You lead with passion and purpose.
A unique accelerator for social and sustainability focused startups
Unleash what is possible for your vision
10X Impact Accelerator is where personal & professional growth meet & make a beautiful, sustainable baby. The impactful beginnings of your startup will form an epic next chapter of sustainable growth. By focusing on team leadership and organizational development, you will build a rock solid foundation for your startup, so that your cause will thrive.
Powerfully achieve your commitment to impact the world for the better.
10X Your Impact is a 12-month Accelerator
The Core of it all: Its Principles
Take FULL Ownership – Pretending vs. Telling The Truth
Once you give up faking it, you’ll experience greater freedom to ask for what you truly want. You invest less time into looking good and putting on a show. Together we will confront the truth about what is actually going on with you and your startup, we will support you in taking full responsibility for whatever is showing up, and we will powerfully move forward from there.
Rooting Your Efforts in Reality – Noticing vs. Imagining
Most founders – especially in the social and environmental domain – are really good at living in dreams of a better future. While this is great to keep up motivation and momentum for what you do, it is also a hurdle for true progress. By noticing what is a fact and distinguishing it from what is only a story you tell yourself about your team or startup you prepare the grounds for an expansion rooted in reality.
Leading from Possibility – How can I / How can we
Really effective teams avoid looking for reasons and variables why stuff won’t work – in the face of fear and worry they ask themselves: “How can we make this possible?” This might sound like common sense to you. And, in reality, most teams waver once deadlines come closer or other unforeseen difficulties arise. We will guide you to stick with what you declared and stand in the possibility that you want to create.
Leaving Behind Mediocrity – What do I want vs. What can I do
Lots of growth and development is limited to what the founders and the startup team as a whole think they CAN do, rather than what it is that they truly WANT to do. Another word for that: Playing it safe. Together, we will step into what you actually want and only thereafter start asking – “All right! How do we get there now?”. Thereby, you will break the chains of predictability and transform what is possible for your startup.
Life Always Happens For You – Breakdown / Breakthrough
Things sometimes don’t work out as planned. You might have already noticed that. When that happens, some entrepreneurs run for cover or venture into a completely different direction which costs them time, money, nerves and progress. We’ll stick with you throughout the tough times and help you to see every breakdown as the source of your next breakthrough. In fact, after the 12 months you will want to cause breakdowns – not by playing safe but playing bigger and bolder than you have ever done before.
Finding Your Unique Way – Living a Life of Shoulds vs. Life of Preference
We have all been conditioned by our upbringing, education, and surroundings in our thinking about how the world, our team, our startup, and we ourselves should behave. Mostly, though, those are beliefs and limitations in your mind. You don’t get bonus points for being right about how things should and shouldn’t be and you certainly won’t get any development and growth for your startup. We will support you by helping you design your startup exactly as you choose rather than reverting to what your competitors do, what your investors might prefer, your father said you should do, or what society judges appropriate.
Alignment vs. Agreement
Startup teams – especially the social and sustainable variety – sometimes get stalled by trying to make everybody agree on everything. Of course, it’s great if everybody is on the same page for all the decisions you need to take. Luckily, there’s a faster, equally respectful way to deal with decision-making. Bring your team game to the next level and speed up while keeping everybody on board with what needs to happen next. We’ll discover together how you can do so.
Unless Everyone Wins, Everyone Loses
Your startup is only as strong as its weakest link. While this sounds like a corny one-liner for motivational posters, in our program you’ll experience how true this one actually is and what that implies for leading your team. By making sure that everyone wins, you will create solutions that are unique and you will form bonds with your team that creates the momentum to truly 10x your impact.
But wait! Aren’t there many accelerator programs for startups out there?
Yup! A ton, actually.
So why bother checking this one out?
Because – believe it or not – this one is different. Promise!
What you will get in this accelerator is a strong focus on developing your inner skills. We believe that there is more to growing your impact and reach than just learning about systems and techniques. Instead, we combine the inner work and the outer skills so that you can fulfill your vision in a healthy, professional and sustainable way.
You, your team and your startup will transform within these 12 months. Hence, be ready for the growth in the years to come.
The Timeline
12 months of transformation
An application to you
Typically, it’s the startups who have to apply for accelerator programs. And … that is true for this one as well … but!
