Munich Startup: Please introduce yourselves briefly.
Anne Dörner: The Social-Startup-Hub Bayern (SSHB) is the contact point for all those who want to do something good for society with their start-up and want to develop a viable business model from it. Since autumn 2022 We support prospective and aspiring founders from all over Bavaria free of charge, starting from the early idea phase. The SSHB is sponsored by Social Entrepreneurship Akademie (SEA). We combine training opportunities, start-up support, a broad network, and over 15 years of experience as a pioneering organization in the field of social entrepreneurship – bringing together people who want to help shape social change. Our focus is always on empowering people to develop innovative solutions that are economically viable, socially effective, and ecologically sustainable.
Why the Social-Startup-Hub Bayern is needed
Munich Startup: What was the trigger for the founding of Social-Startup-Hub Bayern – and what gap did you want to fill with it?
Anne Dörner: For a long time, Bavaria lacked a central contact point for supporting social startups that could identify and promote startup potential from the early idea phase. To close this gap, the SSHB launched by the Free State of BavariaOur common goal: to support aspiring founders in building impact-oriented business models based on their needs – with low thresholds and without entry barriers. Our experience from advising on over 400 ideas since the founding of SSHB shows: The need is great – because there are enough social challenges.
Networks, partners, platforms: How the support works
Munich Startup: How do you network the various funding opportunities across Bavaria – and what role do regional partners play in this?
Anne Dörner: Four additional regional Social-Startup-Hub Bayern contact points have recently been established – in the Allgäu, Lower Bavaria, Mainfranken, and Upper Franconia. Through collaborations with local partners who have already been established there and who have received training from us on impact and social entrepreneurship, we can support local founders even more directly and effectively with our services. With over 45 partner organizations – from universities to innovation and digital centers to impact organizations – we are creating a vibrant ecosystem for startups with social added value for Bavaria.
Our events also bring founders together with ideas and support offers – for example, the regular Social Business Meetups, which take place at various locations throughout Bavaria, or our virtual Happy Impact Hour, in which we share knowledge on various startup topics with participants once a month.
We also maintain a social startup guide that helps interested parties find suitable support services and organizations. For the founders we consult, we offer an exclusive digital platform where they can exchange ideas and find co-founders, receive relevant information about events and calls for proposals, receive exclusive discounts, and find workspace.
Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness are not a contradiction
Munich Startup: How do you understand the term 'business with impact' – and how do you live this concept in your daily work?
Anne Dörner: For us, this means entrepreneurial action that focuses on more than just profit. We take a holistic approach to business: economic return, social impact, and environmental responsibility are all in harmony. Many people believe you have to choose between making money and doing good. But the opposite is true: impact and profitability are not mutually exclusive; they can reinforce each other. As a business model grows, so does its impact. Money can then be the lever to increase social impact. To promote this way of thinking, we want to continue to reach as many people as possible and show them that impact and business go very well together.
Munich Startup: You advise social startups: What does a typical consultation look like? What questions or concerns do social startups come to you with?
Anne Dörner: To be honest: There's no such thing as "typical" consulting—because no two ideas are the same. What we do offer, however, is a listening ear, plenty of questions, and plenty of sparring. Some start practically from scratch, others are already in the thick of things. Typical topics include business models, impact measurement, financing, and choosing a legal form. We provide individualized support and, if necessary, connect you with support organizations, investors, or experts on various topics, such as legal advice or taxes.
In addition to the open consulting, which we offer flexibly from the early phase, we also offer “Focus Consulting Impact”, in which founding teams sharpen and expand their impact model.
Startups have achieved this with the help of the SSHB reached
Munich Startup: What examples can you give of successful startups that you have supported through your work?
Anne Dörner: Sure, here are a few highlights that we have been able to accompany over the years:
- Enna Systems makes digitalization easy and inclusive for older people – with user-friendly devices and a million-dollar investment behind it.
- Meliodays Medical is developing a hormone-free treatment for menstrual pain and has already secured 800,000 euros in pre-seed funding.
- InCommunity is fighting the housing shortage with the help of multi-generational shared apartments and was able to secure funding from the Ministry of Economic Affairs for its “Sustainable Impact” program.
- VoluLink brings together social organizations, IT students, and companies to jointly develop digital solutions for the social sector – and has received 175,000 euros in funding for the concept from the Ministry of Education.
- Recup – today Germany’s largest reusable system – would almost not have come into being without the advice of SEA.
- Polar Star shows how to drive the energy transition and successfully scale as a social enterprise – as one of the first startups advised by the SEA.
Looking ahead: expansion, visibility, political influence
Munich Startup: What next steps do you plan to take to further develop the SSHB?
Anne Dörner:
- Further strengthen our offerings in the Bavarian regions through targeted cooperation and needs-based formats, especially in rural areas, far from urban centers – there is a lot of dormant potential for social start-ups here
- create more visibility for social startups and start-ups with social added value and their enormous potential – among investors, in politics and in the general public.
Munich Startup: How do you see your role in the growing social entrepreneurship ecosystem – more as an enabler, initiator, or political co-creator?
Anne Dörner: We say: all three!
- Enablers because we support people to be courageous and get their ideas rolling.
- We're a driving force because we stand for new ways of thinking and innovative solutions: Doing good and earning money at the same time? It's possible!
- As political co-creators, we bring the topic Social Entrepreneurship on the agenda and show how impact and economic success can work together – especially in challenging times when social change and economic development are necessary.
We believe that impactful business isn't a niche topic, but the business model of the future. If you have an idea with social added value, contact us or come to one of our events. We look forward to seeing you: www.social-startup-hub.de
