First, the 20 or so participants were given a tour of the Stuttgart co-working and event space IMPACT HUB. This offers creative spaces and resources to help founders turn their ideas into impact projects or sustainable businesses. The startup spirit and passion for solving problems as social and impact entrepreneurs was palpable.
In a community session, the founders of innovative impact startups talked about their projects in an informal atmosphere and answered the group's questions. These included:
- SOLARBAKERY: mobile, solar-powered bakeries for sustainable job creation in developing countries.
- Coool: a creative agency focused on helping businesses make a sustainable transition to the 1.5°C target.
- Evaneos: a platform for sustainable and responsible travel that connects travellers with local travel agents.
- Project Climate: Advice for businesses on switching to CO₂-free mobility solutions.
- Viva la Faba: organic vegan cheese made from Faba beans.
- Trees AI: a platform for funding sustainable projects to reduce air pollution and improve urban life.
- Holiroots: rescuing crooked vegetables to turn them into healthy crackers and reduce food waste.
The second stop of the day takes the group to Stuutgart University. There, the participants were given an exclusive tour of the state-of-the-art research campus "ARENA2036". Here, researchers, start-ups and companies work together on future-oriented mobility and production solutions. The campus looks exactly like you would imagine innovation to look. A mixture of car workshop, production hall and open-plan office, filled with robot arms, oversized 3D printers and workstations. In the evening, the Neu-Ulm group, together with the students from the University of Stuttgart, were able to listen to a lecture on the topic of impact entrepreneurship by Prof. Alexander Brem, Director of the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Research.
Already established impact start-ups not only pitched their ideas, but also encouraged the students to make a difference in the world. Among them was the startup RECUP, which has set itself the goal of avoiding disposable waste in the food and beverage industry. HNU alumna Rebecca Bregant was also there with her social startup PineBerry, a digital platform for local energy providers in developing countries. The founding team of Nordesign, which produces sustainable cleaning products without the use of plastic, inspired the students with their positive energy and many tips on how to start up.
The day ended with a networking session at the University of Stuttgart, where the participants could further discuss and exchange ideas over pizza, beer and a relaxed atmosphere. Overall, the excursion - Impact Tour in Stuttgart was a great experience that highlighted the power of impact entrepreneurship and inspired everyone to make a positive impact on the world.
The next date is already being planned, so those interested can mark their calendars for 24 April. This time, the Impact Day will take place at HNU itself in the Founders Space.
