Impact Entrepreneur of the Year — Two Hearts, Two Cultures | German Startup Awards
- Jörn Menninger
- Mar 15
- 7 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
In this episode of Startuprad.io, host Jörn “Joe” Menninger interviews Gülsah Wilke, the winner of the Impact Entrepreneur of the Year Award, at the German Startup Awards. They discuss Gülsah’s background, including her studies at a private university and her career in consulting and media. They also talk about her experiences in Montreal and her unique perspective as someone with a dual cultural identity. Throughout the conversation, the focus is on Gülsah’s impact-focused work and her role in supporting entrepreneurs.
What Is This About?
The Impact Entrepreneur of the Year at the German Startup Awards celebrates a founder bridging two cultures with a purpose-driven business. "Two Hearts, Two Cultures" tells the story of building a social enterprise that creates real-world impact while sustaining a viable business model.
This article is part of our coverage of Startuprad.io Knowledge Graph: The DACH Startup Ecosystem.
Executive Summary
In this episode of Startuprad.
This interview is in media partnership with the German startup association (Bundesverband Deutscher Startups).
Their German Startup Awards #GSA23 honor each year outstanding female and male founders and investors in special categories.
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Executive Summary
Impact Entrepreneur of the Year — Two Hearts, Two Cultures | German Startup Awards Startuprad.io brings you independent coverage of the key developments shaping the startup and venture capital landscape across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
In this episode of Startuprad.io, host Jörn “Joe” Menninger interviews Gülsah Wilke, the winner of the Impact Entrepreneur of the Year Award, at the German Startup Awards. They discuss Gülsah’s background, including her studies at a private university and her career in consulting and media. They also talk about her experiences in Montreal and her unique perspective as someone with a dual cultural identity. Throughout the conversation, the focus is on Gülsah’s impact-focused work and her role in supporting entrepreneurs.
German Startup Awards 2023
This interview is in media partnership with the German startup association (Bundesverband Deutscher Startups).
Their German Startup Awards #GSA23 honor each year outstanding female and male founders and investors in special categories. You can learn more about the winners in our interview and on this website:
Playlist Interviews Winners 2021 #GSA21
Playlist Interviews Winners 2022 #GSA22
Questions Discussed in the Interview
What does it mean to be an impact entrepreneur and why is it important? 2. How did Gülsah Wilke’s background and experiences shape her journey as an impact entrepreneur? 3. How did Gülsah Wilke’s education at EBS and her involvement with Vodafone’s scholarship program impact her career trajectory? 4. What role did her time at Axel Springer play in her development as an impact entrepreneur? 5. How did Gülsah Wilke’s multicultural background influence her work with 2 Hearts? 6. What challenges did Gülsah Wilke face as an impact entrepreneur and how did she overcome them? 7. Can you share a specific example of an impact project or initiative that Gülsah Wilke has been involved in? 8. How does Gülsah Wilke’s work align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals? 9. What advice does Gülsah Wilke have for aspiring impact entrepreneurs? 10. What can we learn from Gülsah Wilke’s journey as the winner of the Impact Entrepreneur of the Year award?
The Video Interview is set to go live on Thursday, October 5th, 2023
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Impact Entrepreneur of the Year 2023 — German Startup Awards
Gülsah Wilke (https://www.linkedin.com/in/guelsahwilke/) is a talented and highly intelligent individual who stumbled upon the world of private business schools during her high school years. While attending the Akademie Verbegartiungliche, she met a girl named Iman, who shared with her the wonders of a private university where one could learn various languages and travel extensively.
Intrigued by the opportunity, Gülsah decided to explore this new path instead of pursuing her original plan to study law in Bonn. She attended an information day at the school with her father and became even more interested in the possibilities it offered.
2Hearts
During the interview, Gülsah Wilke, the winner of the Impact Entrepreneur of the Year, discussed her startup called 2Hearts. 2Hearts is a platform that aims to provide a home for individuals who have multiple cultural identities and want to connect with others who share similar experiences. The startup has gained significant attention and recognition in the industry due to its unique offering and impact-driven mission.
What sets 2Hearts apart is its focus on building a supportive community for individuals navigating multiple cultural identities. The platform goes beyond simply acknowledging the challenges faced by these individuals; it actively cultivates an environment where members can connect, share experiences, and find common ground.
This unique approach has positioned 2Hearts as a light tower, with an ever-growing user base and a strong reputation for promoting inclusivity and cultural understanding. By creating a space where individuals can embrace their multiple cultural identities and find a sense of belonging, 2Hearts is making a significant impact on the lives of its members and contributing to the growth of a more inclusive society.
