Democracies are fighting for their lives. Why?
For the first time since 2004, there are more autocratic than democratic states in the world. Right-wing populist parties are on the rise around the world, while voter turnout is falling, trust in political systems and the press is declining, and fake news are on the rise. As if that wasn’t enough, digital technologies have created new challenges for democracies. We see filter bubbles, where social media algorithms only show users content that confirms their point of view, often accompanied by manipulation and the spread of misinformation on social media. In addition, large technology companies have disproportionate power and use it for targeted manipulation and surveillance. Finally, artificial intelligence such as ChatGPT can do great harm in the wrong hands.
But: If technology is part of the problem, it is also part of the solution!
Do you have an idea for a solution?
This is your chance to be the driving force behind transformation. We are looking for startups that are developing technologies that add social and environmental value, benefit democracy, increase access and participation in democracy, and add diversity to the technology landscape. We believe that impact startups have greater flexibility and agility than established companies and can respond more quickly to challenges.
We can help you with our incubator and accelerator program
In our accelerator program, we will guide you for 5 months to turn your idea into reality.
We offer you access to funding, coaching from experienced mentors, access to our network. We will work side by side at bUm. A co-working space for social entrepreneurs, nonprofit organizations and activists.
Application starts: 06.02.2024
Applications ends: 10.03.2024
Program start: 06.05.2024
Program end: 30.10.2024Phineo has 10 years experience
with impact investing
PHINEO is one of the pioneers of impact investing, measurement and management in Germany. We combine impact and financial know-how in one team. Therefore, we can help you finance your project and provide access to a network of impact investors. In addition, we support you with our communication to our broad network of different sector partners and one of the largest Impact Investing and Social Entrepreneurship networks in Germany.
Coaching
A dedicated PHINEO Startups coach guides impact founders through the incubator program and designs it together with them.
© Copyright: Robert Eckstein
Mentoring
A dedicated and experienced mentor supports and advises each impact startup team individually throughout the incubator program – in addition, topic-specific mentors can be consulted.
© Copyright: Robert Eckstein
Your mentors and experts
Here you can connect with a selection of our mentors and experts.
Raphael von Aulock
Eberhard Ruess
he/him
Till Augner
Antje Christine Venjakob
she/her
Pieter van Midwoud
Dash Markova
she/her
Dennis Stahl
he/him
Waridi Pabst — Schrobsdorff
she/her
Mark Young
Annelie Graf
she/her
Abdul Khaleq Al-Qasaily
he/him
Lucas von Fürstenberg
he/him
Cielo Sanabria
Ulrich Katterbach
he/him
Olga Almqvist
she/her
Alena Hilbig
she/her
Torsten Mueller
Inga Skowranek
she/her
Sebastian Schramm
Julia Dreyer
she/her
Johanna von Herman-Kim
Sébastien Martin
Maren Lesche
Mario Steinbuch
Nataliia Fiebrig
Erdinç Koç
he/him
Matthias Oetken
Jasmine Borhan
Asal Rustamova
Sascha Erben
Christoph Rohde
Christa Cocciole
Katrin Häuser
Oleksandr Snidalov
Fabian Hoehne
Dr. Christian Humborg
Kiana Mardi
Felix Krause
Mina Kolagar
Christian Boettcher
Thomas Kalunge
René Wienholtz
Sabrina Konzok
Kai Malkwitz
Dr. Thomas Warnke
Mamuteane Mmutle
Tobias Ahrens
Philipp Schmidt
Maike Striffler
Igor Elbert
André Nikolski
Laura Kohler
Lyudmyla Kovalenko
Sophie Dienberg
Dr. Thomas Gnefkow
Carolin Kröger
Nora Azzaoui
Peter Brock
Masterclasses
There will be a weekly training offer with workshops aimed at addressing your needs and gaps and intended to support the acceleration of your development.
© Copyright: Robert Eckstein
Co-Working
You get a seat at bUm. A place to work, meet, learn and improve the world together. It’s a community space for inspiring encounters between social entrepreneurs and homeless people, politics and the neighborhood, socially committed companies and activists, non-profit organizations and volunteers.
Co-Working at bUm,
Paul-Linke-Ufer
© Copyright: betterplace Umspannwerk GmbH
bUm community space
Hybrid Setup
With our hybrid setup, we support both in-person attendees and virtual attendees from Kyiv, Paris, London or anywhere else.
© Copyright: Robert Eckstein
Events
Diverse types of events are offered as part of the incubator program, e.g., community events, pitch events, networking opportunities & an impact summit.
Impact Summit: Ukraine Response Program #2
© Copyright: Robert Eckstein
Our Impact Summit is joint Demo Day and Kick-Off Event
We say goodbye to the participants of one program and welcome the participants of the next program with a big joint event. This way, the new participants see what to expect right on their first day. And they can connect with our entire impact community at this event.
Montly Pitch’n’Lunch Events
To get an idea of our program, you can register for one of the two upcoming pitch events, where participants from our current Ukraine Response Program #2 will pitch their startups in front of an audience. Of course you can also watch our pitch events online. You can find the corresponding zoom links at eventbrite.
Pitch’n’Lunch No.4 Monday, September 25, 1–3pm CEST
© Copyright: Robert Eckstein
Peer-to-Peer Coaching and Community Building
PHINEO Startups encourages and facilitates learning and community-building opportunities among founders.
© Copyright: Robert Eckstein
Network
PHINEO Startups provides access to different sector partners and one of the largest impact investing and social entrepreneurship networks in Germany.
© Copyright: Robert Eckstein
It’s a match?
We support startups in all stages. Do you have an almost finished prototype that you can test or an existing startup that you want to bring to a new level?
Your team consists of at least two founders. Non-profit as well as for-profit organizations can apply.
Ask us anything
Do you have any questions?
We can chat here.
If you encounter any technical or other difficulties while submitting your online application, please feel free to reach out to us.
Need a 1:1 call?
Want feedback on your documents before you apply? Lets make an appointment for a video call as soon as possible. Someone from the PHINEO Startups team will give feedback on your pitch deck. After that, you have until the end of the submission period to integrate our feedback into your application.
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