The festival program focused on the targeted transfer of growth strategies, artificial intelligence, and marketing expertise into impact-oriented business models. Following a “no-boring” motto, the event offered panels on corporate social responsibility and sustainable corporate governance. Speakers on stage included Micha Fritz, co-founder of Viva con Agua, Kerstin Erbe, CPO at dm-drogerie markt, David Baumgartner, founder of Dean&David, Anna Yona, founder of Wildling Shoes, and Franziska Meyer, co-founder of Edurino.
For founding teams in Bavaria, alongside such networking formats, there are also specialized points of contact: Support for validating value-oriented ideas is offered by the Munich Impact Incubator and the qualification programs of the Social Entrepreneurship Akademie, among others.
From the Niche into the Mainstream
The festival provided space for an objective assessment of the current framework conditions for impact startups. Micha Fritz underlined the ambition for a broader movement, emphasizing that attendees were inside a bubble that needs to become much larger.
And this is precisely where the association Startups for Tomorrow—now counting 30 members—comes in, aiming to make impact-driven companies more visible across the DACH region and to foster partnerships with established market players.
Constantin Schmunzler, initiator of Startups for Tomorrow, also highlights the importance of Munich as a location:
“Sustainability and impact entrepreneurship are currently no longer high on the national political agenda. That makes what is happening here in Munich all the more important: for the third time in a row, founders, investors, and companies are coming together to show that commercial success and positive impact belong together.”
A Tailwind from the City of Munich
The patronage of Dominik Krause, Deputy Mayor of Landeshauptstadt München, sent a clear signal to the local startup scene. This underscores the significance that social entrepreneurship holds in the innovation hub of Munich alongside tech and deeptech sectors.
“This shows that the topic hasn’t lost any relevance,”
says Constantin Schmunzler.
The SFT Festival 2026 demonstrated in a practical way: Sustainable practices and economic success are not mutually exclusive. Direct dialogue between established companies, investors, and up-and-coming teams provides the foundation for scaling societal solutions.
