18 spots · Apply by 30 November 2026

AI-powered. Human-centered. The accelerator that helps impact-driven businesses grow.

A free 14-week accelerator for businesses and startups with a social or environmental mission in Germany. Strengthen your business model, master key business tools and grow your measurable social and environmental impact.

⏰ Application deadline

Apply by 30 November 2026

Applications for Cohort 2 (Winter/Spring 2027) are open now. The application takes only a few minutes. We review applications on a rolling basis, so the call may close earlier once all 18 spots are filled.

41

days

05

hours

46

minutes

Apply to the accelerator

18 spots · Apply by 30 November 2026

Who Impact Sprint Lab is for

Your business is registered. Now it's time to grow. Impact Sprint Lab is a free accelerator for impact-driven businesses and startups registered in Germany, including recently founded startups. AI becomes your copilot, no-code tools help you work smarter, and human coaching keeps you on track, so you can strengthen your business model and grow your impact.

Impact-driven businesses & startups registered in Germany

Migrant entrepreneurs & inclusive business models welcome

A social or environmental mission at the core of your business, aligned with the UN SDGs

What Makes Impact Sprint Lab Special

Personalized 1:1 Kick-Off with Human AI Head Coaches

Start tailored, not generic. Experienced head coaches and mentors combine tech-driven insights with hands-on expertise to set you up for sustainable success.

One Immersive Retreat - Your Safe Space to Connect

Our retreat in Beeskow (Brandenburg) brings the whole cohort together — including founders with migration backgrounds — to gain clarity, confidence, and community.

Build Ventures That Truly Matter

Sharpen your solution to real social and environmental challenges, aligned with the SDGs and a practical Theory of Change, so your activities lead to measurable long-term outcomes.

Tech Without Barriers

Not a tech expert? Perfect. We make AI and no-code tools your secret weapon to work smarter and grow, without needing a tech team.

A Program That Fits Your Life

Already running a business? Our hybrid program with activities in Berlin and Beeskow (Brandenburg) — weekly online sessions, in-person days in Berlin and one retreat — fits alongside your day-to-day operations in about 3 hours per week.

Empowering YOU as a Gamechanger

We strengthen your confidence, leadership, and resilience, so you grow as a founder and as a changemaker — especially when navigating new cultures and systems.

Apply to the accelerator

18 spots · Apply by 30 November 2026

Winter/Spring Cohort 2027 Program & Key Dates

Our approach combines practical, outcome-driven workshops with expert sessions on the topics that matter most to growing impact businesses – from navigating local bureaucracy to brand building, go-to-market and funding. This foundation is supplemented by dedicated personal development sessions, peer-to-peer learning, and one-on-one coaching to build founder resilience and leadership while working towards clear program outcomes.

The program is hybrid, with activities in Berlin and Beeskow (Brandenburg): between the in-person days in Berlin and the retreat in Beeskow, weekly online workshops, expert sessions and Jour Fixe keep the cohort connected. Plan for about 3 hours per week plus the in-person days.

01

Thu 21 Jan 2027

Pre-onboarding (online)

02

Thu 28 Jan 2027

ISL Kick-off (Berlin)

03

Thu 18 Feb 2027

Founder Lab 1 (Berlin)

04

Tue 23 Mar 2027

Founder Lab 2 (Berlin)

05

9 – 11 Apr 2027

ISL Retreat (Beeskow, Brandenburg)

06

Thu 29 Apr 2027

Demo Day (Berlin)

Apply to the accelerator

18 spots · Apply by 30 November 2026

What ISL Founders Will Walk Away With

Stronger Product-Market Fit

Improve your product or service with real customer feedback.

Pitch & Pitch Deck

Refine your pitch and presentation deck to be investor-ready.

Impact Business Model

Sharpen your impact business model: develop your embedded impact Business Model Canvas and evolve your pricing strategy, revenue streams and financial plan.

Go-to-Market Strategy

Run channel experiments, establish customer & stakeholder segments, and develop your traction playbook.

Impact Thesis

Define an SDG-aligned impact strategy, develop your Theory of Change, learn how to measure impact, and tell a compelling impact story.

Founder Growth

Understand your why and develop practical founder skills such as leadership, branding, legal & operations, and funding literacy.

Apply to the accelerator

18 spots · Apply by 30 November 2026

Impressions from our Kick-off & Open Event

These are our Experts

ISL — Expert Team Section

Apply to the accelerator

18 spots · Apply by 30 November 2026

What you will Learn

Impact & Sustainability – Turn your vision into measurable impact

- SDG mapping & stakeholder outcomes - Theory of Change & Impact Mapping - KPI design & learning loops

Product & Customer Insights – Improve what you already offer

- Customer interviews & feedback loops - No-code tools to improve and automate - AI-assisted research & insights

Business Model & Go-to-Market – Shape a viable, real-world business model

- Business model design & pricing - Traction channels & GTM experiments - Partnerships & lightweight fundraising

Founder Identity & Empowerment – Empowering YOU, not just your business

- Leadership & decision frameworks - Resilience, confidence & habits - Inclusive communication & crosscultural navigation

Coaches & Community

Work with Human AI Head Coaches who guide you through every stage — with insightful workshops, interactive Q&A sessions, and personalized 1:1 coaching. Join a supportive, diverse founder community bridging Berlin’s startup energy with Brandenburg’s creative focus.

