Social Impact gGmbH

What Social Impact gGmbH does

Social Impact gGmbH is a non-profit (gemeinnützige GmbH) founded in 1994 in Potsdam, Germany, operating as an agency for social innovation. The organization develops infrastructure and projects addressing societal challenges including social entrepreneurship, inclusive entrepreneurship for migrants and people with disabilities, educational innovations, social economy innovation, and rural area development. It serves approximately 7,000 founders, social startups, entrepreneurs, and self-employed individuals through a hybrid service model combining 11 physical Social Impact Labs across Germany with digital platforms (SIGU-Plattform and IMPACT COMMUNITY).

The core product portfolio includes the SIGU-Plattform (central platform featuring Förderfinder funding discovery and Veranstaltungsfinder event listing tools), the IMPACT COMMUNITY platform (networking and advisory services for solo entrepreneurs and social enterprises), the Social Impact Hotline (telephone-based short counseling), Open Knowledge resource hub, and the Agentur Team (fee-based consulting). The Masterclass training program (Innovationsgestalter:in, Organisationsgestalter:in, Transformationsgestalter:in) targets welfare organizations seeking innovation capacity. Digital infrastructure is operated in partnership with civilisten GmbH (CiviCRM) and uses Mailchimp and Brevo for communications.

The business model is predominantly grant-funded: project-based public funding from German federal/regional ministries and EU institutions forms the majority of revenue, supplemented by foundation partnerships (Fritz Henkel Stiftung, Deutsche Bank, Bertelsmann Stiftung) and fee-based consulting/coaching services through the Agentur Team. All core offerings for individual entrepreneurs are free, with monetization occurring through institutional grants and B2B advisory services. The organization operated 24 active projects across Germany as of the latest data, employs 130+ staff, and was recognized by the OECD in 2025 as an important incubator across 38 member states.

Name

Social Impact gGmbH

Legal name

Social Impact gGmbH

Website

https://socialimpact.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Social Impact gGmbH is a German non-profit founded in 1994 that supports social entrepreneurs and welfare organizations through 11 physical labs, digital platforms (SIGU-Plattform, IMPACT COMMUNITY), and consulting services, funded primarily by public grants and foundation partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Innovation Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (81331), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Impact Investment & Social Finance Programs (BPADAOAJ)

Keywords

• Social innovation services
• Entrepreneurship incubation support
• Non-profit consulting services
• Community incubation programs
• Innovation training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Potsdam

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Project-based Public Funding: Majority of revenue comes from publicly funded projects and programs supporting social entrepreneurship, innovation infrastructure, and inclusive entrepreneurship across Germany.
2. Foundation Partnerships: Partnerships with foundations like Fritz Henkel Stiftung for specific programs (e.g., Teilhabe Schaffen). Deutsche Bank sponsors the Atelier-Stipendium program.
3. Agency/Consulting Services: Fee-based consulting, coaching, and training services for organizations wanting to advance social innovations within their own structures. Services include masterclasses (Innovationsgestalter:in, Organisationsgestalter:in, Transformationsgestalter:in).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Social Impact gGmbH is a non-profit agency for social innovations that develops infrastructure and projects to address societal challenges. The organization delivers free coaching, advisory services, training, networking, and coworking support to social entrepreneurs and inclusive founders through 11 Social Impact Labs across Germany and digital platforms (SIGU-Plattform, IMPACT COMMUNITY). It also provides fee-based consulting, coaching, and masterclass training to organizations seeking to advance social innovation within their own structures.

