The State of Berlin is looking for Berlin’s Social
Enterprises 2026!
The Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises is looking for particularly innovative, sustainable or participatory social enterprises in Berlin that have a convincing impact.
Awards will be given to companies or organisations in three categories:
- Planet
- People
- Trasformation
Does your company or organisation pursue public welfare objectives and thus contribute to a sustainable, fair and future-proof economy and urban society?
Do you see your company as, for example, an
- Impact start-up
- Social enterprise / social entrepreneurship
- Collective enterprise
- Sustainable enterprise?
Or do you consider yourself part of the
- Purpose Economy or
- Economy for the Common Good or
- Social and Solidarity Economy?
The prize money for each of the three categories is as follows
1st place: €5,000
2nd place: €3,000
3rd place: €2,000
In addition, we will feature you and your company on the Social Economy Berlin website.
Who are we looking for?
We can only accept applications from companies that are already formally established, i.e. have a legal form, and have at least one place of business in Berlin.
What does your company need to offer?
Social objectives
- It addresses a specific social or environmental problem.
Staff
- At least 25% of employees are salaried and receive a wage.
Finances
- Part of the expenditure can be covered by market income.
- Market revenues account for at least 25% (including revenues from public sector contracts (not grants)), i.e. up to 75% of revenues may be donations, grants or philanthropic funds without consideration.
Use of funds
- A portion of any surplus generated is used to achieve social or environmental goals. (e.g. reinvested in the organisation itself or donated to organisations pursuing similar goals)
- No more than 50% of the surplus may be distributed in the form of dividends or capital distributions. With the prior consent of the relevant stakeholders, part of the liquidation balance may be freely distributed.
What is the application process?
Step 1: You register on the applicant platform and submit your documents to us. The application period runs from 16 March to 12 April 2026, 11:59 p.m.
Step 2: We check whether you meet all the eligibility criteria.
Step 3: Jury review: A jury will select the top 5 nominees in each category using the dual control principle and decide on the winners for places 1-3.
Step 4: From approximately the 19th calendar week onwards, the top 5 nominees in the three categories will be announced on the SEB Berlin website and via SEB Berlin’s social media channels. The 15 nominated organisations will be invited to the award ceremony on 19 May 2026 at re:publica.