2nd Report LSG meeting - Germany

Behind every successful entrepreneurial journey, there is rarely just one person. There is usually a network: someone who shares experience, someone who opens a door, someone who gives honest feedback, and someone who believes that an idea is worth developing.

This idea of connection was at the heart of the second German Local Support Group meeting, organised online by TUM International GmbH in April 2026 within the IMPACTA project.

The meeting brought together a small but highly committed group of stakeholders from Munich’s entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem. Participants included representatives from TUM Female Founders and Frau und Beruf, an angel investor with more than 20 years of industry experience, and a founder with first-hand entrepreneurial knowledge. Together, they brought academic, business support, investment and entrepreneurial perspectives into one shared conversation.

The group had already been involved in the first Local Support Group meeting, and their continued participation showed strong interest in shaping the next steps of IMPACTA in Germany. While the meeting was originally planned as a co-creation workshop on the project’s training materials and methodology, participants were already familiar with the proposed approaches and had no major changes to suggest. This allowed the discussion to move directly to what matters most now: the upcoming pilot activities.

Germany will be involved in three IMPACTA pilots, each addressing a different part of the entrepreneurial support ecosystem.

The first pilot focuses on a training programme for women entrepreneurs, with a special emphasis on access to finance. During the discussion, participants reflected on how such a programme could reach not only women who already identify themselves as entrepreneurs, but also those who may be at an earlier stage. Personal finance, financial confidence and the ability to understand funding options were seen as topics that could be relevant for a wider audience as well.

The second pilot focuses on gender-smart training for investors. Here, the discussion turned towards the investment ecosystem itself. Participants suggested connecting the pilot with existing female angel investor networks in Germany and exploring cooperation with foundations and organisations working on social innovation. This is an important angle for IMPACTA: supporting women entrepreneurs is not only about preparing women to seek investment, but also about helping investment environments become more aware, inclusive and open to diverse business ideas.

The third pilot, led by TUM International, builds on an existing mentorship programme for women in STEM at TUM. Mentoring can often be the difference between having an idea and daring to take the next step. It creates a space where experience is shared, questions can be asked openly, and confidence can grow. As part of this pilot, TUM International is also planning a broader networking event in Munich, connected to an international IMPACTA partner meeting.

A key message from the meeting was that pilot activities need to be tailored carefully. Women entrepreneurs are not one single group with one single need. Some may need access to finance, others need role models, mentoring, investor readiness, networks, or simply the right opportunity to meet people who can help them move forward.

The German Local Support Group therefore plays an important role in keeping the IMPACTA pilots connected to real ecosystems and real opportunities. Instead of designing activities in isolation, the project is building on local knowledge, existing networks and the experience of people who understand what women entrepreneurs need in practice.

The second German Local Support Group meeting showed that even a small group can bring valuable direction when it combines commitment, experience and practical ideas. Through these conversations, IMPACTA is not only preparing pilot actions — it is helping to build bridges between women entrepreneurs, mentors, investors and support organisations in the Danube Region.