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Enactus Mannheim · InnoLab

Your way in, with an idea.

The InnoLab is where your own idea becomes a real project. With weekly sessions, team support, and access to our advisor network, you build out your concept and become a member of Enactus Mannheim along the way.

The InnoLab's weekly sessions and mentoring take place in German. This page explains what to expect in English.

Weekly

sessions in the InnoLab

Apply nowHow it works

Two ways into the InnoLab

Two entry paths, one destination.

Whether you joined the Ideathon or bring your own idea, the path ends in the same InnoLab.

  • Once a year

    Via the Ideathon

    Four days, one fixed team, one idea through to the final pitch. Sign-up runs separately from the InnoLab and doesn't lead to membership automatically.

    • Compact: four intense days
    • Sign up solo or as a ready-made team
    • Three workshops on ideation, business modelling, and pitching
    More about the Ideathon
  • Anytime

    With your own idea

    You have an idea or a problem that keeps you thinking. In the InnoLab you work on it in weekly sessions and become a member of Enactus Mannheim along the way.

    • Weekly sessions
    • Access to our knowledge base
    • Mentoring from our business advisors
    See the steps

The solo path

Five steps to your concept.

Every step builds on the last. At the end is a pitch in front of the InnoLab.

  1. 01

    Inspiration

    Understand what social entrepreneurship can look like, with real examples and the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals as a frame. By the end you know which topics genuinely grab you.

  2. 02

    Understanding the problem

    A general interest becomes a concrete problem. Using the 5 Whys method, you dig down to the root and write a precise problem statement.

  3. 03

    Ideation and market analysis

    One problem becomes many ideas, using techniques like Crazy 8s and SCAMPER. By the end you score them on impact and feasibility and pick your strongest.

  4. 04

    Business model outline

    Your idea on one page: nine fields from problem and target group to channels and costs. The foundation for everything that follows.

  5. 05

    Pitch and Inno Gate

    You present your concept at an InnoLab session. If your pitch convinces us, you get the Inno Gating and move into the MVP process.

What to expect

Inside the InnoLab

Your idea becomes a project, with structure, rhythm, and support.

  • Weekly sessions

    Fixed dates where teams work together, pitch, and get feedback.

  • Advisor access

    Experienced mentors from business and academia are there for you and your team, for strategic questions or a second opinion.

  • Inno Gating

    If your pitch convinces us, you get the Inno Gating and move into the MVP phase. More on that on our process page.

InnoLab and Ideathon

Two sign-ups, one goal.

The two formats belong together, but you sign up for them separately.

For the InnoLab

You apply through the membership form, join the weekly sessions, and become a member of Enactus Mannheim.

Apply now

For the Ideathon

You sign up separately. You do not have to join the association for it, you can simply take part.

Go to the Ideathon

The two still fit together. If you were at the Ideathon, you bring a developed idea and a team that already works into the InnoLab. So we would be glad to see you at both.

And after that?

The InnoLab is the beginning.

As your project matures in the InnoLab, it keeps going, through the Inno Gating into the MVP phase and, over time, to spinning off as an independent company.

The complete path is described on our process page, eight stations from the first pitch to your own company.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Ready?

Start with your idea.

A short form is all it takes, then we'll invite you to the next InnoLab session.

Apply now