Do you see yourself
as a visionary?

IMPACT

PROGRAM

Power Of Ideas

TEDxAmsterdam is always looking for initiators of disruptive innovations and concrete ideas, ideas that fit our planet’s future needs; social and/or environmentally.

1-on-1 mentorship, business & storytelling training, networking & feedback events, pitch coaching, presentation and design workshop AND the chance to present on a TEDx stage.

What is the Impact Program?

The Impact Program is your opportunity to bring forth a prototype of a solution regarding a real-world problem. Offered by TEDxAmsterdam, this journey functions as a catalyst for positive change. Each year we source bold ideas with the potential to address pressing matters. We look for ideas that cover a wide range of fields— from global health to climate change to social justice to education.

The program is an 8-week bootcamp style environment where pioneers will get the opportunity to be mentored and learn from expert trainers in four areas:
 
  • Storytelling
  • Leadership
  • Customer Experience
  • Impact
 
The Impact Program is made up of weekly 3-hour sessions that will take place in-person with workshops, energisers, Q&As, lectures, homework assignments and plenty of time for feedback.
 
We are looking to create synergy between the pioneers and kick-start a long journey of collaboration and friendship between them. The impact team is working to create a positive environment where questions can be act, thinking can be done and doing can begin. Join us!

Who are our pioneers?

The Impact Program is suitable for people from all walks of life with an ambitious and entrepreneurial nature. It specifically caters to those in need of guidance to jumpstart benevolent solutions within the Amsterdam region. We are not talking about idealistic dreams and utopian fairy tales but rather initiators of disruptive innovations and concrete ideas. We like to call these great minds “Pioneers”. 

Pioneers are individuals on their way from an idea to implementation of their project, also known as the “pioneer phase”. The main idea is that pioneers can qualify to apply when they are still focusing on establishing the company, as well as some research and product development is still ongoing.

Closing Date 3 Oct 2021

THE CRITERIA

The following qualities are important for the pioneer profile:

  • All pioneers(s) or team members must be at least 18 years old.
  • The pioneer needs to have a concrete, actionable business idea or product;
  • A genuine excitement to have a positive impact within Amsterdam and beyond
  • Each pioneer must demonstrate unwavering commitment to work on their business idea.
  • Each pioneer must make a commitment to spend around 3 to 8 hours a week at the program; 3 hours for an in-person session per week and then time for homework. We aim for it to take a maximum of 5 hours.
  • Available from mid-September to mid-November for a weekly in-person sessions.
  • The Pioneer is comfortable enough to speak at our closing VIP event, the Impact lunch, with TEDxAmsterdam sponsors, mentors and partners.

For the idea to be suitable, you will want to keep in mind about whether you:

  • Found a problem worth solving
  • Have a viable business model (problem/solution fit) for the product/service
  • Have conducted market and competitor research
  • Are fully committed to continue with the startup development
  • Have a proof of concept or Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in place or working on it
  • Have already some traction (no hard requirement)

Want to be a pioneer too?

THE PIONEERS OF 2023

A green, responsibly made solution for mobility in Amsterdam for the community. Making the city more mobile and more beautiful.
The SELF+ Collective gives people the opportunity to find growth within themselves and in community. Let your curious self come out to play!
Arkive partners with leading beauty brands, connecting consumers to too-good-to-go products . With a mission to rescue one billion products by 2030
The Boogieland Foundation is a young and socially committed foundation that operates under the motto: ‘free boxing for everyone’
Through scientific advancements, developing technologies to transform the strongest protein found in nature into a textile
Challenging the status quo in healthcare accessibility and strive to make a positive impact.
NewBees is committed to an inclusive Netherlands

Trainers & Mentors

Mindfulness Trainer & Coach

Since 2021, Ignas is helping clients to boost their self-confidence by developing a deeper understanding of their habits and lifestyle choices. As a certified Health & Life Coach, his aim is to create a life balance that prioritizes your well-being and celebrates all aspects of your true self. He has graduated from a Health Coach Institute with a double diploma in Health and Life coaching. The track is accredited by ICF (International Coaches Federation).

His session was the kick-off and his topic was Mindfulness.

Co-Artistic Director at The Amsterdam Storytelling Festival

Raphael is an acclaimed theatre creator and storyteller. He moved to Amsterdam and crafted successful storytelling shows like “When Abel met Cain,” delving into human duality, “The Kingdom of Fire and Clay,” exploring ties between Iran and Israel, and the 2017 Amsterdam Fringe winner “My Father Held a Gun,” focused on war’s essence. His work garners worldwide acclaim, featuring in theaters and festivals across Europe.

Beyond performing, Raphael teaches storytelling. In 2014, with Farnoosh Farnia and Sahand Sahebdivani, he established The Mezrab Storytelling School. This is undoubtedly one of Europe’s leading schools, delving into ancient and personal stories, and examining their connections. The school employs distinct, original techniques developed by its team.

Raphael’s session was on the pillar of Storytelling.

Business Designer

Daphne is a Business Designer at Business Model Inc which is an international agency for innovation strategy and business model design. Their on a mission to design, build and grow businesses that create value for you, our society, and the world around us. Our award-winning approach is consumer driven, fast and iterative by design.

Daphne’s session is part of our Customer Experience pillar.

Lecturer & PHD Candidate at the Rotterdam School of Management

Björn is an expert in leadership, strategy and personal development in a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) world. Working independently or in partnership with business schools, leading consultancies and other master practitioners. He gets asked by some of the biggest and most well-known organisations in the world to help them challenge their thinking, evolve their assumptions and discern the true nature of a situation.

