Competition 2024

Flagships for a social, sustainable, and pioneering Berlin.

Every day, social businesses make a significant contribution to making our city more inclusive, social and sustainable. With the award “Berlin’s Social Enterprises 2024”, Social Economy Berlin, a project supported by the Berlin Senate Department for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises, honours established Social Enterprises that are committed to a social, sustainable and future-oriented Berlin since 2022.

In November 2024, three social businesses that already have a proven positive impact in Berlin and beyond will be awarded in three categories: People, Planet, and Transformation.

The first place winners will each receive €5,000, the second place winners will each receive €3,000 and the third place winners will each receive €2,000 in prize money. Additionally, all nine businesses will receive a one-year membership at Impact Hub Berlin.

Businesses that fit the following descriptions will be awarded:

  • „Impact Economy“
  • „Social Businesses / Social Entrepreneurship“
  • „Collective Businesses”
  • „Social and solidarity-based economy“

It is important that the company’s economic activities serve the common good and thus act as a driver for the social and ecological transformation of the economy.

The price categories

Category 1: People
Social enterprise working on diversity, equity and inclusion 

We want to live in a city where everyone feels welcome and safe. Social businesses that advocate for social justice, inclusion, and diversity can be nominated in the category People. 

These include topics like affordable housing, poverty alleviation, accessibility, support of culture and family, health, promoting democracy and participation, education for all, anti-racism, anti-discrimination, and civil courage, as well as integration of young and old.

Winners in the category People:

1st Get2Germany

Get2Germany is a social enterprise that guides foreign healthcare professionals, especially doctors and nurses, through the complex process of having their qualifications recognized in Germany. Get2Germany is also developing a pilot program that specifically places foreign doctors in underserved regions in order to alleviate the shortage of specialists there.

We are delighted to have been named ‚Berlin’s Social Enterprise 2024‘ in the “People” category. It gives companies like us the opportunity to be recognized for our social mission. Get2Germany is actively committed to the integration of foreign healthcare professionals into the German healthcare system, thus helping to alleviate the shortage of skilled workers and improve medical care. This award underlines our commitment to social sustainability and will help us to reach even more people. – Das Get2Germany Team

2nd ReDi School of Digital Integration

ReDi School of Digital Integration is a non-profit organization that enables refugees and migrants to enter the job market through free tech training. Particularly noteworthy is the proportion of women, which has risen from 5% to 65% thanks to targeted programs.

We are delighted to receive this award because it recognizes our commitment to integration. With tech training for refugees, we create new opportunities and facilitate the path into working life – for a future in which everyone can participate. – Anne Kjaer Bathel

3rd Wearevillage

We are village is a creative center and non-profit organization that advocates for the LGBTQIA+ community. With projects in the areas of education, health, art and culture, integration and social commitment, we are village promotes the visibility of queer realities at local, national and international level.

We are very pleased that our project and our very broad range of services are being recognized, making them more visible and perhaps enabling us to be there for even more queer people. – Kai Ehrhardt

Category 2: Planet
Social enterprise for a good life on earth

The fight against climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our time – also here in Berlin. We are seeking social businesses that contribute to the development of Berlin as  an ecologically sustainable metropolis by actively and effectively contributing to climate protection and climate justice.

In the category Planet, social businesses may be nominated that promote topics like green technologies, sustainable food supply, climate-neutral and green cities, CO2 reduction, biodiversity, and mobility.

Winners in the category Planet:

1st ForTomorrow

ForTomorrow is a social enterprise that offers private individuals the opportunity to buy and retire EU emission rights and thus reduce CO₂ emissions in industry. It combines these measures with reforestation projects in Germany to promote a climate-neutral future and actively combat climate change.

ForTomorrow stands for effective CO2 compensation in Europe for companies and private individuals. – Ruth von Heusinger

2nd VARM

VARM develops innovative solutions for blow-in insulation. This is a process in which insulation material is blown into building cavities to improve thermal insulation. This lowers heating costs and reduces CO₂ emissions. The company also offers training programs for specialists to ensure scalability and quality.

