Munich Startup: Birgit, you work as an Impact Entrepreneurship & Social Innovation Manager for the City of Munich. Before we get into that in more detail: How do you define 'impact' in your work context?
Birgit Siepmann: For me, impact means a positive effect within our society. This change is a process that can and should be initiated in many places simultaneously by different people. The initial focus is on raising awareness of a specific social or ecological problem – for example, food waste or a lack of equality. With its solution, an impact startup contributes to tackling the problem systemically and achieving lasting change in society. This solution usually reaches a specific target group initially. The overarching goal, however, is to gradually encourage larger sections of society to change their behavior. If, over time, the impact startup solution results in a positive effect across large sections of our society, we speak of impact.
The solution encourages users to reflect on their own behavior. They are encouraged to question their personal attitudes, thoughts, and actions with regard to specific societal challenges. The framework for impact startups is usually one or more of the 17 SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals).
In relation to Munich's economy, this means that we are looking for sustainable and regenerative business models that contribute at a systemic level to an inclusive economy within planetary boundaries in order to realize the goals of the UN Agenda 2030.
Munich Startup: Impact entrepreneurship seems to be increasingly replacing the term social entrepreneurship – can you explain why?
Birgit Siepmann: I wouldn't say that 'impact' is replacing the term 'social.' However, in my work, it becomes clear to me again and again that the term 'social' is occasionally misinterpreted. It doesn't refer exclusively to 'social' challenges, but rather to societal and ecological ones. In my opinion, the term 'impact' is more self-explanatory and inclusive in this regard.
In my opinion, true innovation only arises through the exchange of diverse disciplines and perspectives. We need unconventional perspectives and creative impulses from all parts of our society, as the complex challenges of our time cannot be solved with more conventional, linear approaches. Accordingly, by using the term 'impact,' I want to address as many people as possible in order to achieve a positive impact in our society with the help of entrepreneurial means.
Contact person for Impact Startups
Munich Startup: Back to your work at the City of Munich – what exactly does your work there involve?
Birgit Siepmann: My main task is to establish the topics of impact entrepreneurship and social innovation more firmly in the relationship between administration and business and to bring them more into the focus of urban society.
The main aim is to better exploit the potential in our society, stimulate new ideas and provide the best possible support to existing impact startups on their way to success. I am in favour of Impact startups in all phases as well as contact person as well as for initial ideas that require support for further development. Through our extensive network of partners in the Munich startup ecosystem and our affiliation with Münchner Gründungsbüro, we aim to promote social innovations more effectively.
Another area of activity that is very close to my heart is education, specifically Impact Entrepreneurship Education. Here, too, there are already some great players who are very committed to this field. My goal is to systematically establish Impact Entrepreneurship Education in Munich schools in order to reach talent and potential throughout society and promote the development of solution-oriented, innovative thinking and action as early as possible.
My responsibilities also include providing impetus within the administration to facilitate access for startups and SMEs, for example, in municipal tenders. To ensure the city can benefit from the innovative strength and agility of small businesses, I also establish links with the relevant specialist departments within the departments.
In addition, further events on impact entrepreneurship and social innovation will be held in Munich in the future to strengthen and further expand existing networks. I would like to use these additional events to launch new ideas from Munich residents in the spirit of open social innovation processes and to advance the development of sustainable, impact-driven business models. Through cooperation with existing networks, future actors will be inspired, encouraged, and supported on their journey.
Munich Startup: How exactly do you support Munich startups with your work?
Birgit Siepmann: As the central contact for Munich's impact startups, I provide support with specialist knowledge and build bridges to other experts within and outside the city administration. Our strong Munich startup and innovation ecosystem is of key importance in this. I work closely with stakeholders such as the Social Entrepreneurship Network Germany (SEND), the Social Entrepreneurship Akademie (SEA), which was newly founded last year Social Startup Hub Bavaria or the Munich Urban Colab together.
Support with financing and funding opportunities
Frequently asked questions revolve around financing and funding opportunities. Depending on the need, I connect you with incubators, accelerators, or other network partners. I also provide information on specific topics such as impact measurement, which can help impact startups develop a solid argument for measuring their success. Here, too, I work closely with our partners and institutions, such as Phineo.
For me, it's particularly important to respond to the individual needs of startups and idea generators. Conversely, it's also important to me to receive feedback from startups, monitor current developments, foster a broad exchange, and, based on this, develop a social innovation strategy for Munich in a participatory manner.
Munich Startup: Which Munich startups have particularly impressed you with their impact projects so far?
Birgit Siepmann: One of the best known and most successful examples is certainly Recup, which addresses the waste problem in the to-go sector with their reusable deposit system. They have now become the market leader in Germany, have been awarded numerous prizes, medals and seals and most recently last year received the 'Social Entrepreneur of the Year' of the German Startup Award.
