Alanus Startup Workshop
Your space for sustainable ideas and social impact
Lukas Kiefer, Paul Ziegler
Do you have an idea that could create social or environmental impact?
Or are you thinking about starting your own venture – but are not yet sure exactly how? Then the Alanus Startup Workshop is exactly the right place for you!
At the Startup Workshop, we support you in developing your project or startup idea further, finding a suitable business model, clarifying financing questions – or simply taking your first steps toward sustainable entrepreneurship.
Whether you are just getting started or already have concrete ideas: our offer is open to everyone – students and staff from all disciplines, as well as committed people from the Bonn/Rhine-Sieg region with no university affiliation. We are also happy to advise existing companies that want to become more sustainable.
The consultation offer is complemented by public events, networking, and more.
We, Paul Ziegler and Lukas Kiefer, have been working since April 2025 as advisors for public-benefit-oriented entrepreneurship at Alanus University as part of the third-party funded project SoNaR – Social Entrepreneurship, Sustainable Impact.
Free consultation sessions
We are happy to advise you personally on your idea or startup project – online via Teams or on site at Campus II of Alanus University.
- Free consultation sessions for everyone in the Bonn/Rhine-Sieg region who wants their idea or business model not only to generate profit, but also to solve a social or environmental problem.
- It does not matter whether you are just at the very beginning with your idea, are in the middle of the startup process, or would like to transform an existing company.
- Using tools such as the Sustainable Business Model Canvas, we aim to structure the idea or business model and identify potential.
- Your individual questions and needs are our focus: whether related to financing, impact measurement, strategic direction, or other aspects.
- We connect you with experts and other relevant stakeholders.
➔ Simply arrange an appointment with us by email! You can find the contact details at the bottom of this page.
If you have specific questions or concerns, you are welcome to share them with us in advance.
08/09/2026 | Maarwerk Participation Festival
03/11/2026 | Impact Pitch Night
Us at your event
We are happy to advise you!
Paul Ziegler
Paul Ziegler studied International Business at Maastricht University. Through various internships both in startups and in sustainability management at the DHL Group, he gained valuable insights. Alongside his work in the SoNaR project, he works as manager and booker for the brass band Knallblech. In his master’s thesis, Paul examined typical challenges faced by impact startups and possible solutions offered by incubators in Germany.
Contact:
paul.ziegler@alanus.edu | LinkedIn | Phone: +49 2222 9321 – 1530
Lukas Kiefer
Lukas Kiefer studied business administration with a particular focus on sustainability. He also completed vocational training as a bank clerk and then worked for several years in corporate lending. During his studies, he gained valuable experience at Deutsche Telekom in personnel development, change management, and leadership.
Contact:
lukas.kiefer@alanus.edu | LinkedIn | Phone: +49 2222 9321 – 1527
Further contacts
Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences
Karoline Noth | SoNaR Project Lead
gruenden@h-brs.de
University of Bonn
Eduardo Larrabure | Innovation Manager, enaCom Transfer Center
enaCom@verwaltung.uni-bonn.de
SoNaR Project
Starting social ventures, creating sustainable impact: Impact Cluster Bonn-Rhine/Sieg Region
Shaping the future: SoNaR as a driving force
With SoNaR – Impact Cluster Bonn-Rhine-Sieg Region, we strengthen the culture of public-benefit-oriented startups in the region, open up new opportunities for social and sustainable business, and promote a future-ready, climate-friendly business landscape.
A strong network for sustainable innovation
The project is being implemented jointly by three universities from the Bonn area and surrounding region: Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, the University of Bonn, and Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences combine their expertise to provide targeted support to people interested in founding ventures, founders, and existing companies in maximizing their social and environmental impact. This interdisciplinary collaboration creates a strong network that promotes sustainable business models and drives forward the socio-ecological transformation in the region and beyond.
SoNaR is also implemented in close cooperation with various stakeholders from business, academia, and civil society. These include startups with public-benefit-oriented business models, investors such as NRW.BANK, and organizations such as the Bonn Sustainability Hub.
The project is aimed at:
- Students, employees, and alumni of the universities with an interest in public-benefit-oriented startups
- existing public-benefit-oriented companies in their startup or growth phase
- already established companies that are open to further developing their business models or individual business areas in the interest of the common good
- the general public, with the aim of raising awareness of the common good and sustainable forms of business
Our goal:
- Support people in founding public-benefit-oriented companies and initiatives
- Support companies in their sustainable transformation
- Build a strong network (“impact cluster”) of people interested in founding ventures, founders, and supporters in the Bonn-Rhine-Sieg region
What you can expect:
In addition to the Startup Workshop, we also offer workshops, networking events, and access to experts from a wide range of fields. All offers are free of charge (the project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and the ESF+).
Photo: The SoNaR project team from the University of Bonn, H-BRS, and Alanus University at the public kick-off in May 2025