Björn is one of two mentors who will be working with the pioneers.

Lead Acceleration Programmes Team

Susan Kessing founded the TEDxAmsterdam Impact Program in 2021 to empower impact makers, and she has been volunteering there since then. Professionally, she has spent the past ten years working in various environments, including startups, venture building, and corporate innovation. Susan’s career path starts in the position of a COO at a pioneering fintech startup, where she developed her leadership skills and gained insights from diverse entrepreneurial and innovative settings.

Brainstormer at GGP Consultancy

Wiegertje is a connector. In her own words: “

Wiegertje is one of two mentors working with the pioneers.

Impact and sustainability stategist

Autodidact, essentialist, active conversationalist, purpose-driven entrepreneur, tech native, strategist, sensemaker, learning experience designer, data-visualiser, storymaker, experienced facilitator and a longtime digital nomad with Amsterdam/Berlin anchors.

The primary goal of this session is to work on how to measure the impact of the ventures and their work. With Jeroen the pioneers looked into the Theory of Change, the impact statement and what are the metrics that apply specifically to the ventures and their potential financial partners.

Jeroen’s session was on the pillar of Impact

Freelance Executive Consultant, Speaker and Moderator

With a passion for transforming teams and organisations, Salmaan Sana spent fifteen impactful years fostering inclusive, collaborative environments and nurturing leadership development. “Time is precious; together, we can make the world better and leave a meaningful legacy for the generations after us.”

Salmaan’s session with Susan Kessing fall under the pillar of leadership.

Pitch Coach

In Sheila’s own words: “How can I help you shine? Whether it’s with a Pitch Workshop, or 1:1 Coaching, Speaker Training or an Online Presentation training, feedback on your content or also on your slide deck; I’m happy to share our hands-on Pitching and Presenting tools with you!”

Sheila’s session is part of our Storytelling pillar

Associate at Convent Capital

Sanne is an Associate at Convent Capital and will work with the pioneers on their impact and approaching investors. Convent Capital is an independent Dutch investment company established in 2011. With our first fund we focus on small to medium sized companies within the Benelux that have a good track record and where we see strategic and operational opportunities to create sustainable value: organically, in new markets or via a buy-&-build strategy. With our new fund we focus on providing growth capital to innovative and sustainable companies in the agri & food markets and thereby making a positive impact.

Sanne’s session is part of the Impact Pillar.

Sadhana Gopal

Senior Engineering Manager

A big part of being a good leader in start-up life is being able to give and receive feedback. In this session, the pioneers talked about about the types of feedback, how to dissect it to take only what is needed and how to ask for it from a variety of characters. With her experiences at Shopify and now at Booking.com, Sadhana is an expert in creating psychological safety and helping teams thrive in a healthy and professional way.

Her session was in our Leadership pillar.

Customer Experience Coach

In her own words: “Hi there, I’m Agnese. With more than two decades of experience in both – established organisations and startups, I’ve built my skills in communication management, digital product management, customer experience strategy and management, learning design, and leadership, among others.
In addition, I actively engage in various communities that provide value to their members in a clear and consistent way. I’m passionate about empowering people to thrive, fulfill their potential and get excited about making life better (based on their private definition of it).”

Partners of Impact Program

Want to be a partner? Please Get in Touch with Us

FAQS

The Impact Program is suitable for people from all walks of life with an ambitious and entrepreneurial nature. It specifically caters to those in need of guidance to jumpstart benevolent solutions within the Amsterdam region. We are not talking about idealistic dreams and utopian fairy tales but rather initiators of disruptive innovations and concrete ideas. We like to call these great minds “Pioneers”.  Pioneers are individuals on their way from an idea to implementation of their project, also known as the “pioneer phase”. The main idea is that pioneers can qualify to apply when they are still focusing on establishing the company, as well as some research and product development is still ongoing.

The following qualities are important for the pioneer profile:

  • All pioneers(s) or team members must be at least 18 years old.
  • The pioneer needs to have a concrete, actionable business idea or product;
  • A genuine excitement to have a positive impact within Amsterdam and beyond
  • Each pioneer must demonstrate unwavering commitment to work on their business idea.
  • Each pioneer must make a commitment to spend around 3 to 8 hours a week at the program; 3 hours for an in-person session per week and then time for homework. We aim for it to take a maximum of 5 hours.
  • Available from mid-September to mid-November for a weekly in-person sessions.
  • The Pioneer is comfortable enough to speak at our closing VIP event, the Impact lunch, with TEDxAmsterdam sponsors, mentors and partners

For the idea to be suitable, you will want to keep in mind about whether you:

  • Found a problem worth solving
  • Have a viable business model (problem/solution fit) for the product/service
  • Have conducted market and competitor research
  • Are fully committed to continue with the startup development
  • Have a proof of concept or Minimum Viable Product in place or working on it
  • Have already some traction (no hard requirement)
No fees are involved. The program is completely free of charge. Only your enthusiasm, creativity and effort is required.
Interested parties should share their ideas by completing the sign up form.

Yes. The idea may have more than one founder and some team members, however, this is not a requirement.

Whilst some people skills are required, well-rounded coaching sessions will be provided to prepare you for the main events.

The program will take place from mid-September to mid-November.

Yes. Attendance is part of the conditions to apply.