The Public Value Academy is a national support program for early-stage, purpose-driven startups. It helps founders build scalable businesses that create measurable social and environmental impact. The initiative is led by Public Value Hub, PHINEO, and UnternehmerTUM. Together, we combine expertise in entrepreneurship education, impact measurement, and startup infrastructure.
The goal is simple: Enable impact startups to grow sustainably - with strong business models, credible impact measurement, and better access to capital.
More founders than ever want to build companies that contribute to solving social and environmental challenges. But impact-driven startups often face specific barriers:
Many founders have strong ideas and strong motivation - but lack structured tools and ecosystem support. The Public Value Academy closes this gap.
The Academy supports over 250 startups within three years. Participation is free of charge and backed by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) and the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+). Selected startups receive:
Our modular Academy program is covering 6 impact-specific topics, including: Social Business Model Design, Impact Measurement & Management (IMM) Impact Fundraising. Delivered as on-demand content through our proprietary Leaning Management System. Can be combined with exisitng incubator and accelerator programs.
Startups receive access to our professional impact intelligence platform. Inluma offers structured capturing, analysis, and reporting of imapct indicators based on frameworks such as IOOI and SROI and helps founders translate impact into credible data. Investors and other capital providers can use th data through costumizable dashboards and APIs for startup scouting and due diligence processes.
Interactive sessions, peer learning formats, and expert input from experienced practitioners in impact, finance, and entrepreneurship. Delivered through partners in 5 laoctons across Germany, including: Munich, Hamburg, Bielefeld, Rostock, and Leipzig.
Curated matchmaking opportunities with impact investors, foundations, banks, and other funding partners who understand purpose-driven business models.
The Public Value Academy builds on the complementary strengths of its partners, united by a shared belief in entrepreneurship as a driver of public value:
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• UnternehmerTUM brings over two decades of excellence in startup support. Based in Munich, it helps more than 100 startups each year launch, scale, and connect with investors, corporates, and research partners through its programs, incubators, and deep industry network. Through a unique combination of deep tech expertise, access to venture capital, and one of Europe’s most advanced startup infrastructures, UnternehmerTUM provides founders with everything they need to grow and plays a vital role in turning ideas into scalable solutions that tackle today’s biggest challenges.
• PHINEO is Germany’s leading think-and-do tank and consultancy for impact. With deep expertise in measuring, scaling, and financing social change, PHINEO supports mission-driven organizations, public institutions, and social enterprises in translating values into tangible, measurable outcomes. As the issuer of Germany’s respected “Wirkungssiegel” (Seal of Impact), PHINEO has become a trusted voice in the field of impact analysis and strategy. Their work helps organizations not only understand and communicate their societal contribution, but also unlock new opportunities for sustainable growth and funding.
• Public Value Hub is an experienced education provider dedicated to advancing impact entrepreneurship as a force for systemic change. Their mission: to improve the world using the tools of entrepreneurship. Their programs are designed not only to teach business fundamentals, but to foster deep-purpose ventures that aim for measurable, lasting social impact. From developing inclusive and sustainable business models, to launching social startups that improve societies for all, the Public Value Hub champions a new kind of entrepreneurship, one that proves doing good is not only the right thing to do, but a smarter investment.
The Public Value Academy is not just about skills. It promotes a new understanding of entrepreneurship: Impact and profitability are not opposites. They are strategic design choices. The program supports founders in embedding impact structurally into governance, financing, reporting, and growth - so that public value is not an afterthought, but part of the core business logic.
From education and infrastructure to impact measurement and access to capital, the Public Value Academy creates the conditions needed for purpose-driven ventures to grow sustainably. Together, Public Value Hub, PHINEO, and UnternehmerTUM are contributing to an economy where purpose and profit work together to generate lasting Public Value.
Our Public Value Academy is also being offered at our partner locations through the Social Impact Republic, bringing the academy to different accelerators nationwide. In 2026, we will be offering in-person workshops and networking events at the following partner locations
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The Public Value Hub is A non-profit dedicated to fostering public value and impact-driven entrepreneurship through education, research, and policy engagement. The development of the Public Value Academy is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) and the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) as part of the Nachhaltig Wirken (NaWi) funding program. The duration of the project is December 2024 to December 2027.
24/7 educational courses including proprietary video, audio and multimedia content. Gamified learning experience for maximum success.
Tailor-made content from international mentors with experiences in business, academia and public administration.
Content module can be combined, expanded and added to fit individual learning styles and goals.
Platform will be used for subsequent projects with other target groups and stakeholders.
