Creating solutions for a world of crises
Impact startup program to response to the effects of the war against Ukraine.
Impact startups play a key role in addressing the various, constantly changing crises and challenges we face in society.
PHINEO Startups seeks to contribute to this by educating and equipping a new generation of committed founders with the necessary expertise and skills. We aim to empower them in their journey towards achieving a greater impact in addition to a financial return.
Who are we looking for:
- Do you have an innovative solution and approach to the effects of the war against Ukraine?
- Are you a non-profit and for-profit startup with strong entrepreneurial spirit and an impact-oriented mindset?
- Are you a team consisting of at least two founders and are based in Berlin?
- Do you have an almost finished prototype that you can test or an existing startup that you want to bring to a new level?
Applications for Ukraine Response Cohort 2 are open now!
We are now taking applications for the second cohort of the Ukraine Response Program starting in June 2023. Applications are open until 16th April 2023.
We will review applications and select startup teams on an ongoing basis – so better apply earlier than later!
Timeline

Meet us and the teams of the first cohort at our Q&A sessions. We will host 3 Q&A sessions: on 22nd February, 9th March and 22nd March.
- Pitch event and Q&A session on 29nd March, 4 p.m. – Register here ...
Why you should take part?
You can benefit from a tailored program with a needs-oriented curriculum along seven elements:
- Coaching: A dedicated PHINEO Startups coach guides you through the program, customizes it to your needs and helps you build your startup.
- 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.
- Mentoring by leading experts: An experienced mentor will stand ready to offer their expertise in weekly mentoring sessions.
- Events: We offer different types of events, e.g., community events, pitching opportunities, networking opportunities & a final event and connect you with key players.
- Co-working: Joint co-working is offered at bUm, a community workspace to work, meet, learn and improve the world together. You can be part of this community and have a space assigned in its premises. You will gain access to a place designed to boost creativity and obtain public attention.
- Peer-to-peer-Coaching & community building: We encourage and facilitate learning and community-building opportunities among you and your peers.
- Network: PHINEO is one of the pioneers of impact investing 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.
Milestones and best practices from our Ukraine Response Cohort 1
What we have achieved so far:
- 55+ start-up applications for first program
- 10 startups – most of them with Ukrainian founders – are participating in a 6‑months incubator program in Berlin from 11/2022 to 04/2023
- 20+ active program participants – 77% of which are female
- 10 dedicated startup mentors with startup or management experience in the impact sector
- Continuous strengthening of the impact community together with bUm, e.g. winter festival with 70+ participants
- Check out our LinkedIn channel for more information on the program and follow us to keep up to date with the application process and the current cohort!

Selection of mentors and supporters
- Andreas Rickert, CEO at PHINEO
- Peter Brock, Managing partner of BeeWyzer GmbH
- Sophie Dienberg, Founder of inKlub
- Jasmine Borhan, Founder of Jasmine Borhan Strategic Communications
- Fabian Höhne, Founder of Vitolus, Clever Ackern & Flyla.com
- Carolin Kroeger, Co-Founder at beingfemale.de
- André Nikolski, Startup Coach and Web3/Crypto enthusiast
- Christian Boettcher, Associate Founder at nuw.ventures
- Christian Kroll, CEO Ecosia
- Felix Krause, Partner at Vireo Ventures
- Laura Kohler, Director Startup Business at BRYCK
- Dr. Lyudmyla Kovalenko, CEO und Co-Founder Doctor Kimchi
- Maike Striffler, Co-Founder & Social Entreprise Lead at SINA
- Nora Azzaoui, Co-Founder mimycri
- Philipp Schmidt, Managing Owner – C4CS Europe – Center for Corporate Sustainability
- Sébastien Martin, Founder & Managing Partner at Impact Associates
- Johannes Landow, Tax partner at ECOVIS
- Thomas Gnefkow, Managing Director of Saferay
The current challenge
Russia’s attack on Ukraine in February 2022 and the acts of violence have changed the world. The violence has upended the lives of millions of Ukrainians, leading to food insecurity, an energy crisis and much more.
As a part of our Impact Startup Program, you will get support to design your idea or scale your non-profit or for-profit startup. We are open to many topics as long as they create impact. Therefore the issues range from refugee crisis, reconstruction, food insecurity and energy supply to health and legal issues and among others.
We also support displaced Ukrainian women who seek to establish a new livelihood.

About us
Impact startups plays a key role in addressing the various, constantly changing crises and challenges we face in society. This changing nature also requires new business models and approaches to strengthen the resilience of our socio-ecological system and make our world more livable and sustainable.
PHINEO Startups runs incubator and accelerator programs to support impact startups in collaboration with partners from all three sectors. We support the development of solutions to long-term crises within the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At the same time, we favour the development of quick solutions to acute crises such as the 2015/2016 refugee crisis, the COVID-19 crisis, and the current war against Ukraine. We aim to empower social entrepreneurs in their journey towards achieving a greater impact in addition to a financial return.
The second Ukraine Response Cohort will start in June 2023. Applications are open from 1st February 2023.
We will review applications and accept startup teams on an ongoing basis – so better apply earlier than later!
Follow us on LinkedIn
Check out our LinkedIn channel for more information on the program and follow us to keep up to date with the application process and the current cohort!
Are you interested in further informations via newsletter? then send us an e‑mail to redaktion@phineo.org with the subject „newsletter startups”. We will then add you to our list!

What can we do for you?
Sebastian Neumann
Head of Impact Startups
startups@phineo.org





