SISTAC - A platform for social innovation
SISTAC (Social Impact Start-Up Academy) is an international education and innovation platform launched in 2018 by André Habisch and the Bayer Foundation. As a non-profit association based in Ingolstadt, its core objective is to tackle social challenges through innovative, entrepreneurial approaches and to develop sustainable solutions. The focus is on regions of the Global South, where the need for creative and scalable solutions to challenges in the health and nutrition sector is particularly high.

SISTAC connects impact start-ups with committed students, academic institutions as well as specialists and young professionals from companies. This model not only promotes the development of practical solutions, but also enables participants to acquire important skills such as intercultural collaboration, entrepreneurial thinking and critical problem solving.

A global network for sustainable impact
SISTAC is based on a broad network that connects science and practice through universities, companies, NGOs and social entrepreneurs. This network creates a dynamic environment of knowledge transfer in which social and entrepreneurial challenges can be practically addressed, best practices developed and innovations promoted. The association works closely with renowned partners such as the Bayer Foundation and universities such as Purdue University and the Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship at Santa Clara University to facilitate long-term collaborations and sustainable projects.

Mission and goals
SISTAC's mission is clearly defined:

• To promote social innovation through education, research and strategic partnerships.
• To support impact start-ups in developing sustainable business models that directly address the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-Being, Quality Education and Gender Equality.

A central concern of SISTAC is the active involvement and empowerment of underrepresented groups, especially female entrepreneurs in the Global South. Targeted support programs and mentoring networks ensure that these start-ups not only have access to capital and expertise, but also a platform to present and scale their ideas.

Important milestones and successes
Since its foundation, SISTAC has successfully completed over 100 projects that have delivered sustainable solutions in various areas:

• Health: supporting start-ups in the field of telemedicine to make medical care accessible to rural regions.
• Sustainable agriculture: developing innovative approaches to increase agricultural efficiency and improve the living conditions of smallholder farmers.
• Gender equality: promoting female leadership through programs such as the Women Empowerment Award.

What sets SISTAC apart from other initiatives is the practice-oriented approach to learning and working. By engaging students and young professionals in real-life projects, an immediate impact is created - both for the participating start-ups and for the learners themselves. SISTAC focuses on long-term, systemic change by strengthening local solutions and building global partnerships.

SISTAC's vision remains clear: a world in which social innovation is used as a driving force for economic and social development.

Learning by doing - The SISTAC model
SISTAC's action learning program is at the heart of its educational initiatives and offers a unique combination of theoretical knowledge and practical application through agile working. This model enables students to engage intensively with real-life social challenges while learning valuable skills for their professional and personal development.

The program is aimed at students who work in interdisciplinary teams on specific social start-up projects. The aim is to develop innovative solutions to challenges that both meet the local needs of the target groups and are scalable and sustainable in the long term.

Program process:
The SISTAC model in action-learning format is divided into several phases that ensure intensive, hands-on and agile learning:

1. social innovation bootcamps and workshops:
    o Students take part in interactive events covering topics such as design thinking, business model development and stakeholder management.
    o The workshops provide space for creative thinking and the development of new approaches to problem solving.
2. development of minimum viable products (MVPs) and prototypes:
    o After a thorough analysis of the challenges, the teams develop initial prototypes that serve as the basis for further testing.
    o The iterative approach allows participants to continuously gather feedback and improve their solutions.
3. presentation of solutions and impact measurements:
    o At the end of the program, the teams present their developed solutions to experts and project partners.
    o Great emphasis is placed on measuring the social and environmental impact in order to ensure the long-term effectiveness of the projects.

Competencies and learning objectives:
The SISTAC method promotes a variety of competencies that are essential for the challenges of today's working world:

• Critical thinking: students learn to question existing patterns and develop innovative approaches that address real-world problems.
• Intercultural collaboration: By working in international teams and dealing with global challenges, participants develop a high level of intercultural competence.
• Entrepreneurial action: Students use methods such as Lean Startup and Design Thinking to put their ideas into practice and develop viable business models.
• Problem-solving skills: Students develop the ability to systematically analyze complex challenges and develop creative solutions that can be applied in dynamic environments.

Global cooperation for sustainable solutions
SISTAC forms the basis for effective, international cooperation in the field of social innovation. With a focus on global challenges such as health, education and sustainability, the network connects universities, social entrepreneurs, NGOs and companies to share best practices and scale successful projects.

By pooling expertise and resources, synergies are created that enable innovative solutions to be implemented more quickly and sustainably. SISTAC promotes dialog between stakeholders from different cultures, sectors and regions in order to learn from each other and drive social innovation forward together.

