While this northern city is perhaps best known for its bustling port, Hamburg’s cosmopolitanism is also reflected in its broad range of international organizations and companies. Greenpeace, UNESCO Institute for LifeLong Learning, Plan Deutschland, Dialogue Social Enterprise, LemonAid and Viva con Agua are all based in Hamburg, just to name a few.

Thus, Hamburg has a vibrant sustainability scene. To get a first impression of what social entrepreneurship looks like in Hamburg, you can visit events like “Moin & Machen” of the Changestarters Hamburg Community which runs a networking event on a monthly basis. Or, if you’re lucky enough to snag an invitation, visit the N-Klub, which gives a stage to a range of changemakers.

If you’re interested in developing your impact idea, you’ll find a Social Impact Lab (an incubator for social entrepreneurship) close to the “Michel”, one of Hamburg’s’ most famous landmarks. The Mindspace and betahaus are co-working spaces where you can also find like-minded people that might be working on a new social startup. SEND (Social Entrepreneurship Network of Germany) serves this harbor city as well, visit SEND's website to learn more.

Organizations based in Hamburg:

  • Ausgestrahlt e.V.
  • Avocado Store
  • Aqua Agenten
  • Dialogue im Dunkeln
  • Die Seenotretter (Bremen)
  • Greenpeace
  • Heldenrat
  • Islamic Relief
  • Körber Stiftung
  • Lemonaid
  • Mehr Demokratie e.V.
  • More than Shelters
  • Parlamentwatch e.V.
  • Plan Deutschland
  • Robin Wood (Bremen)
  • Seemannsmission (Bremen)
  • Stakeholder Reporting
  • Terre des Hommes (Osnabrück)
  • Viva Con Agua
  • Weltfriedensdienst
  • World Future Council
  • Zukunftsrat Hamburg