Product overview

Social Impact gGmbH operates as an agency for social innovation with a multi-platform ecosystem and service portfolio. The core offering includes the SIGU-Plattform (central platform for social innovators with Förderfinder and Veranstaltungsfinder tools) and the IMPACT COMMUNITY platform for networking. Physical support is delivered through 11 Social Impact Labs across Germany. The portfolio is complemented by consulting services through the Agentur Team, the Masterclass training program (Innovationsgestalter:in, Organisationsgestalter:in, Transformationsgestalter:in), the Social Impact Hotline for direct counseling, and the Open Knowledge resource hub. Together, these offerings provide end-to-end support for social entrepreneurs from ideation through scaling.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SIGU-Plattform A central digital platform for social innovators, funders, financial partners, and scientists providing support, knowledge, and networking opportunities to advance social innovation projects. Includes integrated funding and event finders.
• IMPACT COMMUNITY An online networking platform connecting solo enterprises, small businesses, social enterprises, and volunteers, offering individual consulting, online learning modules, and an engaged network. All services are free for entrepreneurs.
• Social Impact Hotline A telephone-based short counseling service providing quick and unbureaucratic support for questions about social businesses, available on Tuesdays 15:00-17:00 and Thursdays 09:00-11:00.
• Social Impact Labs A network of 11 physical locations across Germany (Beelitz, Berlin, Bremen, Frankfurt, Flieth-Stegelitz, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich, Potsdam, Stuttgart, Cologne) offering startup incubation, coaching, mentoring, and co-working spaces for social entrepreneurs.
• Open Knowledge A curated collection of guides, handbooks, tools, and networks related to social entrepreneurship, startup creation, and financing, freely available as a knowledge resource.
• Masterclass 'Ausbildung zur Zukunftsgestalter:in' A three-part short training program consisting of Innovationsgestalter:in, Organisationsgestalter:in, and Transformationsgestalter:in modules, designed to equip participants with knowledge and tools for driving positive organizational change within welfare organizations and other institutions.
• Agentur Team (Social Impact Agency) A fee-based agency offering consulting, coaching, and training services to advance social innovations within organizations, leveraging the 30 years of experience and methodologies developed by Social Impact.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7,000 founders and entrepreneurs supported since 1994
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Deutsche BankcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 March 2023Deutsche Bank sponsors the Atelier-Stipendium program (MACHT KUNST! More Space for Creativity) supporting 50 visual artists under 35 with 500 EUR monthly for 12 months. Social Impact manages the application process and selection in partnership with iq consult GmbH.
• iq consult GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 March 2023Implementation partner for the Atelier-Stipendium program alongside Social Impact. Handles data processing and application management for the Deutsche Bank-sponsored artist support program.
• The Generation ForestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial Impact has participated in afforestation projects since 2017 supporting environmental sustainability and intergenerational responsibility.
• SI Alliance EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean-level initiative focused on political and economic frameworks for social innovations. Social Impact engages in advocacy and policy development through this network.
• Bertelsmann StiftungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on study 'Der Zukunft gewachsen – Innovationsformate für die Kompetenzen von morgen' (April 2023) on innovation formats for future competencies.
• Leibniz-Institut für Raumbezogene Sozialforschung (IRS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-published study on market-oriented social enterprises in Brandenburg (January 2021) with the Ministry for Economic Affairs, Labour and Energy of Brandenburg.
• Soziale Innovationen PlattformcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral hub for social innovations providing information, support, and networking opportunities. Managed by Social Impact as part of its mission to strengthen social innovation infrastructure.
• Kompetenzzentrum für Soziale Innovationen Deutschland (KoSI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial Impact is co-initiator (since 2021) of this network of twelve organizations working together to advance social innovation from local to EU level.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• European Venture Philanthropy Association (EVPA): Industry association for venture philanthropy and social investment practitioners across Europe. Not a direct competitor but operates in adjacent infrastructure supporting funders and social enterprises throughout the region.
• Bertelsmann Stiftung: One of Germany's largest operating foundations, a current Social Impact partner on social innovation research. Functions as both a potential funder and a peer organization in the same space rather than as a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Skoll Foundation: Major global foundation supporting social entrepreneurs through grants, investments, and storytelling. Comparable in mission to scale social innovation but with substantially greater capital base and global scope.
• Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship: World Economic Forum-affiliated global foundation that supports a community of social entrepreneurs at much larger scale. Comparable mission but operates globally and at greater scope than Social Impact's Germany-centric footprint.

Direct peers

• Yunus Social Business: Initiative of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus supporting social businesses through funding and incubation globally. Comparable in supporting social entrepreneurs with non-traditional funding and incubation infrastructure.
• Impact Hub Berlin: Berlin-based co-working and community space for impact-driven entrepreneurs, part of the global Impact Hub network. Directly comparable in offering co-working, community, and incubation for social entrepreneurs in a major German city.
• PHINEO gAG: German non-profit impact consultancy that analyzes, advises, and certifies social enterprises. Operates a similar model of supporting social innovators with analysis, capacity-building, and funder intermediation, and is one of Social Impact's closest German peers.
• Social Entrepreneurship Netzwerk Deutschland (SEND): National German network association specifically for social enterprises, providing policy advocacy, networking, and visibility for the social entrepreneurship ecosystem. Comparable as a sector-building intermediary competing for similar funder attention.
• Ashoka Germany: German chapter of the world's largest social entrepreneurship network, supporting leading social entrepreneurs (Ashoka Fellows) with stipends, coaching, and network access. Directly comparable in mission and target audience of high-impact social founders.

Regional players

• Bundesverband Deutsche Startups: Germany's main startup industry association, providing policy advocacy and networking for the broader startup ecosystem. Overlaps with Social Impact on founder support but does not specialize in the social/mission-driven segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCUkBZkbT8anu-rEM2eHy0Cw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/social-impact-ggmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/social.impact

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 Social Impact gGmbH