Build & Thrive for Impact
Applications close June 30th
Join our flagship leadership program designed for 20 impact-driven leaders ready to make peak health their leadership edge.
Trusted by the pioneers who care about health of their leaders:
From go-go-go to flow
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From go-go-go to flow •
You’re leading with purpose
but under constant pressure. Your mind is full, your calendar packed, and your body running on empty. You know something has to shift.
This program is your reset and your edge.
With just ~2 hrs/week, you’ll get access to executive coaching to work through team tensions, tough calls, and self-doubt. You’ll take part in immersive retreats to step out of survival mode, slow down, and reconnect with your mission (and yourself).
You’ll be grounded by a trusted peer group
who know what it’s like to carry big ideas and big responsibility – and stay human through it. You’ll go through deep health assessments + 1:1 coaching to sleep better, move more, feel stronger – and actually sustain this work.
This is your space to realign
body, mindset, and mission – so you can lead sustainably, and thrive while creating the change you’re here to make.
A €10,000+ investment in your health and leadership – subsidized by the EU
Participation fees range from €0 to 2,500€ depending on your funding status
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Participation fees range from €0 to 2,500€ depending on your funding status •
Pricing & Support
75–100% of your spot is covered by the EU. The fee depends on your circumstances:
VC-backed founders/leaders: €2,500
Impact founders/leaders: €1,000
NGO/social founders/leaders: fully funded
Built for busy schedules
One bi-weekly session. Just ~2 hours a week. This program is designed to fit into your life—not take it over. Grow your company without sacrificing your well-being.
Join from anywhere
Hybrid format. Minimal travel. Maximum flexibility. Three in-person gatherings in the Berlin area for deep dives. Everything else is online—so you can join from wherever you are.
Your 5-Month Journey: From Insight to Impact
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Set your baseline. Define your path.
We begin where all great things do—in person, over deep conversations, coffee, and probably a few laughs. But this isn’t just onboarding. It’s your launchpad.
You’ll meet your cohort, clarify where you’re starting from, and map out where you want to go. Through reflection, coaching, and diagnostics, you’ll connect the dots between your leadership, mental fitness, and physical performance. You’ll receive your Founder Impact Profile baseline, including bloodwork, stress and recovery markers, and a wearable to track your journey.
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Master the inner game.
You’ve learned to lead others. But what about yourself?
In this module, you’ll slow down and zoom in—on your decisions, your drivers, and the parts of your leadership few ever see.
You’ll explore embodied leadership and nervous system regulation, and leave with tools to lead with intention, not just reaction. Call it CEO of Self.
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Build trust. Energize your team.
No one builds alone—and no one leads well by accident.
This module is about relational leadership: how to energize, align, and grow others while staying grounded yourself. You’ll explore your capacity to foster trust, set direction, and build meaningful momentum in your team and culture.
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Step out of the noise. Step into what’s next.
Midway through the program, we leave the city behind and go deep. In a stunning natural setting, you’ll be guided through a multi-day retreat designed to reconnect you with your body, your values, and your next chapter of leadership.
Expect presence. Insight. And a shift that sticks.
We won’t spoil the magic—but you’ll leave changed.
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Design the culture you want to scale.
Culture isn’t what’s written on your website—it’s how people feel, day after day.
This module zooms out: how can you build a company people want to stay in, grow in, and believe in?
You’ll focus on structure, systems, and narrative—shaping a business that lives your values and delivers real impact.
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Future-ready leadership, rooted in well-being.
Legacy isn’t built by chance—it’s designed with care.
In this final module, you’ll design your Founder Operating System—a personalized leadership framework to sustain your well-being, your company’s resilience, and the mission that brought you here.
You’ll explore how to lead through uncertainty, integrate regenerative practices, and build a business that serves both people and planet.
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Celebrate how far you’ve come—and launch what comes next.
We close where we began: together, in person—and this time, expanded.
You’ll complete your post-program assessment, reflect on your progress, and see just how far your leadership, health, and impact have evolved. But this isn’t just a look back—it’s a leap forward.
In a powerful public event, you’ll join an inspiring panel alongside leading voices in health, leadership, and impact. You’ll share the stage with your peers, connect with stakeholders, and invite your team members or co-founders to help transfer what you’ve learned into your organization.
It’s celebration. It’s activation. It’s your launchpad for lasting change.
Calendar overview
Backed by Data. Built for Real Impact.
We measure what matters. From day one, you’ll go through a full-spectrum assessment that tracks your health, performance, and leadership impact.
We collect real, actionable data—from blood biomarkers (like inflammation, stress hormones, and metabolic health) to fitness metrics (VO₂ max, strength, body composition), to wearables that monitor recovery, sleep, and heart rate variability.
We pair this with psychological assessments to measure stress, focus, and mindset with leadership interviews that reveal personal growth edges—and evaluate how your leadership shows up in your team and organization.
The result: your Founder Impact Profile—a science-backed roadmap for your 5-month transformation.
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“The group was incredibly diverse—not just in background, but in mindset. I learned as much from the peers as I did from the coaches.”
Stephanie von Behr, Co-founder and Managing Director of Founderland
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“This program didn’t just make me a better leader—it helped me grow as a human. My company feels the difference every day.”
Paul Thiekoetter, Co-founder of Admi
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“If you take your mission seriously, you can’t afford to burn out. I recommend this program to founders who want to lead sustainably—and still go all in on impact.”
Alexandra Kammer, Co-founder of Aivy
Program Fees & Scholarships
Top-tier support—made accessible through public funding.
