Peer2Peer: Amsterdam Impact

Torino Social Impact has activated a network of similar experiences to foster peer to peer learning.

The Pôles Territoriaux de Coopération Économique conceived in France work on similar paths fostering social innovation business models. Impact Noord, ImpactCity The Hague and Region Örebro County Social Innovation Partnership, Amsterdam Impact or Cité et Innovativité Lille are other meaningful examples of local coordination able to deliver a solid framework for the proliferation of SSE initiatives based on the collaboration of different actors.

The analysis held by the European Commission Expert Group on Social Economy and Social Enterprises on the role of clusters and similar forms of business cooperation in fostering the development of social economy has shown that many experiences are spreading throughout Europe, each one with specific peculiarities and perspectives but with a common ground of action.

Amsterdam Impact is one of the most interesting experiences in Europe. It is an initiative by the City of Amsterdam, conceived to strengthen the ecosystem for all companies that tackle societal challenges through entrepreneurship and its goal is to support companies that are willing to make a bigger impact, pursuing both financial and social value.

The iniziative developed many tools to coordinate the different actors of the ecosystem (startups, SMEs, large companies, financiers, civil servants, network organisations, knowledge institutes) and delivered some very interesting programs such a brilliant networking app and a Buy Social project which is achieving important b2b results.

The action is a follow up of the Social Entrepreneurship 2015-2018 programme and is outlined in a four-year programme 2019-2022 that is based on six pillars:

Pillar 1: Transition
Objective: To turn Amsterdam into a global centre of expertise on the role of local governments in the transition to an economy focused on creating shared value.

Pillar 2: Market access
Objective: To stimulate the continuity and revenue growth of impact companies so that more societal value is created by solving societal challenges through entrepreneurship.

Pillar 3: Capital
Objective: To ensure sufficient capital is available to impact companies at each stage of the business life cycle by encouraging close collaboration and knowledge exchange between diverse financiers.

Pillar 4: Internationalisation
Objective: To strengthen Amsterdam’s position as a hotspot for growing and scaling both Dutch and impact companies from abroad and to deepen the collaboration with international governments and ecosystems – whether municipal, regional or national.

Pillar 5: Impact entrepreneurship in the neighbourhood
Objective: To support entrepreneurial initiatives that contribute to the economic growth and liveability of Amsterdam’s neighbourhoods by focusing on issues including social cohesion, labour participation, and sustainability.

Pillar 6: Ecosystem connections
Objective: To strengthen connections between the diverse players of Amsterdam’s impact entrepreneurship ecosystem by helping them to know who’s who, share expertise, and do business with each other.

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