These are Berlin’s Social Enterprises 2026!
Every two years, the Senate Department for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises recognises particularly innovative, sustainable and participatory social enterprises in Berlin that make a compelling impact.
As part of re:publica 2026 – one of Europe’s largest festivals for digital society and innovation – the award ceremony was celebrated on 19 May 2026. State Secretary for Economic Affairs Michael Biel opened the event with a welcome address. The programme was hosted by moderator Darlene Schwabroch, with keynote speaker Ela Kagel providing inspiring insights.
The 2026 Winners
Awards were presented in three categories:
Category Planet
- 1st place: Haferkater GmbH
- 2nd place: Kreisler e.V.
- 3rd place: STRAYZ Petfood GmbH
Category People
- 1st place: Kopfsachen e.V.
- 2nd place: LeistungsLotse GmbH
- 3rd place: Service Inklusiv gGmbH
Category Transformation
- 1st place: bcause GmbH
- 2nd place: Circle Products GmbH
- 3rd place: Cradle to Cradle NGO
The Nominees
Category Planet: Kreisler e.V., fairster. Energie gGmbH, Haferkater GmbH, klimaklitsche GmbH, STRAYZ Petfood GmbH
Category People: Service Inklusiv gGmbH, querstadtein e.V., Education Innovation Lab, LeistungsLotse GmbH, Kopfsachen e.V.
Category Transformation: Impact Week gUG, Cradle to Cradle NGO, bcause GmbH, Circle Products GmbH, Village One eG
The Jury
The nominees and award winners were selected by an independent jury bringing diverse perspectives from business, social entrepreneurship and civil society.
Category Planet
- Jonas Nipkow – Project Lead “Social Economy Berlin” (SEND e.V.)
- Deniz Ficicioglu – CEO & Founder wunderfish GmbH
- Daniel Büchle – CEO afb social & green IT
Category People
- Ela Kagel – Co-founder & Board Member Platform Coops eG
- Jan-Philipp Heinisch – Start-up Economy and Business Formation, Senate Department for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises
- Anne Jeglinski – Deputy Managing Director and Head of the District Office, Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband Landesverband Berlin e.V.
Category Transformation
- Antje Meyer – CoFounder & CoCEO nextblooming GmbH
- Lukas Marzi – Founder Marziplan
- Gülcan Nitsch – Founder & CEO Yeşil Çember – ökologisch. interkulturell. gGmbH
Congratulations to all award winners! This year, we were once again able to recognise committed enterprises and organisations that contribute to a fair and future-ready economy and urban society through their work.
A big thank you to everyone involved and to all those who applied and whose commitment strengthens the social economy in Berlin.
