Social Entrepreneurship Netzwerk Deutschland e.V.

What Social Entrepreneurship Netzwerk Deutschland e.V. does

Social Entrepreneurship Netzwerk Deutschland e.V. (SEND) is Germany's national non-profit membership association for social enterprises, founded in 2017 and headquartered in Berlin. Its stated mission is to network social entrepreneurs, advocate for improved framework conditions (legal recognition, financing, political support), and provide concrete support services. The organization operates three membership tiers — ordinary membership for social enterprises (minimum €120/year, average €300), private supporting membership (minimum €100/year, average €150), and organizational supporting membership for companies, foundations, and public institutions (minimum €1,000/year, negotiable up to €10,000) — and also generates revenue through publicly funded project grants, notably Social Economy Berlin (Berlin Senate) and Sozialinnovator Hessen (State of Hessen).

SEND does not develop proprietary technology products. Its operational surface consists of a web-based membership application portal, a Slack workspace with 1,500+ active users, 13 Regional Groups across all German federal states, project-specific websites, and recurring publications including the annual Deutsche Social Entrepreneurship Monitor (DSEM), position papers, and guidebooks. The organization's core "product" is its network itself — 461 social enterprise members, 365 supporting members, and a recognized seat as the sector's dialogue partner with federal and state governments, the European Commission, and major foundations such as Bertelsmann Stiftung and Siemens Stiftung.

Key programs include Buy Social Deutschland (in partnership with SAP), the Buy Social Europe B2B consortium (23 partners, 17 countries), the Social Impact Fonds advocacy initiative (coalition with Ashoka, PHINEO, Bundesinitiative Impact Investing), the Social Economy Berlin and Sozialinnovator Hessen advisory programs, the emp:our now inclusion initiative, and the historical #WirVsVirus Hackathon (2020, 28,000 participants). Leadership transitioned in December 2024 with Susanna Krüger becoming Managing Director.

Name

Social Entrepreneurship Netzwerk Deutschland e.V.

Legal name

Social Entrepreneurship Netzwerk Deutschland e.V.

Website

https://send-ev.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Social Entrepreneurship Netzwerk Deutschland e.V. (SEND) is Germany's national non-profit membership association for social enterprises, networking 461 member organizations and 365 supporters across 13 regional groups and advocating for improved legal, financial, and political framework conditions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Entrepreneurship Network & Advocacy

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Program & Project Implementation (TA Delivery) (BPADAEAA), Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)

Keywords

• Social entrepreneurship network
• Policy advocacy services
• Membership association services
• Ecosystem development support
• Sector research services

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin-müggelheim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: SEND is funded primarily through annual membership fees from three membership tiers: (1) Ordinary members (social enterprises) paying a self-determined annual contribution with a minimum of €120/year averaging €300; (2) Private supporting members paying a self-determined annual contribution starting at €100/year averaging €150; (3) Organizational supporting members paying annual contributions starting at €1,000/year (recommended for organizations), with larger organizations paying higher amounts negotiated individually. Membership fees are described as tax-deductible donations.
2. Project-based funding and grants: SEND generates revenue through publicly funded projects such as Social Economy Berlin (funded by the Berlin Senate for Economics, Energy and Operations), Sozialinnovator Hessen (funded by the State of Hessen), and other initiative-based programs. These project grants support specific programs and personnel.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SEND operates as a membership-based nonprofit network organization that connects Germany's 461+ social enterprises across 13 regional groups, advocates for improved political and financial framework conditions, publishes sector research (DSEM), runs funded support programs (Social Economy Berlin, Sozialinnovator Hessen), and facilitates partnership programs between conventional and social enterprises (Buy Social Deutschland and Buy Social Europe B2B). Revenue is generated through three membership fee tiers and government-funded project grants.

