The lack of gender equality in the German labor market is sobering, and women remain the exception, especially in leadership positions. Added to this is the gender pay gap. People with disabilities also face many barriers. Although they are often well educated, they are disproportionately unemployed compared to others.
How can social innovations help create better inclusion in the labor market? Three social startups from Hamburg have developed creative approaches to make access to work easier for everyone while also breaking down social barriers. Our guests were Lioba Jarju and Mariam Guédé from Black Female Business, Philipp Özren and Julian Risse from StickTo, and Xaver Zeller from Socialbee.
They pitched their business models and then discussed the promotion of equal opportunities and better labor market integration for disadvantaged people with Hamburg’s Senator for Social Affairs Melanie Schlotzhauer and Malte Heyne, CEO of the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce.
Startup profiles at a glance
The Black Female Business network aims to bring Black women together and make their achievements visible. It offers a diverse network, access to knowledge, exchange, and opportunities for professional and personal development. Through its various formats, the network helps women successfully implement their entrepreneurial ideas, encourages more women to start businesses, and sustainably promotes and strengthens their participation in economic life.
The startup StickTo wants to support young people with career orientation, as many do not know what path to take after school. With its interest-based app, students can build their own network, learn about more than 1,000 professions, share experiences, and search for mini-jobs.
With innovative approaches, Socialbee connects companies with refugees, whose entry into the German labor market is often associated with many barriers and challenges. To date, more than 900 talents have been successfully placed with around 260 companies.
Impressions
Julian Risse (StickTo) Lucja Romanowska 
Philipp Özren (StickTo) Lucja Romanowska 
Mariam Guédé (Black Female Business) Lucja Romanowska 
Xaver Zeller (Social-Bee) Lucja Romanowska 
Lioba Jarju Lucja Romanowska 
Malte Heyne (Handelskammer Hamburg), Melanie Schlotzhauer (Sozialsenatorin Hamburg) Lucja Romanowska 