An international programme for organisations from Central and Eastern Europe (currently Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Serbia) to boost finance readiness and social impact.
With 13 million people being at risk of poverty in Central and Eastern Europe, Marc empowers bold entrepreneurs to lead change. Backed by ERSTE Foundation, Erste Social Finance, SIMPACT and IFUA Nonprofit, Marc bridges critical gaps in funding and know-how, helping high-impact enterprises grow, adapt, and build a more inclusive, sustainable future.
To reflect on the market differences among countries, Marc partners with local players, who are responsible for the local programmes. However, all local programmes generally offer the following:
Several group trainings or a two-day long boot camp, where our Marc participants receive expert guidance and knowledge sharing on topics such as
As a result of our training scheme, participants will get:
As a result of our mentoring, participants will get:
As a result of our mentoring, participants will get:
As a result of our mentoring, participants will get:
For detailed description of eligibility criteria:
Marc is for you, if you are a health tech or green tech Startup, or have education, culture, or any other social or ecological impact in the focus of your startup. If you are a dynamic enterprise/startup with hardware involved (not tech), and you generate social or ecological impact, Marc is also for you.
Marc is for you, if you lead a non-profit organisation, which runs a significant business, and aims to earn sustainable and growing business incomes.
Marc is for you, if you lead an enterprise that employs people with disabilities or from disadvantaged backgrounds. In some of our countries, you may be called WISE (Work Integration Social Enterprise). Social enterprises providing services also fall into a similar category.
Marc is for you, if you lead a successful business who is looking to generate significant social or ecological impact. But only if you can prove your dedication to this new journey.
Marc is for you, if you operate in sustainable agriculture, organic farming or food production, or organic food sales or catering. If you produce goods with traditional methods or a small environmental footprint, Marc is also for you. But only if you are striving for financial sustainability and looking for ways to grow your impact!
One size does not fit all. Our mentors offer you tailored individual coaching, and we are selecting them for you to match your development needs.
In this report, you may read about Marc accomplishments and Impact in 2024/2025.
Please take into consideration that often we can’t state concrete details due to confidentiality reasons.
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Merova Health SSH Systems Indipendo Jobs4All Curtea Culorilor MATR Social Cooling iFresh Academia Clar EnergyTrack Within the EcoVolve project (Full project name: EcoVolve: Evolutionizing Ecosystems for Social Enterprises in the CEE Region, Project number: 101188814) funded by the European Union the consortium partners are IFUA Nonprofit Partner, SIMPACT, Erste Social Finance, Erste Group Bank and Impact Europe. Our goal is to develop innovative financial instruments and capacity-building programmes for Social Enterprises and Impact Startups – businesses that create positive social or environmental impact.
EcoVolve strives to address the needs of early-stage social finance markets in selected Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries: Austria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, and Slovakia. We are working to build a more supportive ecosystem by addressing both the supply side (through the development of new impact-linked financing tools and the setup of an impact fund) and the demand side (through tailored capacity-building programmes for social enterprises).
New innovative financing structures tailored to the needs of young social finance markets, encompassing impact-linked financial instruments and provision through newly established impact fund (supply side) and related capacity-building services for social enterprises (SEs) (demand side) will be developed.
What will be the major outcomes of EcoVolve?
For further information and publications
What happens when impact, technology, and financial sustainability end up in the same room?
Well, at Impact Builders? A full house.
Chairs became a limited resource.
Not because interest was low.
But because so many people wanted to be part of a conversation that truly matters.
Founders, investors, NGOs, and ecosystem builders came together around questions with real stakes:
🚀 How do we build impact that scales?
🧑💻 How do we use technology as a real force for good?
💰 How do we ensure financial sustainability without compromising mission?
The room was filled with honest, sometimes uncomfortable, but deeply necessary discussions about:
✅ identifying businesses with both economic potential and measurable impact
✅ turning social and environmental challenges into investable opportunities
✅ moving the impact sector from donation-dependence to investment-driven growth
From fireside chats to rotating roundtables, the conversations didn’t stay on stage, they spread across the room, between people who believe that doing good and building sustainable businesses are not opposites, but prerequisites.
Some of the energy we felt:
💡 “We finally received tailored advisory, not generic training.”
💚 “I want to invest my time and knowledge, not just money.”
💰 “Thank you for focusing on sustainable financing, not just visibility.”
🔎 “Which impact investors should we be preparing for — and how?”
Huge thanks to our speakers @Iulia Tudor, @Bogdan Iordache, @Alin-Sebastian Luca, @Claudiu Petria, @Alexandru Agatinei, @Stefan Buciuc and to everyone who showed up ready to listen, challenge, and build.
Impact Builders is a @How to Web × @AmpliFY ONG initiative, supported by B@CR Social Finance, joined by Marc Impact Network organizations, and powered by a vibrant community of local tech founders.
The expansion and continuation of the Marc Impact Programme is co-funded by the European Union within the EcoVolve project.
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🚀 In a recent Startup Kitchen article, Marc mentor Martin Richter shared his thoughts on mentoring startups, personal effectiveness, and the role of AI in everyday work.
