Social Innovation Gateway: The First Impact Venture Clienting Program in Europe

Why Impact Venture Clienting? 

Venture Clienting has established itself in recent years as a central method through which companies can integrate startups quickly and effectively. With the Social Innovation Gateway, we are applying this approach to the area of social innovation for the first time. In doing so, we are setting a new standard: impact-driven startups and corporates collaborate in the Venture Clienting model to bring social innovations directly into practice. 

The societal need is great: social innovations provide answers to sustainable urban development, inclusion in the labor market, or the use of artificial intelligence for societal benefit. Yet many social startups lack access to financing and corporate partners, while companies find it difficult to integrate suitable solutions into their structures — even though they are urgently seeking ways to underpin their sustainability and ESG goals with concrete projects. 

The Social Innovation Gateway closes this gap: funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and the European Social Fund Plus (ESF Plus), the program offers the first structured framework for Impact Venture Clienting. Here, social startups meet corporates and public institutions — with the goal of testing scalable impact solutions in pilot projects and bringing them to market. 

The Process for Companies: 

Acquisition Phase: Impact challenges are defined jointly with companies, public institutions, and NGOs. 

 Application & Selection: Social enterprises and startups with a non-profit focus apply; corporates select their favorites. 

 Impact Phase: In co-creation workshops, concrete use cases and partnership models emerge and are developed and tested through to proof-of-concept. 

 Demo Day: Results are presented and partnerships for long-term scaling are established.

The Benefits of Impact Venture Clienting: 

For Corporates: Structured access to scalable impact solutions and contribution to ESG/sustainability goals — with minimal effort. 

For Startups: Strong partners, pilot projects, and clear scaling paths. 

For Public Institutions/NGOs: Access to innovative solutions and co-creation of projects. 

Let’s scale social impact: 

👤 Justin Gemeri – Co-Founder & Business Development Manager 

📧 justin.gemeri@ekipa.de 

📞 +49 151 525 924 17