosystem connecting 20+ of the world's largest youth social innovation networks with nearly 50 local youth organizations for collective action.

Product overview

The Possibilists operates as a platform offering research publications, a searchable directory of support programs, and a networked alliance of youth social innovation organizations. The core offerings include the bi-annual Global Reports (2021, 2023, 2025), specialized reports (AI Deep Dive 2025, Europe Report 2024, Future Economy Study), the Directory database of over 600 support organizations with an AI-powered search assistant, and the Alliance/Network connecting global youth changemaker support organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Possibilists Directory An open global database of 600+ grant-making, capacity building, and support programs for young changmakers, searchable by geography, support type, and sector, featuring an AI-powered Support Finder chatbot. Free to access; no account or payment required.
• Global Report 2025 Latest bi-annual scientific study from The Possibilists, providing rigorous, data-driven insights into the lives, work, and needs of young changemakers globally.
• Global Report 2023 Bi-annual scientific study exploring the impact, challenges, and needs of young changemakers, based on survey data from 1,656 changemakers across 135 countries.
• AI Deep Dive 2025 Focused supplementary report examining AI-related aspects of youth social innovation and changemaking.
• Europe Report 2024 Regional report focusing on the state and needs of young changemakers in Europe.
• Future Economy Study Study examining the economic dimensions and future prospects for young changemakers.
• The Possibilists Alliance Global alliance of the world's largest youth social innovation networks and nearly 50 local youth organizations, collectively reaching hundreds of thousands of young changemakers through shared opportunities and collaborative research.
• The Possibilists Network Collaborative network of leading support organisations for youth social innovation, where Network Partners regularly meet virtually to create connections, learn from each other, and create meaningful collaborations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1656 young changemakers surveyed across 135 countries in the 2023 Study
• +5 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• AshokacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAshoka is the world's largest network of social entrepreneurs and a founding member of The Possibilists Alliance. As one of the 20 alliance partners, Ashoka contributes to the bi-annual study, co-creates collective actions, and helps align the global support ecosystem for young changemakers.
• ChangemakerXchangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChangemakerXchange is the initiating organization behind The Possibilists. As the managing entity (ChangemakerXchange gGmbH), it is responsible for The Possibilists' operations, governance, and strategic direction.
• EnactuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnactus is a global non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring students to improve the world through entrepreneurial action and a founding alliance member of The Possibilists.
• Global ChangemakerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Changemakers empowers young people to play an active role in the world's transition to a fairer and more sustainable future and is a core alliance member of The Possibilists.
• Junior Chamber International (JCI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJCI is a global non-profit network of young active citizens aged 18 and older dedicated to creating positive change, and a member of The Possibilists Alliance.
• Kofi Annan Foundation / Extremely TogethercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Kofi Annan Foundation, along with its youth initiative Extremely Together, supports young leaders in driving peace and social change, and participates in The Possibilists Alliance.
• MasterpeacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMasterPeace is a global grassroots movement using arts and creativity for social impact and peacebuilding. It operates 60+ clubs across multiple countries and is a core alliance member.
• Obama FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Obama Foundation engages young leaders worldwide to accelerate positive change. It is a core alliance member of The Possibilists and featured supporter of young changemakers in the Directory.
• One Young WorldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne Young World is the global forum for young leaders, identifying, promoting, and connecting impactful young leaders from 190+ countries. It is a core alliance member and featured in the Directory.
• Peace FirstcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeace First is a global non-profit that equips young people with skills, funding, and mentorship to become peacebuilders and is a core alliance member of The Possibilists.
• Restless DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRestless Development is a global youth-led organization focused on civic engagement and development, and a core alliance member of The Possibilists.
• SDSN YouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSDSN Youth is the global youth division of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, mobilizing youth to advance the SDGs. It is a core alliance member.
• Social Impact AwardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial Impact Award (SIA) empowers youth to become agents of change through impact-driven entrepreneurial programs across Europe, Central Asia, and Africa. Operating in 29 countries since 2009, SIA is a core alliance member.
• Social ShifterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial Shifters is a global non-profit helping the next generation of leaders tackle pressing social and environmental issues. It offers the Global Innovation Challenge with grants up to $15,000 and is a core alliance member.
• SOS Children's VillagescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOS Children's Villages is a global organization supporting children without parental care and is a core alliance member of The Possibilists, bringing youth support infrastructure across many countries.
• The Diana AwardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Diana Award is a charity founded in honor of Princess Diana, dedicated to developing the potential of young people through mentoring and recognition programs. It is a core alliance member.
• UnleashcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnleash is a global innovation hub for the SDGs that brings together young talent annually to prototype solutions for a sustainable future, and is a core alliance member of The Possibilists.
• Watson InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWatson Institute supports emerging leaders and social entrepreneurs through intensive fellowship programs and is a core alliance member of The Possibilists.
• We Are Family FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe We Are Family Foundation supports youth-led movements for social change and HIV/AIDS awareness, and is a core alliance member of The Possibilists.
• Youth Business InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth Business International supports young entrepreneurs to start and grow sustainable businesses, and is a core alliance member of The Possibilists.
• Yunus & YouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYunus & Youth supports young social entrepreneurs with mentorship and resources to scale impact-driven ventures aligned with the Yunus vision of social business, and is a core alliance member.
• The Aspen InstitutesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Aspen Institute is a global forum for leaders, thinkers, and Doers working on social change. Listed as an alliance partner providing thought leadership and programmatic support.
• International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe IBO provides educational programs and is listed as a supporting alliance member, contributing academic credibility and access to a global network of schools.
• Wirtschafts Universität Wien (WU Vienna)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerWU Vienna serves as the Academic Partner of The Possibilists, contributing research expertise and academic rigor to the bi-annual studies and reports.
• Rainbow UnicornminorOthersRainbow Unicorn is credited for the design and code of The Possibilists website and brand materials.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Echoing Green: Long-established social entrepreneurship fellowship and support organization. Comparable in providing capacity building, funding, and community for early-career social impact leaders, with deeper funding infrastructure but a narrower regional focus.
• Global Shapers Community: World Economic Forum initiative curating a network of young leaders in city-based hubs worldwide. Comparable in targeting exceptional young changemakers and operating as a curated global network, but with broader institutional parentage.

