Social Impact Award

The Social Impact Award is Europe’s largest student competition on social entrepreneurship. It is dedicated to supporting students in developing and implementing their own impact ideas. The award was founded in 2009 by the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation of the WU Vienna and has run in25 + countries till 2023. In Croatia, the Social Impact Award was operated by the Impact Hub Zagreb in 2014 and 2015. We offered students professional know-how, space for exchanging ideas, feedback and funding to support young entrepreneurs in their first steps of their social or ecological projects.

The Social Impact Award (SIA) Croatia empowers young innovators aged 14–30 to develop entrepreneurial solutions to pressing social and environmental challenges. The program targets early-stage projects—either ideas not yet implemented or ventures launched after January 1, 2024—that have received less than €6,000 in external funding. Applicants submit their ideas during an open call, after which an expert jury selects finalists for a tailored incubation phase. This includes hands-on workshops, mentorship, and access to SIA’s global network across 25+ countries. All participants receive feedback to refine their projects, while finalists gain visibility through promotional platforms and long-term alumni opportunities.

The initiative operates through a unique licensing model, enabling local organizations to adapt SIA’s framework for grassroots impact. Though the 2025 application deadline has likely passed (as of June 2025), future applicants can monitor the site for 2026 updates. SIA Croatia focuses on nurturing purpose-driven entrepreneurship, offering young changemakers tools to turn ideas into sustainable ventures with community impact.

Learn more here.