Product overview

SEND (Social Entrepreneurship Netzwerk Deutschland e.V.) is a membership-based network organization — not a software product company — that serves as the central hub for social entrepreneurship in Germany. The organization offers membership tiers for social enterprises, private individuals, and supporting organizations, providing networking, political advocacy, visibility promotion, and community-building services. SEND's portfolio includes research initiatives (DSEM), partnership programs (Buy Social Deutschland, Buy Social Europe B2B), regional support programs (Social Economy Berlin, Sozialinnovator Hessen), advocacy initiatives (Social Impact Fonds), collaborative initiatives (#WirVsVirus), inclusion programs (emp:our now), and 13 regional groups across German federal states. The organization's core 'product' is its network membership and the collective voice it provides for social enterprises in Germany.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SEND Membership (Mitgliedschaft) Three-tier annual membership program for social enterprises (ordinary members, minimum €120/year averaging €300), private supporting individuals (minimum €100/year averaging €150), and organizational supporting members (minimum €1,000/year, larger amounts negotiated). Members gain access to SEND's national network of 461+ social enterprises, 13 regional groups, Slack community of 1,500+ users, political advocacy, and visibility promotion. Applications are reviewed by the board within 3-4 weeks; fees are tax-deductible donations billed annually via SEPA direct debit or bank transfer.
• Deutscher Social Entrepreneurship Monitor (DSEM) Annual research initiative that monitors and reports on the state of social entrepreneurship in Germany, providing empirical data on sector size, economic impact, funding challenges, and development trends. The DSEM survey is open to participation (e.g., DSEM 2026 through July 12), making the sector's economic significance visible (over 156,000 enterprises, up to €82 billion revenue, over 3 million jobs).
• Buy Social Deutschland Partnership program developed with SAP that facilitates procurement relationships between conventional enterprises and social enterprises, generating commercial activity with social impact. As of late 2023, the program had been running for nearly 20 months with strong interest from both conventional companies and social enterprises.
• Buy Social Europe B2B A consortium of 23 partners from 17 countries working to accelerate B2B trade partnerships between traditional enterprises and social enterprises across Europe, with SEND representing Germany.
• Social Economy Berlin Berlin Senate-funded project offering free networking events, workshops, and pre-founding advisory services specifically for social economy actors in Berlin. Operates a dedicated project website (socialeconomy.berlin) with its own brand, newsletter, and social media presence. Project partner is Technologie-Netzwerk Berlin e.V. (TechNet).
• Sozialinnovator Hessen State of Hessen-funded free program for persons founding or scaling social enterprises in Hessen, offering individual consulting, thematic specialist advice, co-working spaces, networking, workshops, and continuing education for startup advisors. Managed by a consortium led by TIG Gießen with SEND as a partner; booking via Outlook scheduling on sozialinnovator-hessen.de.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 156,000 social enterprises in Germany, generating up to €82 billion in revenue and over 3 million jobs (exceeding the automotive industry in employment), as documented by SEND's magazine — demonstrating the scale and economic significance of the sector that SEND represents.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Buy Social Europe B2B Consortium (23 partners across 17 countries)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 October 2023SEND participates in the Buy Social Europe B2B consortium, which brings together 23 partners from 17 countries working to accelerate trade partnerships between traditional enterprises and social enterprises across Europe. This is a pan-European initiative with SEND representing Germany.
• Technologie-Netzwerk Berlin e.V. (TechNet)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2020TechNet is the project partner in the Social Economy Berlin initiative. TechNet represents the Social Solidarity Economy (SSÖ) strand within the broader social economy, while SEND represents social entrepreneurs and social startups. Together they work to strengthen and unify the social economy sector in Berlin, broadening the network of supporters and advocates.
• Tech4GermanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 March 2020Tech4Germany was a co-organizer of the #WirVsVirus Hackathon, the largest hackathon in the world with over 28,000 participants. The initiative provides tech talent to work on civic challenges and was part of the organizing consortium alongside SEND, Tech4Germany, Code for Germany, Impact Hub Berlin, Projekt Together, Initiative D21, and Prototype Fund, under the patronage of the German Federal Government.
• Code for Germany (OKF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 March 2020Code for Germany, the civic tech network of the Open Knowledge Foundation Germany, was a co-organizer of the #WirVsVirus Hackathon. It contributed civic tech expertise and a network of volunteer developers and designers to the initiative.
• Impact Hub BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 March 2020Impact Hub Berlin was a co-organizer of the #WirVsVirus Hackathon. As the German capital's hub for social innovation, it contributed its community of changemakers and event infrastructure to the initiative.
• Projekt TogethercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 March 2020Projekt Together was a co-organizer and led the implementation program (Solution Enabler) following the #WirVsVirus Hackathon. It selected and supported 130 solutions for rapid testing and broad implementation, and 10 projects through an intensive 8-week prototype-to-product program.
• Initiative D21coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 March 2020Initiative D21, Germany's leading nonprofit initiative for digital policy and society, was a co-organizer of the #WirVsVirus Hackathon, contributing its expertise in digital policy and civic engagement to the initiative.
• Prototype FundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 March 2020The Prototype Fund was a co-organizer of the #WirVsVirus Hackathon, providing software development funding expertise and contributing to the follow-up funding programs for civic tech solutions developed during the event.
• Bundesregierung (Federal Government of Germany)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 March 2020The German Federal Government provided official patronage for the #WirVsVirus Hackathon, signaling governmental support for civil society collaboration in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. The Chancellery Head Helge Braun endorsed the initiative, which became the world's largest hackathon with 28,000 participants and 1,500 solutions developed.
• Technologie- und Innovationszentrum Gießen (TIG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTIG serves as the consortium lead (Konsortialführung) for the Sozialinnovator Hessen program, a state-funded initiative supporting social entrepreneurship in Hessen. SEND participates as a consortium partner providing social entrepreneurship expertise, member networking, and advisory content within the program.
• heimathafen WiesbadenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA consortium partner in the Sozialinnovator Hessen program, providing co-working facilities and local networking for social entrepreneurs in the Wiesbaden area.
• MAFEX der Philipps Universität MarburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA consortium partner in the Sozialinnovator Hessen program, contributing academic expertise and student engagement to the program's network of social entrepreneurship support.
