Brandt School Social Innovation Lab 2026: a catalyst for social impact

The Social Innovation Lab serves as an integral part of the course “Social Entrepreneurship”, taught by Professor Dr. Heike Grimm, Aletta Haniel Professor for Public Policy and Entrepreneurship. Throughout the semester, students develop their own social venture concepts and apply tools such as the Social Business Model Canvas and critically reflect on the impact, sustainability, and feasibility of their concepts. The final pitch event serves as both an academic assessment and a professional learning experience.

Platform for Impact-Driven Innovation

The 2026 edition once again demonstrated how student-led initiatives can address pressing social, economic, and environmental challenges. Rather than a conventional presentation format, the Social Innovation Lab offered a hands-on platform where students test their ideas in front of practitioners and experts. Each presenter delivered a concise pitch followed by constructive feedback from a jury with experience in social entrepreneurship, innovation policy, and impact-driven organizations.

This year’s jury included:

• Markus Pins, Engagement Preis Foundation
• Professor Dr. Nikolaus Seitz, Bauhaus University Weimar
• Cristina Bendiek Laranjo, Program Manager, Kinnings Foundation

Student Projects at a Glance

This year’s cohort presented a wide range of initiatives addressing social, economic, and environmental challenges across different regions:

• JustRight Community Farm by Taylor Major-Dame: To reduce food insecurity, increase economic mobility, and regenerate rural communities through a community-farm social enterprise.
• Skill Training & Empowerment Program (STEP) by Rufus Chea: To empower Liberian women through skill training and financial literacy.
• KELP Forward by Bea Pielago: To increase income stability by scaling sustainable seaweed livelihoods in Tawi-Tawi, Philippines
• Agile Facilitation for Public Policy & Social Impact by Rebeca Olascoaga: To support institutions and organizations to design, test, adapt, and scale policies or social interventions using Agile and human-centered methodologies.
• Clean Cook Stove for Enhanced Wellbeing by Nnenna Ebem & Bernard Osei-Frimpong: This social business deploys clean cookstoves in rural communities in Eastern Nigeria to reduce health risks for women, curb deforestation, and create a sustainable local energy ecosystem.
• Kijiji Yeetu Solar Empowerment Project (KYSEP) by Michelle Valentine Aluoch: Powering rural enterprises through clean, affordable solar energy.
• BridgeEd Vietnam by Thi Ha Nguyen: Community Education Centres for English & Future Skills, equipping underserved students mainly from suburban/rural areas in Vietnam to access practical English and future skills, preparing them for professional career development.
• Urne Plus by Max Spannaus: A design-driven family business producing high-quality handcrafted wooden urns with a focus on aesthetics, craftsmanship, and individualization.

The diversity of projects reflected the interdisciplinary nature of the course and the strong link between social entrepreneurship and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Bridging Theory and Practice

The Social Innovation Lab represents the final step of a structured learning process that spans the entire semester, from understanding social entrepreneurship concepts and business models to pitching and impact assessment. It also mirrors real-world conditions, requiring students to clearly communicate their ideas, respond to critical questions, and refine their concepts based on expert feedback.

In her closing remarks, Prof. Dr. Heike Grimm emphasized the importance of experimentation, collaboration, and long-term thinking in social entrepreneurship, encouraging students to continue developing their projects beyond the classroom.

Looking Forward

The 2026 edition of the Social Innovation Lab once again highlighted the Brandt School’s commitment to practice-oriented education and socially responsible leadership. By linking academic learning with real-world challenges, the Social Entrepreneurship course equips students with the skills and mindset needed to drive meaningful change across sectors and regions.