With VARM, we enable Berlin homeowners to insulate their homes cost-effectively and thus save up to 50% of their energy costs within a very short space of time. The comprehensive refurbishment of buildings is a key element in achieving Berlin’s sustainability goals. We are therefore all the more pleased that our work has been recognized with this award and that we can make an important contribution to a socially just heat transition with the support of the city. – Sebastian Würz

3rd Spark e-Fuels

Spark e-Fuels develops sustainable production systems for synthetic fuels (e-fuels) that run directly on renewable energy. The company focuses on the decarbonization of the aviation sector and offers a cost-effective, scalable solution for reducing CO₂ emissions in the industry.

We at Spark e-Fuels are delighted to be recognized in ‚Berlin’s Social Enterprise 2024‘. Our mission to make sustainable kerosene and green chemical feedstocks price competitive is deeply rooted in our commitment to a greener Berlin and a greener world. Through our participation, we want to show that academic research, industrial innovation and social responsibility can go hand in hand to develop sustainable solutions for our society. We look forward to working together with other committed companies to actively shape Berlin’s future. – Arno Zimmermann

Category 3: Transformation
Social enterprise for an economy of tomorrow

An economy that doesn’t think about people and the planet is not future-proof. Instead of single-use products and waste production, we need a circular economy that functions like nature itself. This means recycling and repairing but also a change in production and our understanding of the economy. 

In the category Transformation, social businesses may be nominated that successfully implement sustainable production and consumption patterns, transparent and local supply chains, sustainable and reusable packaging, repair workshops, or otherwise carry an economy “of tomorrow” in their DNA. It’s about companies that also show other companies how a circular and sustainable economy can succeed. 

Winners in the category Transformation:

1st IMPARI

IMPARI is a sustainable Berlin-based fashion brand that produces unique, colorful clothing using zero-waste techniques and promotes diversity and ecological awareness through its designs. The combination of sustainable production, eco-friendly materials (such as recycled PET) and a strong focus on individuality and diversity makes IMPARI a unique fashion brand.

We are so happy to receive the “Berlin’s Social Enterprise 2024” award as it confirms our mission to create a sustainable and inclusive fashion world. IMPARI is committed to combining social and environmental responsibility by using innovative materials, making our value chain transparent and supporting young talents from marginalized communities. This award recognizes our efforts to support a circular economy and promote diversity in the fashion industry. We applied because we believe that our approach – fashion without waste and with social commitment – is a role model for the future. – Jana Heinemann

2nd On Purpose

On Purpose supports the shift from a profit-driven to a purpose-driven economy by bringing skilled professionals into the social-ecological sector. It combines hands-on assignments, training and coaching to empower people to drive positive change in the economy and society.

Change is only possible together and requires strong networks. We bring together organizations and talents from different professional fields and want to show that many things can be done differently: recruiting, training, doing business! We are really delighted that this award will make our work and, above all, our growing community more visible. – Lukas Marzi

3rd Repair Circle

Repair Circle simplifies and localizes the repair of electronic devices by digitizing the entire repair process and connecting private individuals with local repair providers. This promotes local jobs and the focus on the circular economy helps to reduce electronic waste.

Berlin is my second home, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to give back to this community through Repair Circle. Every repair we do brings joy to our customers, satisfaction to our technicians and a better place for the environment. This recognition is a huge win for us and our mission to make repairs the norm again! – Nikki Anderssen

Who is on the jury?

Our jury is made up of representatives from politics, the press, meta-stakeholders and civil society.

Organizers

Social Economy Berlin (SEB) is a joint project of Social Entrepreneurship Netzwerk Deutschland e.V. (SEND) and Technologie-Netzwerk Berlin e.V. The project is funded by the Berlin Senate Department for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises and realized with the kind support of IHK Berlin. The competition is carried out in cooperation with Impact Hub Berlin.

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