Impact Pitch Night 2026

On 3 November 2026, it’s that time again: at the 2nd Bonn Impact Pitch Night, you’ll see the best public-benefit start-up ideas from the Bonn/Rhein-Sieg region take to the stage. From 5 pm to 8 pm, the DIGITALHUB at Bonn Central Station will become the meeting place for anyone interested in social impact, sustainability and the start-up founders of tomorrow.

What can you expect?

• 5 teams, 5 ideas, 1 stage – selected from the region’s universities and the open wildcard call for entries
• Keynote by Sarah Grohé, founder of erlich textil, the underwear brand that stands for sustainability and fair production within Europe
• Live pitches in front of the jury and the audience: Which idea will win them over and take the prize?
• Networking with snacks & drinks – meet like-minded people, discuss ideas, build contacts

Why take part?

• You’ll gain exclusive insights into the region’s latest impact start-ups and business ideas
• You’ll experience first-hand the talent and potential that Bonn/Rhein-Sieg has to offer
• You’ll be part of SoNaR’s growing Impact Community
• You can support the teams and exchange ideas with experts, founders and innovators

Prizes

The best ideas will be awarded prize money for the top three places.

(First place is sponsored by Sparkasse KölnBonn. Thank you for your support.)

Jury

The decision on the best sustainable idea will be made by a jury of experienced representatives from the regional start-up and impact ecosystem, comprising:

• Eva Paul – Bonn City Economic Development Agency
• Sarah Grohé – Founder of erlich textil and keynote speaker
• Janine Weirich - NRW Bank
• Helen Pohl - Sparkasse KölnBonn