Thanks to funding from the EU and BMWK, we’re able to offer 20 spots—each valued at over €10,000—at significantly reduced rates for eligible leaders. Our tiered pricing reflects your business model and access to capital:
VC-backed leaders: €2,500 (75% discount)
Impact leaders: €1,000 (90% discount)
NGO leaders / social scholarships: fully funded
We also offer 4 fully funded scholarships for founders who face financial barriers or systemic obstacles. These are intended to support:
NGO leaders
Leaders from underrepresented or underserved communities
Social entrepreneurs with limited access to resources
Our aim is to ensure that those building a better future have access to the support they need—regardless of background or funding.
Who can apply
To join Build & Thrive for Impact, you must meet a few key criteria to qualify for EU funding and ensure the program is the right fit. Fluency in English is required, as the program is fully delivered in English.
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You hold a leadership role in a German SME
You’re in a leadership position (e.g. founder, CEO, exec team) at a business or startup based in Germany with 3–250 employees.
Your company qualifies as a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) under EU guidelines.
You’ll fill out a short KMU Erklärung to confirm.
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You’re building a social or impact-driven business
Your business exists for more than just profit. You prioritize social or environmental goals, report on your impact transparently, and reinvest profits into your mission.
You’ll sign a Social Business Declaration (Sozialunternehmen Erklärung) to confirm this.
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You’re within the EU funding limit
To qualify, your organization must not have received more than €300,000 in public funding over the past 3 years.
You’ll confirm this by filling out a short De Minimis Declaration — a quick, standard step in any EU-funded program.
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Bonus: Your work supports climate goals
If your company actively contributes to climate solutions or follows climate-conscious practices, your chances of being selected drastically increase.
You’ll confirm this by signing the optional Climate Bonus B form.
Applications close June 30th
FAQs
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This program is for founders, executives, VC professionals, and senior leaders of impact-driven SMEs based in Germany—including NGO leaders via scholarships. We especially welcome those working on climate, sustainability, and systems change.
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Personalized health, fitness & longevity assessments
Your own Founder Impact Report (before & after)
Wearable device to track progress and recovery
5 months of tailored health, performance & longevity coaching
5 months of executive coaching with top-tier coaches
Curated peer group support through monthly circles
Access to a long-lasting community of impact founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders
4-day in-person retreat to reset, reflect, and reconnect
Expert-led masterclasses & workshops on leadership, strategy, and well-being
All meals, materials & program resources included
🚫 Travel and lodging not included.
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We’ve received funding through the NAWI program—a federal initiative by the EU and BMWK supporting mission-driven companies. That’s what makes it possible to offer this €10,000+ program at a significantly reduced rate for eligible founders.
You don’t have to apply for the funding yourself. We handle the paperwork—you just help us by filling out a few short forms (like SME, Social Enterprise, and De Minimis declarations) and registering in our system.
💡 Heads up: This is the first and most subsidized cohort. Future rounds will likely be more expensive, as funding levels will decrease over time. If you’re thinking about joining, this is your best chance.
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Not at all. The Health & Fitness Track is a core part of the program—and it’s designed to help you build sustainable habits, not hit performance targets. Whether you’re already health-conscious or just starting out, your plan is fully personalized and rooted in science, not hype. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s creating balance, energy, and practices that hold you long after the program ends.
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On average, about 2 hours per week. You’ll take part in monthly peer group sessions, monthly executive coaching, and monthly check-ins with your health and fitness coach—plus occasional bonus events. The three in-person gatherings (Kick-Off, Retreat, and Closing) are core to the experience and required. They take place near Berlin.
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Calls are scheduled to accommodate full-time work schedules. Most sessions will take place either:
During lunch hours (e.g., 12:00–13:30 CET), or
In the early evening (e.g., 18:30–20:00 CET or 20:00–21:30 CET), on a bi-weekly basis
Our goal is to ensure the program fits alongside your professional commitments while creating meaningful space for reflection and growth. We’ll share a detailed schedule well in advance, and where possible, we’ll work with the cohort to align around preferred time slots.
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In-person participation at the Kick-Off, Retreat, and Closing events is a core part of the experience and mandatory. These gatherings are where deep connection, trust, and transformation happen.
Before applying, please make sure you’re available on the following dates:
Kick-Off: 15–17 August 2025
Retreat: 23–26 October 2025
Closing: 5–7 December 2025
We recommend blocking these dates in your calendar now to protect your spot.
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Since this program is designed for leaders of small teams or organizations, you must actively lead a team of at least 3 people—co-founders included.
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It’s a short self-declaration confirming that your business contributes to climate protection. It’s required for participants in publicly funded programs like ours to access additional EU/BMWK support.
You don’t need to be a climate-only organization. You’re eligible if your business:
Develops climate-friendly technologies, products, or services
Promotes circular economy, resource efficiency, or biodiversity
Helps reduce emissions or supports the climate transition
Does not engage in fossil fuel production or environmentally harmful practices
At least two-thirds of our cohort must complete this form for us to maintain this higher level of funding—so if your work fits, signing it helps the whole community.
We’ll walk you through it. It’s simple, fast, and part of making public funding more impactful.
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Yes—you can still apply. While signing the Eigenerklärung Klimaschutz strengthens your application and helps us meet our funding requirements, it’s not mandatory for individual eligibility.
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Yes, with our scholarship program you can and we look forward to your application!
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No, this program is only for small and medium-sized companies.
“Organizations with a healthy organizational culture deliver up to 3x the returns.”
– McKinsey & Company
Build & Thrive for Impact
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Build & Thrive for Impact •
starts in August 2025
Applications close June 30th