Together
we can face
the crisis
© Copyright: Gera8th / photocase.de
Our Mission:
Empowering impact startups in creating solutions for a world of crises
We support impact startups in tackling the world’s most pressing crises through our incubator and accelerator programs.
The world is full of crisis
The war in Ukraine, the climate crisis, the loss of biodiversity and mass extinction, the crisis of democracy…
Transforming our economy
from cause to solution
Our economic system should be transformed from causing to solving many of these crises. We don’t need short-term profit maximisation at the expense of people and environment.
We need sustainable business models that serve society in the long term and ensure our survival.
System change with impact startups
Impact startups plays a key role in addressing the various, constantly changing crises and challenges we face in society. They addresses one or more UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) at the core of its business. This means: if you remove the impact you also remove the business.
Look at the numbers:
Climeworks’ largest carbon dioxide removal facility has an annual capture capacity of
4000t
CO2
per year.
Since 2017 SIRPLUS saved more than
2500t
of food
from landfills.
We need more impact startups!
Mindset Shift:
Impact becomes the new normal
What if every founder would develop new business models and approaches to make our world more livable and sustainable? All new startups would be impact startups! Their success could motivate established companies to change their business models and practices.
Do you have an idea for a solution?
For solutions to long-term crises within the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?
Or quick solutions to acute crises such as the 2015/2016 refugee crisis, the COVID-19 crisis, and the current war against Ukraine?
We can help you with our accelerator program
In our accelerator program, we will guide you for 6 months to turn your idea into reality.
We offer you access to funding, coaching from experienced mentors, access to our network. We will work side by side at bUm. A co-working space for social entrepreneurs, nonprofit organizations and activists.
It’s a match?
We support startups in all stages. Do you have an almost finished prototype that you can test or an existing startup that you want to bring to a new level?
Your team consists of at least two founders. You are based in Berlin, as there is where the program takes place. Non-profit as well as for-profit organizations can apply.
Our current focus: Ukraine response
We are looking for innovative approaches as one solution to address the effects of the war against Ukraine. Russia’s attack on Ukraine in February 2022 and the acts of violence have changed the world. The violence has upended the lives of millions of Ukrainians. Therefore the issues range from refugee crisis, reconstruction, food insecurity and energy supply to health and legal issues and among others. We are open to many topics as long as they create impact.
Ukraine Response Program #2
Timeline
Our team
We are a diverse and interdisciplinary team of impact-oriented professionals with many years of startup experience.
We are well connected in the impact community. Let’s connect!
Phineo has 10 years experience
with impact investing
PHINEO is one of the pioneers of impact investing, measurement and management in Germany. We combine impact and financial know-how in one team. Therefore, we can help you finance your project and provide access to a network of impact investors. In addition, we support you with our communication to our broad network of different sector partners and one of the largest Impact Investing and Social Entrepreneurship networks in Germany.
Coaching
A dedicated PHINEO Startups coach guides impact founders through the incubator program and designs it together with them.
© Copyright: Robert Eckstein
Mentoring
A dedicated and experienced mentor supports and advises each impact startup team individually throughout the incubator program – in addition, topic-specific mentors can be consulted.
© Copyright: Robert Eckstein
Your mentors and experts
Here you can connect with a selection of our mentors and experts.
Sébastien Martin
Philipp Schmidt
Maike Striffler
Igor Elbert
André Nikolski
Julia Majer
Laura Kohler
Lyudmyla Kovalenko
Sophie Dienberg
Dr. Thomas Gnefkow
Carolin Kröger
Nora Azzaoui
Peter Brock
Masterclasses
There will be a weekly training offer with workshops aimed at addressing your needs and gaps and intended to support the acceleration of your development.
© Copyright: Robert Eckstein
Co-Working
You get a seat at bUm. A place to work, meet, learn and improve the world together. It’s a community space for inspiring encounters between social entrepreneurs and homeless people, politics and the neighborhood, socially committed companies and activists, non-profit organizations and volunteers.
Co-Working at bUm,
Paul-Linke-Ufer
© Copyright: betterplace Umspannwerk GmbH
bUm community space
© Copyright: betterplace Umspannwerk GmbH
Events
Diverse types of events are offered as part of the incubator program, e.g., community events, pitch events, networking opportunities & a final event.
Final Event: Ukraine Response Program cohort #1
© Copyright: Robert Eckstein
Next events
- Kick-Off Ukraine Response Program cohort #2 on 5th of June
- Pitch Event Ukraine Response Program cohort #2 on 28th of June
- Pitch Event Ukraine Response Program cohort #2 on 26th of July
- Pitch Event Ukraine Response Program cohort #2 on 30th of August
- Pitch Event Ukraine Response Program cohort #2 on 25th of September
- Pitch Event Ukraine Response Program cohort #2 17th of October
- Final Event Ukraine Response Program cohort #2 on 28th of November
Peer-to-Peer Coaching and Community Building
PHINEO Startups encourages and facilitates learning and community-building opportunities among founders.
© Copyright: Robert Eckstein
Network
PHINEO Startups provides access to different sector partners and one of the largest impact investing and social entrepreneurship networks in Germany.
© Copyright: Robert Eckstein
Ask us anything
Do you have any questions?
We can chat here.
If you encounter any technical or other difficulties while submitting your online application, please feel free to reach out to us.
Need a 1:1 call?
Want feedback on your documents before you apply? Lets make an appointment for a video call as soon as possible. Someone from the PHINEO Startups team will give feedback on your pitch deck. After that, you have until the end of the submission period to integrate our feedback into your application.
Our alumni
Connect with our former participants.
Ana Lichtwer
Anna Believantseva
Alex Kuvallini
Yuliia Karnas
Hanna Kolesnichenko
Qian Qin
Karolina Attspodina
Nikita Overchyk
Alexandr Zubchenko
Valeriia Biloshytska
Maryna Soroka
Nataliia Kovalenko
Alex Biloshytski
Our startups
These startups participated in our accelerator program:
In the press
Esper Bionics, is included in TIME magazine’s list of the best inventions of 2022. The self-learning prosthetic hand powered by artificial intelligence (AI) was named a groundbreaking invention in the accessibility category and will appear on the magazine’s cover.