Partners and cooperations:
The network relies on strong, strategic partnerships with leading players from science and practice:

• University cooperation:
  • Purdue University, USA: One of the world's leading universities in research and innovation.
  • Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Germany: As the home of the Chair of Christian Social Ethics and Social Policy, it is a central hub for SISTAC's activities.
  • Santa Clara University, USA: Represented by the Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship
• Companies and NGOs:
  • Bayer Foundation: This foundation supports SISTAC with expertise, funding, and strategic programs to support start-ups, social initiatives, and innovative higher education.

These partnerships provide access to valuable networks, resources, and expertise crucial to the success of social projects.

Goals of the network:

1. Exchange of knowledge and best practices: The network promotes international dialog on social innovation by bringing together stakeholders tackling similar challenges.
2. Scaling successful projects: The network transfers and expands successful initiatives to other regions to maximize their impact.
3. Building a global ecosystem for knowledge transfer: Linking science, business, and practice creates a dynamic environment that promotes social innovation.

Successful projects in the network:

• MyMedicines (AHA - Advantage Health Africa) - Nigeria
  • Challenge: Lack of available quality medicines in Nigeria; pharmacies often do not have essential medicines in stock.
  • Solution: Students developed "MyCare+,“ a subscription model that offers discounts, free delivery, and scheduled medication deliveries for chronically ill patients.
• Bisa - Ghana
  • Challenge: The telemedicine start-up had difficulties recruiting doctors to volunteer.
  • Solution: Students created an explanatory video and an incentive strategy to get more doctors involved.
• Quick Chapati - Uganda
  • Challenge: Ensuring financial sustainability while keeping food prices affordable for slum dwellers.
  • Solution: Students developed a delivery app to extend Quick Chapati's services to more affluent business districts in Kampala.
• Veggie Victory - Nigeria
  • Challenge: The first vegetarian fast food chain in Nigeria needed funding to expand operations.
  • Solution: A student developed "Impact Explorer", a platform that connects entrepreneurs with donors.
• eWAKA - Kenya
  • Challenge: Improving the business model of this electric last-mile transportation start-up.
  • Solution: Audi employees developed a B2B platform and strategic recommendations to increase scalability.
• Sanku - Africa
  • Challenge: Combating malnutrition by enriching flour with essential nutrients.
  • Solution: SISTAC participants worked on developing an expansion strategy and securing funding.
• Zuri Health - Daisy Isiaho
  • Challenge: Millions of Africans do not have access to affordable and timely healthcare due to high costs, long waiting times, and a shortage of doctors.
  • Solution: Daisy Isiaho founded Zuri Health, a mobile telemedicine platform that connects patients with doctors, pharmacies, and laboratories via app, website, WhatsApp bot, and SMS.
• Iriba Water Group
  • Challenge: Many rural communities in Rwanda have limited access to clean drinking water, which can lead to health problems and high water treatment costs.

Solution: Iriba Water Group, led by Florence Niyigena, provides safe and clean drinking water through reverse osmosis (RO) and UV treatment systems, making water more accessible and affordable for communities and schools.

For students - practical learning with global relevance
The SISTAC Academy program offers students a unique opportunity to combine practice-oriented education with international cooperation. By working on real projects of social enterprises in the Global South, participants acquire important skills beyond traditional academic content.

In this learning format, students participate in social innovation boot camps, develop minimum viable products (MVPs), and work in teams on impact measurements for social enterprises. 

This cross-format learning is used both in seminars and in Master's theses. With a time commitment of 100 hours for 5 ECTs

• Objective:
  • Teaching intercultural competence and entrepreneurial thinking.
  • Promoting problem-solving skills and critical thinking.
  • Developing sustainable solutions to global challenges.

Career benefits:
Students benefit from direct contact with social entrepreneurs, mentoring opportunities and access to an international network. Upon graduation, they receive a certificate that confirms the skills they have acquired and improves their career prospects .

For companies - Practice-based leadership training to promote social innovation

The SISTAC Academy offers companies an excellent opportunity to actively contribute to promoting social innovation through customized leadership training in cooperation with social entrepreneurs. At the same time, specialists and junior managers can expand their professional skills and gain personal experience in an international environment.

A key offering is the Impact Bootcamps, which organize workshops and training courses that specifically promote entrepreneurial thinking and the development of social impact solutions. This is complemented by the Structured Volunteering program, in which employees work directly with social enterprises from the Global South to develop innovative business models and solve real challenges.

The objectives of these programs are diverse: they strengthen participants' leadership qualities and promote their intercultural skills. At the same time, they enable the development of important soft skills such as communication skills and stakeholder management through agile work in international teams. In addition, the programs make a direct contribution to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promote sustainable thinking within companies

In the long term, companies benefit not only from the practical application of innovative solutions but also from the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to social responsibility. These programs not only create positive social value but also contribute to employees' personal and professional development in agile leadership, teamwork, and creative problem-solving. Ultimately, as Impact Ambassadors, participants are expected to strengthen the sustainability, innovative strength, and adaptability of their company from within in dynamic times.