A real success story for me is Social Bee as an integration service provider for refugees. They are rethinking existing systems by using the temporary employment concept in a socially responsible way. Refugees are hired permanently and seconded to partner companies. To ensure the long-term success of the program, they are working to ensure permanent employment after one and a half years at the latest. Language courses and additional qualifications are also organized. Founder Zarah Bruhn has also been serving as Commissioner for Social Innovations at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research since 2022. This demonstrates to me the importance of holistic thinking and the comprehensive impact that social innovation can have.
I am also particularly excited by Sira, which are working on reconciling family and career while simultaneously addressing the shortage of skilled workers. In cooperation with SMEs, they build and operate company mini-daycare centers. For me, this clearly demonstrates how the innovative power of startups can benefit SMEs and the city, while also demonstrating how all sides can benefit from social innovation: Companies are supported in retaining skilled workers, parents are made easier to return to work, the city can expand its childcare infrastructure, and ultimately, society as a whole benefits from this model.
The Community Kitchen is another great startup working to combat food waste by creating delicious meals from rescued food and serving them fresh daily in its café. The Community Kitchen has become a central meeting place where inclusion is a matter of course. The team also works to prevent further food waste through environmental education projects, among other things.
The developers of the Greencent app offer a loyalty points system to promote the use of sustainable mobility. With the introduction of the 'Greencent,' consumers can pay for things like drinks, snacks, or fresh fruit and vegetables in Munich stores.
An insider tip for me is the coaching platform MellowThe team's goal is to improve mental health in society. The key is that technological solutions bring the importance of prevention more into the spotlight. Preventing illness with the support of a coach acts like a gym for mental health, which is a problem for many people, especially in our complex world.
There are numerous other great Munich startups that inspire me. This selection is intended to illustrate the diversity of ideas and opportunities.
“Almost every one of the 17 SDGs is covered by Munich startups”
Munich Startup: How is the Munich startup scene generally positioned in terms of impact?
Birgit Siepmann: We already have some very strong startups in the impact sector in Munich, and above all, a great deal of diversity. Almost every one of the 17 SDGs is covered by Munich startups. The topics range from health and education, sustainable consumption, and reduced inequality to affordable and clean energy and climate protection measures. The potential for Munich impact startups is far from exhausted. This is also confirmed by a look at other cities such as Hamburg, Bremen, and Freiburg – there is still room for improvement. Nevertheless, Munich is well positioned. We can specifically use our strength in the tech sector to generate greater impact. Many tech-driven innovations also frequently have a positive effect on society. So the two areas cannot always be clearly separated from one another. And they don't have to be.
Countless social and ecological challenges still need to be addressed, and new ones will continually arise in the future. We need visionaries who are alert to the changes of our time and act with foresight to help shape Munich's economy for the future.
Munich Startup: Which impact topics do you think will become more important in the near future?
Birgit Siepmann: The megatrends of our society, such as climate change, increasing urbanization, and demographic change, are particularly evident in the impact sector. It is essential to bring about lasting change within our society. Certain problems can only be solved through a collective rethink and behavioral change across large segments of society. The importance and potential of impact startups for our society are therefore enormous.
Climate protection and climate adaptation are and remain important issues. Especially for Munich, with its high degree of sealed surfaces, we need innovative and concrete solutions. Issues such as mobility and water management in the city are of central importance. Strong networking is needed to sustainably restructure surrounding cities and communities.
Our healthcare system has been significantly impacted by the pandemic in recent years. However, we are facing numerous other challenges that have been pushed into the background, for example, with regard to common diseases such as diabetes, cancer, or heart disease. Impact startups can make a positive contribution here by developing innovative solutions that target individual behavior and help prevent diseases.
Impact startups can contribute to the further development of the education system
In my view, the education sector is also of central importance. Impact startups have enormous potential to make a significant contribution to the necessary further development of our education system. Our education system should be geared towards preparing students as best as possible for the challenges of the future. This requires a rethink in the way we view education and a greater emphasis on the development of soft skills, the integration of technology into everyday school life, cultural diversity, sustainability, and critical thinking. We need concrete solutions that support teachers and students in their everyday school life.
Related to this is the issue of the skills shortage, which will continue to concern us increasingly in the coming years. This requires significantly more solutions that address various aspects of the system. Impact startups have the potential to counteract the growing skills shortage, for example, by creating new jobs, promoting training and qualifications, fostering diversity and inclusion, offering more flexible working conditions, and collaborating with educational institutions. Through their impact-oriented corporate goals, impact startups can also help attract skilled workers who identify with a specific corporate purpose and want to work for a company that has a positive impact on society.
Munich Startup: Birgit, thank you very much for the interview!
