Inside the Master in Impact Entrepreneurship
Turn your values into ventures that change the system
The world is shifting fast. Climate pressure, supply chain disruption, social inequality, tech acceleration - the challenges don’t stop. For the next generation of entrepreneurs, it's an opportunity to step up and lead. ESCP's Master in Impact Entrepreneurship is designed for ambitious graduates who want to do exactly that: not just adapt to change, but drive it.
Led by Academic Director Prof. Dr. Florian Lüdeke-Freund, Professor for Corporate Sustainability at the Berlin Campus, the programme is designed for future founders and changemakers ready to build ventures that create real impact. Below and in the featured video, he shares what makes this degree a launchpad for purpose-driven careers.
What Is Impact Entrepreneurship?
Impact entrepreneurship sits at the intersection of business, sustainability, and innovation. It goes beyond corporate responsibility or green marketing — it’s about building ventures that actively reshape the systems around them for the better.
Prof. Florian Lüdeke-Freund puts it plainly: "Entrepreneurs must not only be able to adapt to changing circumstances. We expect graduates to also become drivers of change, and of course drivers of positive change."
That means creating products and services that help consumers make more sustainable choices, supporting suppliers to integrate social responsibility into their operations, and building businesses that contribute meaningfully to sustainable development. The programme brings together three interconnected approaches to entrepreneurship: sustainability entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship, and tech entrepreneurship.
Values-led innovation at the core
One of the programme's most distinctive features is its focus on values-based innovation. Before students learn how to build a business model, they examine what they actually stand for.
As Prof. Lüdeke-Freund explains, "The interesting question is, what kind of innovator, what kind of entrepreneur can I become based on my values? What kind of trajectory does this create for myself?"
For many students, these sessions mark a turning point — the realisation that sustainability isn't just about measurable outcomes, but about connecting your work to what you genuinely care about. The moment that connection happens, students don't just become better entrepreneurs. They become more purposeful ones.
Your two-year journey, mapped out
The Master in Impact Entrepreneurship is a two-year, full-time programme with three trimesters per year. Year 1 builds the foundations: strategic management, impact measurement, entrepreneurial finance, and intercultural leadership. Running alongside all of this is the year-long Impact Venture Development Project, which begins from day one. Working in teams, students move through ethnographic research, business modelling, and financial planning, culminating in a major business pitch (Prof. Lüdeke-Freund in the video discusses how students are coached by an actor on stage presence). The year closes with a study trip; the current cohort is heading to Norway.
Year 2 deepens expertise. Students choose electives, complete a Company Consultancy Project working on real challenges with real businesses, write a Master's thesis, and conclude with either an internship or their own independent business development project.
Berlin: Europe's entrepreneurship capital
With cohorts composed of 12- 15 different nationalities, cultural diversity heavily shapes the learning experience. Past cohorts have included students from India, Italy, France, China, the United States, Finland, and more.
This international mix is intentional and fully integrated into the curriculum. Through dedicated modules in intercultural management and targeted coaching sessions, students develop the skills to navigate and benefit from the real challenges and opportunities of working in multinational teams.
ESCP’s DNA: Learning across cultures
Location matters. Berlin offers one of Europe’s most dynamic startup ecosystems, especially in sustainability and tech-driven innovation. As Prof. Lüdeke-Freund puts it: "If you're really into innovation and entrepreneurship, Berlin, like Paris or London, is really an important place."
Studies show that 60% of student founders who begin their journey in Berlin stay to build their ventures here. The city’s energy, diversity and openness create the perfect environment to test ideas and scale impact. On campus, that spirit continues, with offerings like the Blue Factory, ESCP’s in-house incubator for students and alumni.
Watch the video above to hear directly from Prof. Dr. Lüdeke-Freund and a current student, and find out whether Berlin is where your entrepreneurial story begins.
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