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Combining Purpose and Profit – Social Entrepreneurship

Starting a Business with Social Impact – Purpose and Profit

Easy read — 8 sections

More and more people want not just to make money, but also to make a difference: According to the Social Entrepreneurship Monitor, over 35% of German founders pursue social or sustainable goals. Whether environment, education, integration or health – Social Entrepreneurship combines entrepreneurship with social responsibility.

April 22, 2026

Contents

Example ClearUp

1. Starting with Purpose – why Social Impact is becoming increasingly important

  • Society and politics increasingly support social innovations.
  • Consumers pay more attention to sustainability and fairness.
  • Social Impact start-ups not only create jobs, but solve real problems.

For businesses with a social background, the focus is not on profit maximisation, but on social impact.

2. Social Values can receive special Support

3. Legal Forms & tax Specifics

Social start-ups can take different approaches:

  • gGmbH or e. V. → tax-privileged, but restricted in profit distribution. (Gründerplatform)
  • GmbH or UG (haftungsbeschränkt) with Mission Statement → economically flexible, but no charitable status.
  • Hybrid Models → Combination of association + GmbH to combine impact and financing.

Important: If recognised as charitable, tax benefits apply (e.g. exemption from Körperschaftsteuer (corporation tax) & Gewerbesteuer (municipal tax), donation receipts). Source: Service Berlin.

4. Networks & Community for greater Impact

Social Impact founders benefit from strong networking:

  • SEND e. V. (Social Entrepreneurship Netzwerk Deutschland) → Exchange, advocacy, funding programmes (send-ev.de).
  • Social Impact Labs → Incubators with coaching and financing (socialimpact.eu).
  • Ashoka Fellows → international community of Social Entrepreneurs (ashoka.org).

Contact Points – Overview

Contact PointOffering
EXIST Soziale Innovation (BMWK)Funding for social start-ups at universities
SEND e. V.Network, advocacy, funding
Social Impact LabIncubator programmes, coaching, financing
Ananda Impact VenturesEarly-stage investments for social start-ups
BonVentureImpact investment fund in DACH
Ashoka DeutschlandFellowship programme, international community
StartnextCrowdfunding platform for social start-ups
Stiftung BürgermutFunding & projects for social engagement
Gesellschaft für InnovationStart-up competitions e.g. Impact Challenge at universities: prize money, visibility and coaching

5. next Steps for your Journey

Overview – Steps at a Glance

StepDescription
1. Check starting positionClarify whether your project is more charitable or commercial
2. Business plan with impactDescribe impact, target group and impact measurement
3. Check funding programmesEXIST Soziale Innovationen, impact funds, foundations
4. Choose legal formgGmbH, association or GmbH/UG
5. Get started & use communityIncubator, crowdfunding, build networks

1. Check starting Position

  • Clarify whether your project should be charitable → Benefits like tax exemption and donation receipts (BMJ).
  • Or whether it should remain economically flexible → GmbH/UG possible.

2. Business Plan with Impact

  • Focus not only on finances, but also on impact measurement.
  • Template: IHK Businessplan.
  • Add your Theory of Change (How does your idea lead to the desired impact?).

3. Check funding Programmes

4. Choose legal Form

5. Get started & use Community

Sources

  1. [1]Social Entrepreneurship Monitor – Send-Ev.De
  2. [2]exist.de – Exist.De
  3. [3]Ananda Impact Ventures – Ananda.Vc
  4. [4]BonVenture – Bonventure.De
  5. [5]Stiftung Bürgermut – Buergermut.De
  6. [6]Ashoka Deutschland – De
  7. [7]Startnext – Startnext.Com
  8. [8]betterplace.org – Betterplace.Org
  9. [9]Bertelsmann Stiftung – Was Sind Social Impact Bonds
  10. [10]Gründerplatform – Ggmbh Gruenden
  11. [11]Service Berlin – Dienstleistung
  12. [12]send-ev.de – Social Entrepreneurship
  13. [13]socialimpact.eu – Socialimpact.Eu
  14. [14]Gesellschaft für Innovation – Sozialeinnovationen Node
  15. [15]BMJ – Bmj.De
  16. [16]IHK Businessplan – Businessplan Anleitung 2264218
  17. [17]IHK – Ihk.De
  18. [18]BMF – Bundesfinanzministerium.De

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