Let’s level the playing field here. We will now apply to you. Start with the essential question:
Why do we care?

Christopher Hauff
Business Coach, Coach
„I see that the world will not last as it is now, we are using resources in ways that will have the earth unable to support all the living being that are on it including ourselves and as such we have a duty to make this world sustainable for all.“
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What do you truly want? How good are you willing to have it? These are the questions behind much of Christopher’s coaching, causing teams around him to realize the visions that actually dream of them rather than just the ones they let themselves strive for.
Coach for sustainability & social impact organizations that specializes in teams and communication.
Studied entrepreneurship & innovation at drexel university in Philadelphia Pa.
Christopher has years of experience in social entrepreneurship as having been part of several different sustainability & social impact startups as founding members, founder, CEO, project manager, coder, and more while also having years of experience and training as a coach specialized in teams and communication.

Eva Gruber
Habit Coach, Mental Fitness Trainer, Speaker
„It’s about time to coach passionate ventures into growth, instead of seeing change-makers burn and feel as a failure too many times! Coaching makes sure we can support each of you in your true needs and in an emotional safe space.“
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Eva Gruber is a Habit Coach, Mental Fitness Expert and Trainer, Speaker, and International Best-Seller Author. She supports entrepreneurs, managers, and teams who “have too much on their plate” to improve their wellbeing, relationships, and peak-performance. How? Through unmasking their mental self-sabotage and establishing good habits.
As only 1 out of 5 people use their (mental) potential, and 6+ hours of your day are based on often times unconscious habits, this is a game-changer! By training 3 brain muscles and good habits, you establish your mental fitness (positive intelligence) and supportive behavior. Doing so, you feel happier and better in your body. You live healthier relationships with your team, clients, and family. You improve peak-performance especially when e.g. feeling stressed, angry, or insecure.
Eva Gruber founded 2 ventures, and supported hundreds of challenged people. She is trained by and collaborates with leading researchers and experts, like Professor BJ Fogg PhD (Stanford University) or neuroscientist Shirzad Chamine (Positive Intelligence). She has been featured as a speaker at events like TEDx and podcasts, as an author, and an executive contributor for the Brainz magazine. She lives in Vienna/Austria with her French fiance, her yoga mat, and an adventurer’s mind. Connect on LinkedIn

Brian Hoffmann, MBA
Collaborative Leadership Trainer, Board Advisor
„As CEOs we hire employees and managers, and then all of a sudden human beings, real people with real lives, show up to work. It’s time we stop treating our people like assets of our businesses and accept that our people ARE our business.“
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Brian Hoffmann is passionate about helping people live the lives that they deserve. As a trusted advisor to key executives and a fractional COO for late-stage startups, Brian is privileged to mentor and support amazing leaders creating powerful teams. Brian is also Executive Director at Excelerator Global, a NYC-Based, NGO bringing systemic and sustainable change to all areas of human rights in Latin America by fostering and empowering community centered, youth leadership.
Previously he worked as an Operating Partner with a leading private equity group and served as President and Chief Executive Officer at CPV Manufacturing where he transformed a 3rd generation family owned and operated, niche business into a growing, commercial enterprise with operations and customers throughout the United States and Asia.
A native of Los Angeles, California in the USA, Brian now lives with his wife and son in Eggenburg, Austria. He has a BSc in Applied Mathematics from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and an MBA in Finance and Accounting from New York University.

Bernhard Reingruber
Leadership Trainer, Systemic Coach, Certified Radical Honesty Trainer
“It’s high time for all of us to realize that self-knowledge, inner work and personal development are no longer nice-to-have feel-good blah blah ideas that people do after finishing their “real work”, but THE KEY for actual change, in effectiveness and sustainability.”
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Bernhard’s mission is to to help create a world in which self-knowledge, “inner” work and personal development are no longer seen and heard of as nice-to-have feel-good blah blah ideas that people do after finishing their “real work”, but as THE KEY for actual change on a personal, organizational and societal level and as an investment in effectiveness and sustainability.
Bernhard is a Leadership Trainer & Coach and Certified Radical Honesty Trainer. After his Master’s in Strategy and Innovation Management where he lived worked, and co-founded a social startup in India, he joined Teach For Austria’s Leadership program, first as a Fellow and then as a Trainer, Coach, and Team Lead and eventually as the organization’s Regional Director.
