Sharing insights

The sustainability challenges of our times call for collaboration that is authentic and generative in shifting behaviors in diverse systems to better embody the just and sustainable future we imagine. In pursuit of this, we have witnessed a growing movement in “ecosystem-building” whereby diverse stakeholders converge to make change happen. What is this work of ecosystem-building & how can ecosystem-builders better learn from each other? This reflection piece describes the lessons learnt from our own practice and the experiences of peers on these questions.

Climate change. Loss of biodiversity. Famine and obesity. A national nitrogen crisis. Our current ways of food production and consumption are not sustainable. This report investigates two timely questions: how has Covid-19 impacted sustainable food entrepreneurs? And how should Impact Hb Amsterdam proceed to leverage its Food Ecosystem to accelerate the transition to a sustainable food system?

In this report, five cutting-edge pioneers of the short food supply chain discuss their drive and their mission. The founders of De Melkbrouwerij, Herenboeren, Boerschappen, Vokomokum & Atlantis Handelshuis use innovative, short-chain business models to build a fundamentally different system.

This paper offers insights into the Impact entrepreneurs field in Amsterdam and beyond. We share some emerging responses and recommendations for action to ensure the viability – and thriveability – of Amsterdam’s impact entrepreneurs and social innovators through the current Covid-19 situation and for the post-Covid-19 period of economic renewal.

The City of Amsterdam employs about 15,500 people, making it Amsterdam’s biggest employer. Impact Hub Amsterdam has a community of nearly 500 social innovators. How do we enhance the collaboration between the municipality and these entrepreneurs? The answer lies in building an effective, city-wide ecosystem for impact.

Throughout the food chain – from soil to mouth – people and organisations are working on ways to make the food system healthier and more sustainable. They try to produce with less and less impact on the environment and climate, generating less waste and with more attention to animal welfare. Impact enterprises place this kind of issues at the center of their business operations.

The ‘Mapping Refugee & Migrant Entrepreneurship Ecosystems in Europe’ is a study conducted between January and June 2020 in collaboration with The Human Safety Net. The research addresses the information gap on how entrepreneurial support organisations should effectively develop service offering to both refugees and migrants to equip them with the skills needed to start and grow their business.