As social entrepreneurship becomes increasingly popular in Germany, many innovative companies have found success in this area. Like traditional businesses, social enterprises aim to make a profit but it’s what they do with their profits that sets them apart – reinvesting or donating them to create positive social or environmental change.

Working for a social business has numerous advantages. Such organizations tend to be innovative and agile, meaning that you have greater freedom to take risks and try out creative ideas. Plus, as social businesses are often in the 'start-up' stage, their small team sizes provide you with the opportunity to gain experience in a wide range of roles. On the flip side, however, the scrappy nature of a young social business means your job may lack structure and security, and may at times entail high levels of stress.

Below you’ll find a list of some of the most successful German social enterprises. Whether you’re looking to kick start your impact career at one or simply want to make sure your next purchase is helping make the world a better place, these are the names you need to know.

  • Einhorn Kondome (vegan condoms)
  • Ecosia (a search engine that plants trees)
  • Coffee Circle (fair trade coffee)
  • Mobisol
  • Little Sun
  • Soulbottles (sustainable drinking bottles made of glass)
  • Good for Growth (healthy food for kids)
  • Startnext Crowdfunding (the biggest crowdfunding platform in Germany)
  • Clue
  • Ada
  • ResearchGate
  • OneDollarGlasses

Many of these companies are certified B Corps - a certification which proves they meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. You can find out more about how the B Corp movement is using business as a force for good here.

If you’re passionate about social entrepreneurship, SEND e.V. is the place to find out about social enterprise happenings in Germany.

If you’re interested in founding your own social business, check out Section 3 of this guide where we share resources (including funding and networks) to help social entrepreneurs who are starting out.