Elisa Sauerbier

Elisa Sauerbier is a Researcher and doctoral student at the Chair of SME Research and Entrepreneurship within the Faculty of Business Administration at the University of Mannheim since May 2023, focusing on the intersection of entrepreneurship, social innovation, and sustainability.

Her academic background includes:

• Management studies at WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management and University of Mannheim
• Semester abroad at NHH – Norwegian School of Economics in Bergen
• Semester abroad at Católica School of Business & Economics in Lisbon

Her research specializes in alternative organizations and blockchain-based Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs), investigating theoretical frameworks for capturing social innovations and their societal impacts through technological transformation. She bridges entrepreneurship with social change to develop sustainable organizational models addressing contemporary societal challenges.

Her 2024 co-authored publication establishes conceptual foundations for measuring social innovation impacts, driving innovation-field-specific methodology development across sustainability and business domains.

Elisa contributes to the "Impact of Social Innovations – ISI TransformMA" project and teaches courses including "Strategic and International Management" (MAN 301) and "Managing the Family Business" (MAN 607), integrating practical startup experience from consulting internships and growth equity exposure.