Science

A factory for Impact Startups

The incubator-accelerator program of the Impact Factory in Duisburg offers social entrepreneurs the opportunity to network with corporate partners and various stakeholders, as well as the space to further develop and implement socially innovative ideas.

Europe

Germany

Duisburg

Funding period: 2019-2020

Promoting responsible entrepreneurial action that creates social value for society is the declared goal of the Impact Factory in Duisburg (Germany). The scholarship program serves as an incubator and is aimed at founders across Germany who address social, ecological, or humanitarian issues through their business ideas. Through workshops on topics relevant to founding a business - such as law, marketing, or taxes - and with the help of individual and professional consulting and support, their entrepreneurial projects are to be advanced and ultimately realized.

Young entrepreneurs have the opportunity to advance their social start-ups through workshops and consultations. Photo: Fotoagentur-Ruhr, Credit: Tanja Pickartz

During the pitches, young entrepreneurs have only a few minutes to convincingly present their ideas to a large audience. Photo: Anthropia gGmbH, Credit: Jürgen Nobel

Support for social start-ups here is tailored to their specific needs: the entry-level program “Create-up” is aimed at aspiring entrepreneurs who are still at the beginning of their business journey. In the advanced program “Scale-up”, young entrepreneurs work on their business models that have already been successfully tested and for which a prototype exists. As “Fellows”, social start-ups that have already gained initial experience with their ventures receive targeted support and access to network partners.

Group photo with partners and representatives of the Impact Factory at the launch of the incubator’s start-up grant (from top left): Jutta Stolle (Franz-Haniel & Cie GmbH), Annette Heuser (Beisheim Foundation), Dr. Martina Köchling (former KfW Foundation), Ute Fischer (Der Paritätische NRW), Evi Hoch (Wilo-Foundation). From bottom left: Oliver Kuschel (Anthropia, Impact Factory Duisburg) and Dirk Sander (Anthropia gGmbH, Impact Factory Duisburg). Photo: Fotoagentur-Ruhr, Credits: Tanja Pickartz

Among the founding partners are the company Haniel, the Beisheim Foundation, and the KfW Foundation. As program partners, the Wilo-Foundation and Der Paritätische NRW supported the incubator program developed by Anthropia gGmbH, which is based in the Haniel Villa in Duisburg-Ruhrort.

In March 2025, Anthropia in Duisburg was designated by the Ministry of Economic Affairs of North Rhine-Westphalia as one of six NRW Startup Hubs (Accelerators). With the Impact Factory Accelerator, Anthropia offers growth support for public-interest-oriented startups and receives funding of 1.2 million euros. Other NRW Startup Hubs include the digital HUBs in Aachen, Bonn, Düsseldorf, Münster and Cologne.

Photo Header: Fotoagentur-Ruhr, Credits: Tanja Pickartz

Our funding partner

Founded in 2019, Anthropia gGmbH,Duisburg (Germany), brings people together and creates spaces for unconventional and forward-thinking individuals who aim to tackle and solve today’s societal challenges. It offers room for inspiring networking, co-working, and dynamic formats for collaborative solutions. Together with several partner organizations, Anthropia launched the Impact Factory in spring 2019 as an innovation hub for social entrepreneurs, following the earlier Social Impact Lab Duisburg.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) forms the global framework for action for socially, economically and ecologically sustainable development. Our funding commitment also supports these sustainability goals. With this project, we are making a contribution to achieving the following SDGs:

What are the SDGs`?