Catalina Iorga

The Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) is a global annual flagship event that brings together social entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, academics and other impact-led professionals to strengthen impact entrepreneurship and encourage systemic change.

This year, the main event takes place in Amsterdam Noord and online and is co-hosted by Amsterdam Impact, the City of Amsterdam’s impact entrepreneurship initiative, and Social Enterprise NL.

Here’s what you can look forward to during SEWF23 week.

Are you an Amsterdam-based entrepreneur, or do you work for an SME? And do you want to make your company more sustainable? Then draw up a proposal for an Impact Deal before 24 February and receive support from the City of Amsterdam.

What is an Impact Deal?

The City of Amsterdam (Amsterdam Impact) is looking for 10 Amsterdam companies that want to take concrete steps in 2023 towards becoming more sustainable or increasing their social impact.

In an Impact Deal, the entrepreneur and the municipality agree to increase that company's impact by, for example, reducing CO2 emissions by 30 per cent or hiring five job seekers at a distance from the labour market.

The deal must be as concrete as possible, and the entrepreneur should define goals, activities and outcomes. The municipality provides support by offering access to its network and consultations on topics such as financing and access to European funds.

Who is behind the Impact Deals project?

Amsterdam Impact and MKB Amsterdam are the initiators of Impact Deals. The project is part of Local Green Deals, created by the European Commission's Intelligent Cities Challenge.

Want to learn more and submit your Impact Deal proposal?

Visit the Impact Deals page (in Dutch) on the website of the City of Amsterdam.

Is your company looking for a framework to accelerate and manage its positive impact on people and the planet? Join the City of Amsterdam's Building Better Business meetups and programme to pursue a B Corp or Economy for the Common Good certification!

Building Better Business (BBB) has two different tracks: B Corp and Economy for the Common Good (ECG). You can join either track to transform your business into a change agent and build the foundation for certification – if you decide to take that step.

During our online meetups, you will have the opportunity to learn more about the BBB programme and find out which path to certification works best for your company!

Please note: the 1 April meetup focuses exclusively on the ECG certification model, so do join that edition if you would like to dig deeper. You can sign up via the same Eventbrite link

Is your company looking for a framework to accelerate and manage its impact on people and the planet?

Join the City of Amsterdam's Building Better Business (BBB) programme to explore how you can be part of a more sustainable and inclusive economy, and pursue a B Corp or Economy for the Common Good (ECG) certification! And sign up for this free event to hear from new economy leaders, connect with other impact-minded companies, and learn the ins and outs of the BBB tracks.

BBB event speakers

The BBB event features a keynote by Michael Weatherhead, New Opportunities and Finance Lead of Wellbeing Economy Alliance and contributions from:

- Katie Hill (B Lab Europe),
- Robin Foolen (B Corp-certified company Secrid),
- Christian Felber (initiator of Economy of the Common Good),
- Joost Broeders (ECG-certified company Baril Coatings).

Who is the BBB event for?

The BBB programme and its inspiration event are geared towards Amsterdam Metropolitan Area-based companies that want to formalise their social impact ambitions and make the transition to a sustainable business model.

BBB is powered by Amsterdam Impact (City of Amsterdam), B Lab, Economy for the Common Good and KplusV.

In September, during the SDG Action Day, we will be focusing on SDG 14: Life below Water. This special edition of our SDG Meetup is developed in collaboration with our Young Impactmakers community.

| SDG 14
According to the UN, oceans absorb about 30 per cent of the carbon dioxide produced by humans, and we are seeing a 26 per cent rise in ocean acidification since the industrial revolution. Marine pollution is reaching alarming levels, too, with an average of 13,000 pieces of plastic litter per square kilometre of ocean. That's why SDG 14 aims to sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems from pollution, as well as address the impacts of ocean acidification.

| CONTRIBUTORS
Stay tuned for speakers!

| PROGRAM
18:30 - 19:00 Walk-in (grab a drink)
19:00 - 21:00 Event (learn - innovate - co-create)
21:00 - 21:30 Networking drinks

| WHAT IS THE SDG MEETUP?
The Sustainable Development Goals Meetup is a monthly meetup powered by SDG House Residents Impact Hub Amsterdam and C-Change.

The SDG Meetup series provides a continuous engagement opportunity to accelerate solutions per SDG and develop shared knowledge and resources. It is also an accessible collaboration platform for established organisations, impact entrepreneurs, SMEs, institutions and independent professionals who want to learn about and work on the SDGs in an entrepreneurial way.