Claudia Andrea Brasche

Project Manager

Yamile Vargas

Head of Venture Building & Community Manager

Regine Haschka-Helmer

Head Coachin

Anisha Mohil

Lead Impact Coachin

Gernot Diaz

Marketing Manager

Sandra Aguirre

Social Media Manager

Angela Präuner

Administration

Meet the Founders of Cohort 1, 2026

From founding to growth in one program cycle – meet the founders behind it.

ISL — Testimonials

The most valuable part of Impact Sprint Lab has been the mentoring sessions and the support from the various coaches. Each session explores a different step of building a business, making the program both dynamic and empowering, built on community, empowerment and engagement.

Aleksandra

Founder NeuralGrounds

Impact Sprint Lab challenged us to think bigger, connect deeper, and present our startup with confidence. Demo Day felt like a major milestone in our journey.

Manuel

Founder Encuentro de Hispanos

What has impressed me most about Impact Sprint Lab is how thoughtfully the curriculum is designed, combined with the openness and kindness of all the coaches. It’s a strong program with genuinely supportive people behind it.

Ebony

Founder FoodStorii

The Impact Sprint Lab brought clarity, inspiration, and a renewed vision for my entrepreneurial journey. The learnings and connections will stay with me forever.

Saurabhi

Founder LettsLocal

The Impact Sprint Lab was a game-changer for our startup. It helped us sharpen our vision, strengthen our scaling strategy, and accelerate our growth.

Eldin

Founder Bazarium

Impact Sprint Lab gave me the confidence and support to turn my vision into action. It is one of the few programs that truly supports both the founder and the business behind the idea.

Laura

Founder Lumuly

The most valuable part of the program was the people, the shared space, and the expertise the mentors brought to the table. That combination made the experience powerful, joyful, and full of opportunities.

Itzel

Founder LoLo the App

“

The most valuable part of Impact Sprint Lab has been the mentoring sessions and the support from the various coaches. Each session explores a different step of building a business, making the program both dynamic and empowering, built on community, empowerment and engagement.

Aleksandra

Founder NeuralGrounds

“

ISL challenged us to think bigger, connect deeper, and present our startup with confidence. Demo Day felt like a major milestone in our journey.

Manuel

Founder Encuentro de Hispanos

What has impressed me most about Impact Sprint Lab is how thoughtfully the curriculum is designed, combined with the openness and kindness of all the coaches. It’s a strong program with genuinely supportive people behind it.

Ebony

Founder FoodStorii

The Impact Sprint Lab brought clarity, inspiration, and a renewed vision for my entrepreneurial journey. The learnings and connections will stay with me forever.

Saurabhi

Founder LettsLocal

The Impact Sprint Lab was a game-changer for our startup. It helped us sharpen our vision, strengthen our scaling strategy, and accelerate our growth.

Eldin

Founder Bazarium

Impact Sprint Lab gave me the confidence and support to turn my vision into action. It is one of the few programs that truly supports both the founder and the business behind the idea.

Laura

Founder Lumuly

The most valuable part of the program was the people, the shared space, and the expertise the mentors brought to the table. That combination made the experience powerful, joyful, and full of opportunities.

Itzel

Founder LoLo the App

Apply to the accelerator

18 spots · Apply by 30 November 2026

Funding logos: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, Co-funded by the European Union (ESF+), Ibykus AG

Completely free, thanks to public funding

Impact Sprint Lab is supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (German: Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie) and co-funded by the European Union (ESF+). The program is implemented on behalf of the funding authority by Ibykus AG.

Frequently asked questions

Who can apply?

Impact Sprint Lab is for impact-driven businesses and startups with a social or environmental mission that are already registered in Germany when they apply. This includes: - Registered social enterprises, impact startups and small businesses with a social or environmental mission - Registered companies, including recently founded startups - Migrant entrepreneurs & inclusive business models Living in Germany alone is not enough: your business itself must be registered here. Revenue is not required, but your business must be active. If you want to strengthen your business model and grow your impact, ISL is for you.

What counts as a social or environmental mission?

We follow the criteria of the EU Social Business Initiative: - Your social or environmental mission is the core purpose of your business and is documented, e.g. in your articles of association or mission statement - Most of your profits (at least 50%) are reinvested in the mission - Your ownership or organization reflects the mission

Revenue is not required, but your business must be active. Selected applicants receive two short self-declarations after applying, so you don't need to prepare anything extra for the application form.

What counts as registered? Can NGOs apply?

Any business with an economic activity counts, regardless of legal form, including sole traders and freelancers. Proof can be a commercial register entry, a trade license (Gewerbeschein) or your registration of self-employment with the tax office. NGOs and non-profits (e.g. gGmbH, e.V.) can apply if they regularly run an economic activity, for example selling products or services. Purely donation-funded organizations cannot apply.

Is participation free of charge?

How does the application work?

Applying takes two steps: 1. Short application: tell us about your business, your impact and the support you need. 2. Follow-up form: if it's a fit, we'll send you a second form with more detailed questions. After that, we invite you to an interview. Your business must already be registered in Germany when you apply. The application deadline is 30 November 2026. We review applications on a rolling basis, so the call may close earlier once all 18 spots are filled.

How is the program structured?

Impact Sprint Lab is a free, 14-week hybrid program with activities in Berlin and Beeskow (Brandenburg): - Weekly online workshops, expert sessions and Jour Fixe - 1:1 coaching - In-person days in Berlin: Kick-off, two Founder Labs and Demo Day - A three-day retreat in Beeskow (Brandenburg) Plan for about 3 hours per week plus the in-person days. At least 80% attendance is required, and the program language is English.

You'll get access to: - AI-powered tools and templates - A community tool for resources and mentor interaction - A Demo Day to showcase your startup

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