Enactus Startup Accelerator 2026 in Dortmund

What a day at the Enactus Startup Accelerator in Dortmund! Over 80 students, 15 judges, and several guests gathered on March 25, 2026, at the impressive Networking Cube in Wilopark to experience five live pitches each from the Startup and Innovation categories 🚀

Our Enactus teams once again demonstrated what happens when innovation meets real impact and community spirit: strong pitches, honest feedback, and a ton of energy in the room. Speaking of the room: thanks to its 270-degree LED screen, the stage program in the main room of the Networking Cube was a truly unique experience - see for yourself:

This fantastic event was made possible by our long-standing partners, Wilo SE and the Wilo Foundation. Ricarda-Marie Pomper, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Wilo SE, and David Höltgen, Executive Director of the Wilo Foundation, joined Enactus Germany Country Leader Oliver Faber in welcoming the numerous guests at the start of the event and extending a warm welcome to them on behalf of Wilopark. Then the pitches by the Enactus students got underway: From sustainable products to data-driven climate adaptation and solutions for global water and access issues, a wide variety of approaches and business ideas were presented. 

The winning teams in the Innovation category are Enactus Mannheim with “SmileGreen,” a sustainable, compostable toothbrush made from natural rubber and Nylon 4, and Enactus Munich with “FriGIS”, a data-driven tool for identifying urban heat islands and planning effective cooling measures. Both teams have thus secured their spot in the Innovation category at the National Cup, where they will compete for a ticket to the “Early Stage” League at the World Cup in São Paulo.

In the Startup category, we congratulate “Rivopump” from Cologne on first place and “Touchprint” from Berlin on second place. Rivopump develops low-maintenance, self-powered water pumps that enable cost-effective irrigation of agricultural land, particularly in structurally disadvantaged regions. Touchprint makes images accessible to the blind through a 3D printing solution. In addition to cash prizes, both teams are heading home with professional mentoring, coaching, and project funding to prepare for the Enactus National Cup on June 25–26 in Cologne.

In the spirit of #WeAllWin, in the end it wasn’t just the winning teams but all participants who took home new knowledge, valuable feedback, and fresh motivation - ready to take the next steps leading up to the National Cup.