He believes effectiveness is not about doing more tasks, but about focusing on what truly matters and making intentional decisions. He also highlights that AI can be a powerful “second brain”, but only if we use it in a structured way with clear priorities and systems. 🤖
Our mentors support startups not only with business topics, but also with mindset, effectiveness, and tools that help founders grow and make a bigger impact.
👉 Read the full article on Startup Kitchen.
startupkitchen.community/martin-richter-ai-is-about-mindset/
#Marc #Impact #StartupKitchen #Mentorship #Startups #Entrepreneurship #AI #Innovation #Impact
The expansion and continuation of the Marc Impact Programme is co-funded by the European Union within the EcoVolve project.
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SDG #7: Affordable and clean energy for a sustainable future.
The way we produce and manage energy and waste plays a critical role in shaping our planet’s future. Today, building heating alone is responsible for around 10% of global CO₂ emissions. At the same time, plastic pollution, bio-waste, and the rapid growth of electronic waste are putting increasing pressure on ecosystems worldwide.
This goal is about accelerating the transition toward smarter, cleaner systems across energy, utilities, and waste management, addressing challenges such as:
⚡ Improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions
♻️ Advancing recycling and circular economy practices
🌊 Tackling plastic and organic waste pollution
🔋 Managing the surge of e-waste responsibly
🌱 Promoting sustainable production and resource use
Stay tuned for the next SDGs to come!
#Marc #Impact #SDG #Energy #Utilities #WasteManagement
The expansion and continuation of the Marc Impact programme is co-funded by the European Union within the EcoVolve project.
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🐾 Asociatia Sache Vet, a Marc alumnus, accessed two BCR Social Finance loans to support their growth and long-term impact in animal welfare.
🐶 Sache Vet is a Romania-based impact organization working to ensure that veterinary care is accessible for all animals, regardless of their owners’ financial situation. By combining commercial veterinary services with NGO-led animal welfare work, they created a sustainable model that funds rescues, treatments, and long-term animal welfare solutions.
Through the Marc Impact Programme, Sache Vet worked on strengthening their financial model, impact strategy, and communication, helping them become more financially stable and investment-ready.
This development contributed to their ability to access two BCR Social Finance loans, which are now supporting operational expansion, infrastructure development, and the growth of Romania’s first social veterinary hospital. 🏥
We are honored to have been part of their journey and to support their growth so they can deliver even greater impact in the future. 🚀
#Marc #Impact #SacheVet #Welfare #Romania #Journey
The expansion and continuation of the Marc Impact Programme is co-funded by the European Union within the EcoVolve project.
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🎉 A huge milestone achieved by Jobful, a Marc alumnus!
After years of building their model and impact, Jobful has now secured support from the NESsT Violet Fund to expand their services for people facing barriers to finding dignified jobs in Romania, including LGBTQIA+ individuals.🤝
With this investment, Jobful became the first Romanian company to join the NESsT Violet Fund, marking an important milestone for the impact-driven startups in the region.
We believe that startups focusing on social impact can create real, systemic change, and Jobful is a great example of that.
🚀 We are grateful to be part of their journey and excited to see the impact they will continue to create in the future!
#Marc #impact #Jobful #jobs4all #inclusive #employment #startup
The expansion and continuation of the Marc Impact Programme is co-funded by the European Union within the EcoVolve project.
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This time, we spotlight those outstanding Austrian organizations that joined the Marc Impact Programme in its final wave, bringing innovation from a wide range of industries.
🎮 edventure Studios GmbH: Konomondo is a mobile role-playing game that combines game-based learning with structured math tutoring.
🧵 FreyZein - NextGen Textiles : FreyZein develops PFAS-free nano-cellulose membranes that replace petrochemical materials in textiles.
🔬 ImageTwin AI GmbH: ImageTwin provides AI software that detects image manipulation, duplication, and plagiarism in scientific papers.
🧼 Waschma: Waschma produces biodegradable, plastic-free laundry strips that dissolve completely, avoid harsh chemicals, and reduce transport emissions.
🎨 Hobby Lobby (Vienna): Hobby Lobby offers free hobby-based learning programmes led by volunteers, creating opportunities for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
⚖️ leiwand AI gmbh: leiwand AI provides a platform that detects, monitors, and reduces bias in AI systems, helping organizations ensure fairness and compliance.
🚑 NoxAvis Tech Solutions FlexCo: HelDoc is an AI-assisted system that enables hands-free emergency documentation, capturing and sending structured patient data to hospitals before arrival.
💻 DaVinciLab GmbH (TalentsLounge): TalentsLounge supports teachers with ready-to-use tools and curricula to deliver high-quality coding and AI education in schools.
☕ BeResilient GmbH (Beansaver): BeResilient transforms spent coffee grounds into sustainable materials, turning waste streams into valuable resources.
🌍 Globezero.Ai: GLOBEZERO.AI provides a SaaS decision engine that analyzes product-level emissions and models alternative materials or processes to reduce CO₂ and resource use.
Discover the people behind the ideas shaping a better future!
#Marc #impact #trade #transportation #circulareconomy #innovation
The expansion and continuation of the Marc Impact Programme is co-funded by the European Union within the EcoVolve project.
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