Direct peers

• Global Changemakers: Empowering young people to play an active role in building a fairer and more sustainable future; a core alliance member. Comparable in mission, audience, and selective support programs for young changemakers globally.
• Restless Development: Global youth-led development organization focused on civic engagement and a core alliance member. Comparable in operating model (youth-led, multi-country presence) and beneficiary base (young changemakers in emerging markets).
• Ashoka: The world's largest network of social entrepreneurs and a founding alliance member of The Possibilists. Ashoka supports changemakers across geographies with fellowships, convenings, and ecosystem-building — directly comparable in mission and beneficiary population.
• Enactus: Global non-profit inspiring students to address social and environmental issues through entrepreneurial action; a founding alliance member. Overlaps with The Possibilists in target audience (young changemakers) and mission (social entrepreneurship support).
• Peace First: Global non-profit equipping young people with skills, funding, and mentorship to become peacebuilders; a core alliance member. Comparable in youth-led peace/social-change mission and grant-making modality.
• One Young World: Global forum for young leaders from 190+ countries and a core alliance member of The Possibilists. Comparable in its focus on identifying, promoting, and connecting young leaders and operating via summits, ambassador programs, and partner initiatives.
• Yunus & Youth: Supports young social entrepreneurs with mentorship and resources to scale impact-driven ventures aligned with the Yunus vision of social business; a core alliance member. Comparable in providing accelerator-style support for youth-led social enterprises.
• Social Impact Award: Impact-driven entrepreneurship program operating in 29 countries across Europe, Central Asia, and Africa; a core alliance member. Comparable in supporting youth social entrepreneurs through incubation, funding, and community.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/cmxchange
• Facebookfacebook.com/cmxchange
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thepossibilists
• Instagraminstagram.com/cmxchange

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about The Possibilists