Call for Ideas launched: 2nd Impact Pitch Night seeks ideas for sustainable start-ups

Call for Ideas: Impact Pitch Night Banner

Whether it’s social innovation, an environmental concept or a model of sustainability: students, staff and alumni, as well as teams from the Bonn/Rhein-Sieg region, can now submit their ideas for the 2nd Impact Pitch Night. The best projects stand to win prize money of up to 2,500 euros, exclusive pitch coaching and access to a strong network.

Further information.

Following last year’s successful launch, the Impact Pitch Night will enter its second round on 3 November 2026. This joint event, organised by the Start-up Manufaktur at Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg (H-BRS), Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences, and the enaCom Transfer Centre at the University of Bonn, brings together committed individuals from the region who wish to shape social and environmental change through entrepreneurial spirit.

Wanted: solutions to the challenges of tomorrow

The competition is open to individuals and teams with early-stage start-up ideas (prior to the official establishment of a company). It is essential that the idea addresses both a specific sustainability issue (environmental or social) and a customer problem, and that it is economically viable.

A direct link to a university is welcome but not essential – the competition is open to all individuals and teams from the Bonn/Rhein-Sieg region.

Here’s what’s up for grabs:

Prize money: A total of €4,750 (1st place: €2,500, 2nd place: €1,500, 3rd place: €750)
Pitch coaching: Individual preparation for all finalist teams by experts
Special prize: Chance to be accepted into the selection camp for Anthropia’s Impact Factory Incubator
Visibility & networking: Digital presentation to the jury, investors and the regional start-up community

Apply now!

The application process is straightforward: You need to submit a pitch deck with a maximum of 14 slides (in German or English) via the online form on the website.

Application deadline: Sunday, 20 September 2026 (23:59)
Final event: Tuesday, 3 November 2026 at DIGITALHUB Bonn

All the information on the eligibility criteria, key questions for the pitch deck and the link to the application form can be found on the official website.

SoNaR – Social entrepreneurship, sustainability

Through the SoNaR project – ‘Social Start-ups, Sustainability’: Impact Cluster Region Bonn-Rhein-Sieg – are launching a new programme to support start-ups dedicated to the common good, under the funding scheme ‘Sustainability – Support for Public-Good-Oriented Enterprises’ run by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).

Find out more about the project.

Call for Ideas: Impact Pitch Night