What drives founders who want to change the world with their ideas?
In our video series “Changemakers: Impact Entrepreneurship Stories”, we set out to explore exactly that.
We spotlight entrepreneurs whose ventures go beyond profit – aiming to create positive social, environmental, or societal change.
Through six guiding questions, each video offers a personal glimpse into the motivations, challenges, and visions of those who are building impactful startups – and what impact means to them.
To us, impact is a broad and inclusive concept.
We believe impact can take many shapes: from education to sustainability, from health to digital empowerment. This series celebrates the diversity, creativity, and courage of founders who choose to make a difference.
Our motivation? Real stories that inspire.
We believe in the power of authentic voices – and that change starts with people who are brave enough to rethink the status quo.
ICODOS – Using innovative e-methanol technology to remove fossil fuels in the transport and chemical industries
ICODOS is a German technology company pioneering new approaches in the production of e-methanol. Using their own process, the team converts harmful exhaust gases into liquid methanol – a versatile raw material. Produced sustainably, this e-methanol can help make transportation and the chemical industry more climate-friendly.
Read more about ICODOS here.
Pacific Straws – Sustainable quality from Germany
Pacific Straws produces high-quality glass drinking straws entirely in Germany. By collaborating with a traditional glass manufacturer, a specialist in glass processing with over 25 years of experience, and an established machine builder, Pacific Straws ensures the highest quality and full control over the production process. Their goal is to make glass drinking straws accessible to everyone and to make a significant contribution to reducing plastic waste. With a clear focus on sustainability and quality, Pacific Straws is setting new standards in the industry.
Read more about Pacific Straws here.
The Oater – More oats, less waste.
The Oater® is an innovative company founded by a team of coffee and oat drink enthusiasts with a pioneering spirit. Their mission: to set new standards in the food service industry – without cows or cartons.
Specifically developed for the hospitality sector, the The Oater® Barista Machine produces fresh oat milk on-site – fully automatically. With this low-packaging, easy-to-use solution, The Oater® enables cafés and restaurants to offer their guests better taste and greater sustainability – benefiting everyone involved.
Read more about The Oater® here.
The Changemakers project is a collaboration with the TransforMA. TransforMA aims to actively shape the profound technological and social transformation in Mannheim and the Rhein-Neckar region. Funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the project brings together the technical expertise of the Mannheim University of Applied Sciences with the social sciences and economic perspectives of the University of Mannheim. At its core is close cooperation between science, business, and civil society to jointly develop innovative solutions for sustainable and future-oriented urban development.
Read more about TransforMA here.
Contact person
Kyung eun Park, M.Sc.
Chair of SME Research and Entrepreneurship – Business School
Ehrenhof Ost – Room EO 269
68161 Mannheim
Elisa Sauerbier, M.Sc.
Chair of SME Research and Entrepreneurship – Business School
Ehrenhof Ost – Room EO 268
Mannheim