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The Interviewer
This interview was conducted by Jörn “Joe” Menninger, startup scout, consultant, founder, and host of Startuprad.io. Reach out to him:
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Topics Discussed in this Interview
In this interview, we are talking about the impact of Entrepreneur of the Year, German startup awards, Gülsah, German startup association, Bundesweberbank Deutscher Startups, Startuprad.io, and startup. radio, tech entrepreneurship radio, Montreal, warm socks, bagels, CV, Key sources, private university, EBS, higher education in Germany, tuitions, financing, Vodafone scholarship program, private business school, Turkish background, 2 hearts, German cheesecake, Käsekuchen, baklava, cultural background, L’Oreal, Roland Berger Strategy Consulting, Kuehne Nagel, logistics company, IBM, McKinsey, Axel Springer, Silicon Valley, Stepstone
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Who Is the Impact Entrepreneur of the Year 2023?
Gülsah Wilke won the Impact Entrepreneur of the Year award at the German Startup Awards 2023 (#GSA23). The title "Two Hearts, Two Cultures" reflects her bicultural background and how it shaped her impact entrepreneurship journey. The awards are organized by the Bundesverband Deutscher Startups (German Startup Association) and honor outstanding founders and investors in specific categories each year. Startuprad.io covers the winners in media partnership.
Introduction
Published October 5th, 2023, this episode profiles Gülsah Wilke, winner of the Impact Entrepreneur of the Year award at the German Startup Awards 2023 (#GSA23). The interview, conducted by Jörn "Joe" Menninger in media partnership with the Bundesverband Deutscher Startups, explores what impact entrepreneurship means, how Wilke's bicultural background — two hearts, two cultures — shaped her approach, and why social impact startups are gaining recognition in the German ecosystem. Startuprad.io has covered winners from #GSA21, #GSA22, and now #GSA23.
Executive Summary
Gülsah Wilke's recognition as Impact Entrepreneur of the Year at the German Startup Awards 2023 highlights the growing importance of social impact in the DACH startup ecosystem. Her bicultural identity — two hearts, two cultures — informs her entrepreneurial approach. The German Startup Awards, organized by the Bundesverband Deutscher Startups, have become a key recognition platform for outstanding founders and investors. Startuprad.io's multi-year media partnership covering #GSA21, #GSA22, and #GSA23 provides longitudinal tracking of who's shaping the German startup scene.
Key Takeaways
Gülsah Wilke won Impact Entrepreneur of the Year at the German Startup Awards 2023 (#GSA23).
Her bicultural background — two hearts, two cultures — shaped her impact entrepreneurship journey.
The German Startup Awards are organized by the Bundesverband Deutscher Startups and honor founders and investors.
Atomic Answer
Entities Referenced in This Episode
People
Gülsah Wilke — Impact Entrepreneur of the Year 2023, bicultural background
Jörn "Joe" Menninger — Startuprad.io host
Organizations
Bundesverband Deutscher Startups (German Startup Association) — Organizer of German Startup Awards
Awards
German Startup Awards #GSA23 — Impact Entrepreneur of the Year category
Topics
Impact entrepreneurship, social impact, bicultural identity, German Startup Awards, #GSA23, diversity in startups
Relationship Map
Gülsah Wilke → won → Impact Entrepreneur of the Year #GSA23
Bundesverband Deutscher Startups → organizes → German Startup Awards
Quote Highlights
The Impact Entrepreneur of the Year at the German Startup Awards celebrates a founder bridging two cultures with a purpose-driven business.
Gülsah Wilke won the Impact Entrepreneur of the Year Award, representing the story of 'Two Hearts, Two Cultures' and building a social enterprise that makes a difference.
The German Startup Awards honor each year outstanding female and male founders who are shaping the German startup ecosystem.
This interview is in media partnership with the German startup association (Bundesverband Deutscher Startups), covering the most impactful entrepreneurs in Germany.
Related Episodes on Startuprad.io
Women Who Rock GSA — Female entrepreneurship in the DACH region
Traceless — Green Startup — Another #GSA nominee with impact focus
Browse all Startuprad.io episodes — Topic hub: German Startup Awards and impact
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Gülsah Wilke?
Gülsah Wilke is the Impact Entrepreneur of the Year at the German Startup Awards 2023 (#GSA23). Her bicultural background — described as two hearts, two cultures — has shaped her approach to building impact-focused businesses.
What are the German Startup Awards?
The German Startup Awards (GSA) are organized annually by the Bundesverband Deutscher Startups (German Startup Association). They honor outstanding female and male founders and investors in special categories. Startuprad.io covers the winners in media partnership.
What is impact entrepreneurship?
Impact entrepreneurship involves building businesses that create measurable positive social or environmental impact alongside financial returns. The German Startup Awards' Impact Entrepreneur of the Year category recognizes founders who exemplify this approach.
About the Host
Joern "Joe" Menninger is the host of the Startuprad.io podcast and covers founders, investors, and policy developments across the DACH startup ecosystem. Through more than 1,300 interviews and nearly a decade of reporting, he documents the evolution of the European startup landscape. Follow Joern on LinkedIn.
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