• UNIKAT der Universität KasselminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA consortium partner in the Sozialinnovator Hessen program, providing university-level startup support and resources for social entrepreneurs in Kassel.
• SAP (Buy Social Deutschland)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSEND has been running the Buy Social Deutschland project in collaboration with SAP for nearly 20 months (as of late 2023). The project facilitates partnerships between conventional companies and social enterprises, generating strong interest from both sides. SAP's involvement provides corporate access and commercial relevance to the initiative.
• Ashoka DeutschlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAshoka Deutschland is a named coalition partner in SEND's Social Impact Fonds initiative, advocating for the use of unclaimed dormant bank assets to fund social innovation. Ashoka is one of Germany's most prominent social enterprise support organizations.
• Bundesinitiative Impact InvestingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA coalition partner in the Social Impact Fonds initiative, representing Germany's impact investing community and advocating for improved financing instruments for social enterprises using dormant assets.
• PHINEOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPHINEO is a coalition partner in the Social Impact Fonds initiative, contributing its expertise in impact measurement and social investment to the effort to mobilize dormant assets for social innovation.
• Stifterverband für die deutsche WissenschaftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStifterverband (German Donors' Association for Science and Learning) is a coalition partner in the Social Impact Fonds initiative, contributing its network of foundations and research institutions to the advocacy effort.
• Startup VerbandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe German Startup Association is a coalition partner in the Social Impact Fonds initiative, representing the broader startup ecosystem's interest in improved financing conditions for mission-driven ventures.
• Bundesverband Deutscher StiftungenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Federal Association of German Foundations is a coalition partner in the Social Impact Fonds initiative, contributing its network of foundations to the advocacy for using dormant assets to fund social innovation.
• Verband Deutscher Erbenermittler (VDEE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Association of German Estate Investigators is a coalition partner in the Social Impact Fonds initiative. The VDEE's involvement is significant because the initiative requires legal reform affecting dormant asset reclamation, where estate investigators have technical expertise.
• WFB Wirtschaftsförderung Bremen GmbHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWFB Bremen (Economic Development Corporation of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen) is an organizational supporting member of SEND. On behalf of the city, it seeks to actively promote scaling-interested social enterprises and help them establish at the Bremen location. It also aims to advance the Social Entrepreneurship topic regionally in politics and society.
• Landeshauptstadt München – Referat für Arbeit und WirtschaftminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Economic Development unit of the City of Munich is an organizational supporting member of SEND. It supports social entrepreneurship in Munich to promote social innovation, improve conditions for social innovators, make the scene more visible, and shape public procurement to be more innovation-friendly.
• KölnBusiness Wirtschaftsförderungs-GmbHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKölnBusiness is the economic development agency of the City of Cologne and an organizational supporting member of SEND. As a subsidiary of the city, it supports all companies and founders, including social enterprises, and coordinates the NRW startup scholarship (Gründerstipendium.NRW) in cooperation with IHK Köln.
• Alice Salomon Hochschule Berlin – ASHEXISTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerASH Berlin's ASHEXIST project (a founders' center for social entrepreneurship) is an organizational supporting member of SEND. It promotes entrepreneurship in health and social fields, women's entrepreneurship, and social entrepreneurship through coaching, workshops, networking, and its own founders' center. It views SEND members as ideal partners for cooperation.
• Villa GründergeistminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVilla Gründergeist is an organizational supporting member of SEND. It promotes the social entrepreneurship ecosystem and considers political work an essential component, actively supporting SEND's advocacy and policy objectives.
• BNW Bundesverband (Soziale Ökonomie)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBNW Bundesverband (Federal Association for Social Economy) holds a mutual membership with SEND, representing the social economy sector at the national level. The mutual membership facilitates cross-organizational collaboration and joint advocacy for the social economy.
• Bundesinitiative Impact InvestingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBundesinitiative Impact Investing holds a mutual membership with SEND, representing the impact investing community in Germany. The partnership supports information exchange and joint efforts to improve financing conditions for social enterprises.
• ecoCooperatives / Global Marshall Plan Foundation (ecoGood)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Global Marshall Plan Foundation (ecoGood) holds a mutual membership with SEND. It promotes a global partnership approach to sustainable development and is aligned with SEND's mission to strengthen social entrepreneurship for a socially and ecologically sustainable economy.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Bertelsmann Stiftung: One of Germany's largest operating foundations and an organizational supporting member of SEND. While it works on impact entrepreneurship through its 'Gründen mit Impact' focus area, it is a Germany-only private foundation rather than a membership network, making it more a funder/partner than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• Impact Hub Berlin: Co-organizer with SEND of the #WirVsVirus Hackathon and a long-standing operator of community, coworking, and accelerator programs for social entrepreneurs in Germany. Overlaps with SEND in convening impact founders, though it delivers hands-on incubation rather than network advocacy.
• BNW Bundesverband für nachhaltige und soziale Ökonomie: Federal association for the social economy that holds a mutual membership with SEND. Represents the broader social economy sector at the national level and competes for representation of the same constituency SEND serves, making it a direct institutional peer.
• Ashoka Deutschland: Germany's most prominent social entrepreneurship support organization and an explicit SEND coalition partner on the Social Impact Fonds initiative. Operates a fellow-based network of leading social entrepreneurs, overlapping directly with SEND's mandate to support and represent mission-driven founders.
• PHINEO: A coalition partner in SEND's Social Impact Fonds initiative, PHINEO is a nonprofit analysis and consulting firm focused on the social sector, including impact measurement and philanthropic advisory — closely comparable to SEND's knowledge-broker role for the German social enterprise ecosystem.
• Bundesinitiative Impact Investing: A mutual member and coalition partner with SEND that represents Germany's impact investing community. Both organizations target improved financing conditions for social enterprises and frequently co-author advocacy positions, making them direct peers in the sector's institutional infrastructure.