Over the years of his practice as a Radical Honesty Trainer and psychological counselor, he found that people judge themselves frequently as being quite honest, yet most of them also play pretend games like there’s no tomorrow and risk their business’, their team’s, and their personal success and wellbeing in the course. Above that, being in actual direct contact with one another has become very rare in leaders’ busy everyday lives, while at the same time it is the antidote to unsustainable and wasteful decision-making. The more honest people become, the less harm they tend to inflict on others, themselves, and the planet.
Bernhard immersed himself in Conscious & Adaptive Leadership, mindfulness practices and purpose-driven management In order to pull all of his passions into a joint framework, he started Honestlead (www.honestlead.at) and now offers workshops and programs for open-minded (future) changemakers.
More on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reingruber/
The best part about all of this is working with you.
What clients say about us
My coaching with Eva Gruber really pulled me forward: Already after my first session, her clear, calm, and emphatic questions gave me the feeling that I had come much closer to the actual core of my problem. Thanks to her methodically adept, structured, and time-efficient, yet sensitive guidance, I was able to get the most out of my coaching and was positively surprised about the depth we were able to achieve in such a short time.
Christin Schitteck, Organisational Developer, Outdoor Trainer, Coachee
Eva Gruber supported us as a guest-trainer at the Intrinsic Campus. In this short time, she introduced us very skillfully and sympathetically to the demanding topics of (physical and mental) habits and routines. I experienced the discovery of our mental self-sabotage and mental saboteurs particularly exciting. It was exactly the right input for our future edupreneurs and I am very happy to have Eva with us for the next semesters.
Robin Müller, Edupreneur & Program Manager at Intrinsic Campus
Eva Gruber worked with Social Impact Award for many years, where I got to witness her professionalism, meticulousness, and drive, which later transformed into her own business. Eva truly loves and believes in her work, and is able to adapt and transfer her knowledge so well to different audiences. She was a keynote speaker at our youth conference talking about the myths of habit making and did a session on mental fitness for youth participants in our program. In both cases, Eva managed to engage with participants, keep their attention, and allow for space to take in the content and truly spark relevant conversation and thoughts. It’s been a pleasure working with her, and we are looking forward to collaborating more in the future!
Ana Janosev, Managing Director of Social Impact Award
As an entrepreneurial maker and scanner personality herself, Eva Gruber draws on an incredible diversity of research, facts, and experience in the work she does. From studying at BJ Fogg’s Stanford Behavior Design Lab to developing a masterful sense for clarity through mental fitness and strength, to working with a diverse set of her own clients, she draws everything together to provide her own unique insights on how to work and live more effectively. She also cares deeply about her fellow human beings. In a world so dominated by money and consumerism, it’s incredibly refreshing to interact with someone purely focused on human wellbeing and social causes. It is painstakingly clear where Eva’s values lie and the world needs more people like her.
Jeremy Hurst, Co-Founder & CEO of Idenati
Discovering Eva Gruber’s work has been one of my highlights during this year’s SIA Summit, where she joined us as a keynote speaker and Habit Coach. In a very insightful and practical way, she has managed to connect wellbeing practices and tiny habits examples with the needs of the young social entrepreneurs joining us. I was inspired by her passion for healthy lifestyles and her capacity to adapt, embrace our needs and guide us through a process which was not only practical, but also addressing the necessary mindset shifts that could lead to long term, meaningful changes.
Corina Angelescu, Alumni Community Weaver at Social Impact Award
I have attended several Radical Honesty trainings and Business Talks with Bernhard Reingruber and it has really helped me understand the bigger picture of the situation I am dealing with on a personal and professional level as well as the various emotional, psychological and behavioral aspects involved . And I feel well positioned to optimize the topics individually, as I can now put them into context even better. Bernhard is a grounded and positive trainer who really tries to develop exercises and methods that suit your individual situation. I can recommend Berni as a facilitator and Radical Honesty trainer and I would love to book him again when I’m around.
Carmen, Agile Coach Digital Transformation
Bernhard was my trainer/coach and I am extremely grateful for his continuous support. His positive energy and great questions have helped me reflect on my own progress and provided me with the space I needed to keep growing. He did not only put a lot of trust in me, but also taught me how to improve my skills step by step. Bernhard has a very entrepreneurial mind-set and a great working attitude. He is a trustworthy person. I highly appreciate him as a human being, and can dearly recommend him.
