Unique United – Enablers for social participation
In a world characterized by diversity and individuality, social participation is not only a fundamental human right, but also an essential building block for an inclusive society in which every person has the opportunity to develop their full potential.
Social participation is also the ideal of Unique United.
A platform dedicated to the mission of enabling people with disabilities to lead a self-determined life and actively integrate them into the heart of society.
At the heart of this vision is Louis Kleemeyer, the founder of Unique United, whose personal experiences as a person with a disability provided the impetus for founding this pioneering initiative.
Louis explains the origins of Unique United as follows: “My personal experience as a person with a disability was the starting point. I experienced the challenges of not being able to make friends, having difficulties with leisure activities and finding work.” It was this personal journey that inspired Louis to create a platform that not only makes offers and information accessible to people with disabilities, but also creates a space for inclusion and empowerment. “After being faced with the choice of either going to a workshop or finding my own path in 2020, I decided to create a platform that makes services and information accessible to people with disabilities.”
And so, in 2020, Louis and his father founded Unique United as a limited company.
He was just 20 years old at the time.
“Funnily enough, I learned everything I needed to know at school. But I decided with my father that Unique United would become a GmbH.”
A sister company with the name “Unique like you” was founded as a gUG.
The implementation of two different legal forms enables Unique United and Einzigartig wie du to benefit from a variety of funding opportunities that are specific to purely commercial enterprises or non-profit companies.
However, founding Unique United was not an easy undertaking. Louis recalls the challenges involved in setting up the company: “The biggest challenge was dealing with my own disability and building a business at the same time.” But with courage and support from mentors and his father, who is an entrepreneur himself, Louis overcame these hurdles and took the first step towards his vision.
A key element of Unique United’s success lies in the diversity of its approach. Louis emphasizes: “We attach great importance to including different types of disabilities in our coaching in order to broaden perspectives and address individual needs.” This diversity is also reflected in the founding team, which consists of friends, family members and professionals who bring very different skills and experiences to the table.
The company now consists of a fixed core team with a clear division of tasks.
Louis, as co-founder, is responsible for sales and the implementation of the projects.
Amrei Feuerstack, co-founder of Einzigartig wie du gUG, is a management consultant and supports coaching for people with disabilities.
Karen Schallert is responsible for career coaching and workshops for people with disabilities and also represents Unique United as a keynote speaker.
Sarah Nettbohl is responsible for project management, design and marketing.
Tyll Reinisch takes care of internal project management and advises on funding opportunities.
Sven Riedel acts as job coach and manages the office.
And Marco Kleemeyer, Louis’ father, continues to support Unique United as a mentor and is a co-founder of Einzigartig wie du gUG.
Unique United offers a wide range of services and offers aimed at enabling people with disabilities to lead a self-determined life and actively integrate into society.
From coaching and training to travel offers and sporting events, Unique United covers various areas of life, creating diverse opportunities for inclusion and empowerment.
Through individually tailored programs and a holistic approach, Unique United takes into account the unique needs and challenges of each individual.
In addition, the company is very active in public relations and engages in partnerships to raise awareness of the importance of inclusion and create a community that brings people with and without disabilities together.
The platform is financed through a variety of revenue streams, including advertisements from partners, bookings of travel offers and sporting events as well as the provision of coaching and training.
These diversified revenue streams not only allow Unique United to grow sustainably, but also to continuously expand and improve its services.
A key aspect of Unique United’s success lies in its ability to build networks and form partnerships.
Louis emphasizes: “We have many partners, especially organizations that deal with inclusion such as MyAbility or Inklupreneur. We support each other, share information and refer to each other to ensure that all concerns are covered.” This collaborative partnership is helping to expand the reach and influence of Unique United, while creating wider acceptance and support for the platform’s goals.
Louis has built a remarkable social media presence, reaching more than 3000 followers on LinkedIn within two years.
This gives him the opportunity to expand his network and promote Unique United’s mission to a wide audience in the business environment.
Louis’ targeted posts on LinkedIn highlight Unique United’s partnerships, successes and events, providing an effective tool for public relations and business development.
In addition, Louis is a brand ambassador for the Special Olympics , an international organization dedicated to promoting sports for people with intellectual disabilities and multiple disabilities.
At the Special Olympics World Games 2023 in Berlin, Louis then supported the participating athletes as an organizer and mentor.
Louis also uses Instagram to reach a wider audience and spread the message of inclusion and self-determination.
On Instagram, he shares not only company-related content, but also personal insights and stories that emphasize Unique United’s commitment and authenticity.
Using multiple channels for outreach is important for Louis to maximize Unique United’s reach and build a diverse community of supporters.
Another milestone for Louis and Unique United was their participation in the 15th season of the TV show “Höhle der Löwen” (season 15, episode 4, broadcast: 29.04.2024).
The participation allowed Louis to emphasize the importance of inclusion and self-determination in society and highlight the challenges faced by people with disabilities.
Through his compelling presentation and authentic engagement, Louis was able to not only capture the interest of investors, but also inspire viewers and raise awareness of Unique United’s mission.
When it comes to the future of Unique United, Louis has a clear vision: “I want to encourage people with disabilities and create a community that brings people with and without disabilities together to create shared experiences.” This vision is not just a dream, but a concrete mission that is being realized through the tireless work and dedication of the Unique United team.
In conclusion, Louis gives aspiring founders in the field of social innovation a meaningful piece of advice: “Pursue your hobby and your interests. These are often the roots of social innovation. It’s important to enjoy your work and follow your motivation.” Louis’ work shows in an impressive way that inclusion is not only necessary, but also simple and offers great added value for everyone, not just people with disabilities. We wish him and the entire team every success for the future and hope that Unique United’s portfolio continues to expand.
So if you have inclusive workplaces, sports or cultural events in your repertoire and are looking for a platform on which you can advertise them or have questions about how you can design inclusive workplaces or break down barriers to participation in sports or cultural events, get in touch with Unique United.
Inclusion is included here.
Promised.