Broad incumbents

• Bundesverband Deutscher Stiftungen: Germany's largest association of foundations and a SEND coalition partner on the Social Impact Fonds initiative. Operates broadly across the entire philanthropic sector (of which social entrepreneurship is one slice) and brings significantly greater scale and policy reach than SEND.
• Stifterverband für die deutsche Wissenschaft: Donors' association for science and learning and SEND coalition partner on the Social Impact Fonds initiative. Operates as a much larger and longer-established intermediary across philanthropy, research, and education, overlapping with SEND where impact-oriented foundations fund social enterprises.
• Startup Verband: Germany's federal startup association and a SEND coalition partner on the Social Impact Fonds initiative. Represents the broader (largely for-profit) startup ecosystem with significantly greater lobbying resources, and competes with SEND for political mindshare when representing mission-driven founders.

Others

• Initiative D21: Germany's leading nonprofit initiative for digital policy and society; a SEND co-organizer on the #WirVsVirus Hackathon. D21 operates in the adjacent digital-inclusion and civic-tech space rather than directly competing for social-enterprise membership, but partners with SEND where digital and social entrepreneurship intersect.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/send_ev
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCZ1Z5Z1Z1Z1Z1Z1Z1Z1Z1w
• Facebookfacebook.com/sendevde
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/send-ev
• Instagraminstagram.com/send_ev_de

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Entrepreneurship Netzwerk Deutschland e.V.