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Home | Startup support | Essential Skills for Creating Future-Ready Solutions
Essential Skills for Creating Future-Ready Solutions
Build the essential skills to launch innovative solutions for real-world social and sustainability challenges in the vibrant city of Berlin.
- Format: 1-week immersive programme, in-person in Berlin
- Timeline: Monday 7th – Friday 11th September
- Location: Impact Hub Berlin, Neukölln & visit to Glasbox prototyping facility
- Perks: Includes a 1-week Impact Hub Berlin coworking membership
- Partners: Brought to you by Impact Hub Berlin and Zukunft findet Stadt (ZFS)
- Programme fee: €600 for professionals, discounted price of €200 for students
Want to know how to turn your ideas into tangible impact and develop essential skills for the future of work? Then this summer school is for you.
The opportunity
With our summer school, you’ll work intensively in interdisciplinary teams, to develop your skills in innovation, business and impact modelling, rapid prototyping, pitching and storytelling – and tackle urgent local challenges with impactful solutions.
Throughout the week, we take a human-centred, AI enabled approach.
Who’s the summer school for?
The 1-week programme is designed for all aspiring changemakers.
Melding expert inputs with hands-on building, this summer school equips you with the necessary entrepreneurial skills to make a difference – whether that’s starting your own business, driving innovation in your organisation or preparing you to start a new role.
Students & Graduates – Complement your studies with real-world project and venture experience.
Employees – Advance your corporate innovation and impact skills to implement within your current organisation.
Career Changers – Develop the essential future skills needed to transition into the innovation or impact sector.
Applied Learners – Apply your existing knowledge to real-world innovation opportunities.
The week at a glance
Monday – Welcome, Tour of our Circular House, Challenge Framing & Team Formation
Tuesday – Expert Guest Lectures on Social Impact Business Models, Team Business Model Development & Ecosystem Networking Event
Wednesday – AI Digital Prototyping Workshop, Community Event & Physical Prototyping Session at the Glasbox Maker Space
Thursday – Impact Logic Modeling, Vision Frameworks & Storytelling Pitch Training
Friday – Final Jury Pitch Competition, Structured Feedback & Cohort Celebratory Dinner
What you get out of the summer school
Impact Business Idea
A fully structured concept engineered to solve a defined challenge currently facing Berlin.
Tangible Prototype
A physical or digital representation of your idea built using vibe coding and rapid prototyping methodologies.
Ecosystem Immersion
Feel what it’s like to be part of Berlin’s biggest impact community and connect directly with successful entrepreneurs.
Essential Future Skills
Advanced innovation, leadership and AI capabilities for creating impactful solutions and innovative strategies.
Confidence to Act
The mindset and network connections needed to drive internal innovation or launch your own venture.
Certificate of Participation
An official certificate of participation, recognising your skill development and commitment to impact.
Our three-pillar approach
Our approach follows Impact Hub Berlin’s core pillars of impact to deliver a cohesive, transformative week:
Connect – Ecosystem Immersion
Dive into the Berlin startup scene. Tour our circular ecosystem headquarters, connect during dedicated team working sessions, become part of Berlin’s largest impact community, and attend networking events with founders-in-residence and ecosystem guests.
Enable – Business Modeling & AI Prototyping
Participate in tailored workshops led by experienced facilitators. You will master the Impact Business Model Canvas, explore impact logic frameworks, and learn ethical, AI-assisted "vibe coding" as well as physical rapid prototyping techniques to fast-track your solutions into tangible outputs.
Inspire – Hands-on Making & Pitching
Get out of the classroom. Spend a half-day at the specialist Glasbox maker space creating physical or digital prototypes. Refine your solution narrative in our storytelling workshops and present your finished concept to a live expert jury panel.
Timeline
Applications open
01/08/2026
Applications close
01/08/2026
Payment deadline
25/08/2026
07/09/2026
Kick-off of the summer school
07/09/2026
Pitch event and celebratory dinner
11/09/2026
What other people say about our programmes
Want to find out more about the summer school before applying?
Reach out to the Project Lead, Ellie Leopold:
ellie.leopold@hotmail.co.uk