On Saturday, December 13th, the Social Impulse Hub hosted its third module of the Business Skills program at Salinenstraße 34 in Erfurt, marking the third workshop of the Social Impulse Academy: Economy for the Common Good and Social Entrepreneurship. The workshop brought together aspiring entrepreneurs, experts, and facilitators to explore sustainable business development and value creation.
The event opened with a warm welcome and introduction of the experts by Lara Lannan, who outlined the objectives of the session and highlighted its relevance within the broader TASK4ISI initiative. This was followed by participant-led introductions of their startup ideas, allowing the group to gain insight into the diverse range of concepts, sectors, and social challenges being addressed.
Nadine Binias, expert in communication and brand development, then delivered a presentation on sustainable businesses, offering a structured overview of how sustainability can be meaningfully integrated into entrepreneurial models. Her input encouraged participants to reflect on long-term impact, responsible resource use, and the role of businesses in contributing to social and environmental well-being.
Thereafter, a workshop was facilitated by Ammalia Podlaszewska, urban studies and placemaking expert, which focused on design thinking for value creation. Participants were guided through the core stages of the design thinking process, beginning with empathizing to understand customer needs, followed by defining the problem, ideating and testing ideas, prototyping, testing, and ultimately implementing solutions. Through this structured approach, participants were encouraged to view value creation as an iterative and user-centered process.
The session also explored the fundamental components of entrepreneurship—innovation, opportunity, and resources. Discussions emphasized how innovative ideas must be matched with viable opportunities and supported by appropriate resources in order to develop into sustainable ventures. To support this reflection, participants worked with a value map and value assessment table, enabling them to critically evaluate their ideas in relation to customer needs, impact, and feasibility.
Throughout the event, active exchange and discussion played a central role. Participants shared perspectives, asked questions, and provided feedback on each other’s ideas, reinforcing a collaborative learning environment. The combination of expert input, practical tools, and peer engagement made the session a valuable step forward in supporting inclusive and sustainable entrepreneurship within the TASK4ISI framework.
The event once again demonstrated the importance of hands-on learning, reflection, and community-driven exchange in empowering participants to refine their ideas and strengthen their entrepreneurial competencies.
The project has been co-funded under the Interreg Central Europe program of the European Union through the project “TASK4ISI” – Transnational Action to advance SKills and competences FOR Inclusive entrepreneurship and Social Innovation.