Jana, Project Manager
If you’re looking for someone to bring energy and excitement to an event then Bernhard is your man. His tremendous interpersonal skills are thanks to the fact he has had plenty of experience interacting with people from all walks of life. He has the uncanny ability to both capture an audience’s attention with his eloquent choice of words and also put them at ease so they feel comfortable participating in his workshops. When you speak to him it’s clear that he doesn’t just listen but he really pays attention to what you’re saying. An invaluable trait which many have unfortunately forgotten in this fast-paced day and age.
Simon, Motivational Coach
Bernhard knows how to lead a group and achieve great things together. He has an incredible energy and a thirst for action that everyone carries along. In addition, he is never over-demanding but knows how to make sensible and difficult decisions with a sure instinct. You can learn a lot from Bernahrd Reingruber and every working day with him is a real treat where every day you have a bit more inspiration and strength. His joyful interaction with others, coupled with his professionalism complete his profile. Very gladly anytime again!
Aron Marton, Teacher & Vice-Principal
Bernhard was my trainer, coach and mentor. He is one of the most inspirational and positive people I have ever met. During our coaching sessions, he was very focused and professional. He managed to put things into a structured, positive frame. This way, it was easy for me to take feedback, go back to work and put words into action. I really enjoyed working with Bernhard and I am sure greater things lie ahead for him!
Therese, Project Manager
FAQ
Who is 10x Impact Accelerator?
As your social venture or organization is up and running for a while, it might appear to you that it’s about time to grow your impact to support sustainable social change. Our planet and society can’t wait another 10 years to make the turnaround happen, right? Within the 10X Impact team we share and live this vision of a sustainable economy and social change. That’s why we – 4 social entrepreneurs and/or coaches – join forces with change-makers and startups who wish to grow beyond what seemed possible in its beginnings. How? Within the “10X Impact Accelerator” we support decision-makers from social ventures or organizations to go from overwhelm and restlessness in times of growth to clarity and power. Why? In order to grow 10X your impact, create healthy, effective leadership and teams, and invest into one’s diminished personal wellbeing in times of growth. How? By coaching 10X Impact participants specifically in organizational development, team-leadership and personal wellbeing skills needed at growth-stage within the 12-month “10X Impact Accelerator”.
What does “impact” mean to us?
As social change-makers ourselves, we started and grew our ventures to enable social change in our economy and society, as well as a healthier environment. We built or supported ventures from e.g. playful education to smart money use, package-free retail to green energy. Did we start our ventures for profit only? No! Did we grow our ventures to scale our impact? Yes! Impact stands for any positive but sustainable change for the wellbeing, health, relationships or performance of our target audience or market. To do so, we are using sustainable resources with care, making sure we create lasting, proven change in a dedicated, skilled team of change-makers.
What are your benefits as a participant?
As a participant you go on a journey from feeling overwhelmed and restless in times of growth to experiencing clarity and power in the end. As a decision-maker of your venture/organization, you build your skills muscles – as you would grow your physical muscles – to become knowledgeable and mentally fit to face and master your challenges during growth. At 10X Impact Accelerator we focus on increasing your capacity to leverage transformational change – by taking a stand for what truly matters for you and your venture/organization. Doing so, your personal development meets the needed organizational development and intended social change. How? With the help of individual coaching and group coaching, workshops and retreats with peer-participants, you grow your skills in organizational development, team-leadership and personal wellbeing. During the 12-month “10X Impact Accelerator”, 4 expert-coaches guide you step-by-step and week-by-week, creating your safe space to grow your impact 10X.
What is a participant's ideal profile?
Participants are decision-makers in a social or circular/sustainable/environmental venture or organization that is in its growth stage.
- They need to be truly motivated to join the accelerator. But please don’t only count on your motivation and willpower, as that would set you up to fail and drop out of the accelerator shortly! Instead focus on your determination to personally grow and enable your venture’s/organization’s growth, crafting the necessary changes on the way.
- They need to be able to join the accelerator in regards to time, energy, and other capacities like focus.
- They need to not only make the time to join the coachings and group-events, but also create time to reflect on, test or implement their learnings on a day-to-day basis.
- They also need to be eager to represent their teams and challenges, and commit to bring back and integrate learnings within their venture or organization.
- Consequently, our ideal participants are skilled in enrolling others in change efforts and/or have the intention to learn how to do so.
- Participants also need to be able to join 3 in-person events happening in Vienna/Austria.
If you are doubtful about meeting this profile, email to hello@10ximpact.at.
Which selection criteria do we apply?
We welcome any participants that fit the “participant’s ideal profile”. Please see the respective Q&A above. If you are doubtful about meeting this profile, email to hello@10ximpact.at.
Are competitors also taking part in this accelerator?
Firstly, we are committed to open and honest conversations during the 10X Impact Accelerator. Why? All participants agree to keep confidential anything shared by the other participants during the accelerator. Secondly, a social economy needs collaboration to grow in a wise, innovative and healthy way. When it comes to your competition, the growth you envision and wish to put into action might not be the growth your competitors aim for. Moreover, our experience within the social impact sector as founders and entrepreneurs ourselves proves that classic business cultures are less applied within social ventures or organizations. Why? We strive to nourish the mentioned open mind, learn from peers and role-models, hence also from our competitors. Maybe there is even potential to collaborate as recommended, growing a shared impact more than 10X times! Saying that, we at 10X Impact Accelerator aim to host and support all decision-makers that feel called by our offer to grow their social impact. If you feel uncomfortable due to your specific business or impact model, email your concerns to hello@10ximpact.at.
Who can apply?
Anyone fitting the “participant’s ideal profile” (see the respective Q&A above) and who is able to pay or get sponsored the participant’s fee. If you are doubtful about meeting this profile, email to hello@10ximpact.at.
How can you apply?
You can apply online for the “10X Impact Accelerator” by filling out this form.
Until when can you apply?
Applications are accepted until the 14th of August 2022, 12pm.
Do I agree to anything else if I apply?
By applying for the „10X Impact Accelerator“ you agree to promptly pay an application fee of EUR 500 plus 20% VAT. This fee works like a deposit and aims to underline your decision and commitment to participate in the 12-month accelerator. By applying, you also agree to pay the invoiced remaining ticket fees choosing from 3 payment models. Lastly, you agree that your participation in this accelerator will be published with your self-written testimonial.
How is the program flow?
Discover the accelerator flow here.
COVID-19: Is the program in person, online or a hybrid?
The accelerator is a mix of in person and online learning experiences, hence a hybrid format. If COVID-19 regulations allow it, major group-events will be hosted in Vienna in person. Still, the majority of the events – especially the individual coaching sessions – will be hosted online to honor your time and energy capacities in times of growth.
When does the program happen? (time period)
The “10X Impact Accelerator” starts on September 2nd 2022. The accelerator is designed for 12 month, and ends in August 2023. The specific dates for group-events will be announced asap, latest after your sign-up. Individual coaching sessions will be arranged with your coaches individually and on a bi-weekly basis.
What are you signing up for?
In order to learn about “what you are signing up for”, read these Q&As:
- Who is 10X Impact Accelerator?
- What are your benefits as a participant?
- What is a participant’s ideal profile?
- Do I agree to anything else if I apply?
- How is the accelerator flow?
How much does the 10x Impact Accelerator cost?
Next to the application fee, the ticket fee for one participant is:
- EUR 10,000 plus 20% VAT – paid upfront as a lump sum within 21 days
- EUR 12,000 plus 20% VAT – paid in 4 equal installments, with the start of the accelerator and every 3 months thereafter
- EUR 15,000 plus 20% VAT – paid monthly, with the start of every of the 12 months
TIPP: If you wish to get your ticket fee sponsored by one of your funders or partners, email us to hello@10ximpact.at if you need some pitch-support to get them on board. Good luck!
Are there scholarship/funding options to sponsor a ticket?
We are on a constant search for financial partners offering subsidies to social change-makers, ventures or organizations. However, we can’t guarantee you any funding! If you are interested in a reduced or a completely sponsored ticket, email to hello@10ximpact.at. We also encourage prospective participants to secure their needed funding within their own financial support network! You are the expert when it comes to talking to your investors and financial supporters. We are here for you to provide you with materials in order to pitch the 10X Impact Accelerator. We might even join you in a decisive meeting. Simply email to hello@10ximpact.at if you need our support.