Each edition focuses on one SDG (i.e. gender equality, climate change). It is an interactive evening event meant to generate new ideas, connections, collaboration and action. At each edition we invite knowledge partners, entrepreneurs, innovators and expert facilitators to co-create an inspiring environment for us.

The learnings of each meetup are shared with the public through a blog series.

| WHERE?
The meetups take place at Impact Hub Amsterdam located in the SDG House (KIT Royal Tropical Institute) in Amsterdam Oost. SDG House, as a community, houses over 1000+ professionals and 50+ organisations working on or with the SDGs.

An event during WeMakeThe.City

This full-day experience at Impact Hub Amsterdam is the perfect opportunity to explore how Impact Hub makes cities more sustainable and vibrant through entrepreneurial solutions in plastics, food, inclusion, and circularity. Come get inspired by the diverse solutions of our impactmakers!

You can create your personalised schedule by purchasing tickets to the sessions you want to attend. From attending one session to spending the whole day with us - it's up to you! Learn more and sign up > bit.ly/IHA-WMTC

This event is powered by Impact Hub and the City of Amsterdam (Amsterdam Impact).

MORNING PROGRAM | OPTION 1
10:00 - 12:00 | Impact Entrepreneurs in Action: Gender, Migration and Circular Economy

We need diverse solutions to solve global and local challenges. Want to find out how YOU can make a difference and support the development of these solutions? Join this interactive session co-created by Impact Hub Amsterdam and C-Change! You’ll get inspired by impactmakers working in gender, migration and circular economy, as well as contributors from The Next Women, Crosswise Works, Generous Minds, and Circle Economy.

MORNING PROGRAM | OPTION 2
10:00 - 12:00 | Circular Strategies

To innovate for a circular economy we must narrow, slow, close and regenerate material resource and energy loops. In this two-hour session featuring Jan Konietzko from TU Delft, you will learn more about these key circular strategies. Use a brainstorm card deck developed at TU Delft to get inspired and generate circular ideas you can start implementing in your business right away! This session is part of our collaboration with the Province of Noord-Holland, which aims to become fully circular by 2050.

12:15 - 13:15 | Lunchtime: Vegan Lunch for €5

AFTERNOON PROGRAM | OPTION 1
13:30 - 15:30 | Make Your Money Green: Sustainable Investing for Newbies

You can accelerate the transition to a sustainable future by investing from as little as €250. How? Through crowdfunding! In this interactive session, crowdfunding platform Oneplanetcrowd will share all the insights you need to start investing in companies and initiatives that contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). You’ll also hear the crowdfunding stories of impact entrepreneurs working on the SDGs, join speed date sessions with these entrepreneurs, and more!

AFTERNOON PROGRAM | OPTION 2
16:00 - 18:00 | Perspectives on Food and Climate

In this session, the DOEN Foundation will discuss the link between climate action and sustainable food - from how the current food system contributes to climate change to how companies, consumers and policymakers can help lower food’s climate impact! Learn from experts and entrepreneurs about how the concept of ‘food’ is perceived, marketed and sold, and what impact food has on our climate.

AFTERNOON PROGRAM | OPTION 3
13:30 - 18:00 | New Plastic Ecosystem Meetup

Our second plastics ecosystem meetup is a unique opportunity to meet partners from our ecosystem, and get inspired by the next generation of entrepreneurs with solutions to reduce plastic waste worldwide! Featuring a keynote by Ellen MacArthur Foundation, roundtables and panel discussions with alumni of our Plastic Free Ocean Accelerator and partners such as the Port of Amsterdam, WWF and Accenture. Plus the chance to meet the winners of the Dopper Changemaker Challenge, and hear pitches by our Business Model Challenge| Plastics Edition participants!

EVENING PROGRAM
18:15 - 19:30 | Miha Pogacnik: Visionary, Violinist and Cultural Entrepreneur

Experience a unique performance on divergent problem-solving by world-famous violinist and visionary Miha Pogacnik. There is no right or wrong, only participation and creation.

19:00 - 23:00 Experience Impact: Heroes of Amsterdam VR Screening and Party

Frank Heckman, founder of the Embassy of the Earth, will kick off the evening session with stories of his incredible work with heroes around the world. Then, Impact Hub members Heroes & Friends will introduce us to inspiring initiatives working on the SDGs in Amsterdam.

As winners of the City of Amsterdam’s Localise the SDGs Challenge on the EU Social Challenges platform Heroes & Friends have helped these initiatives share their stories through Virtual Reality (VR) experiences!

After the talk from Heroes & Friends, it’s time for drinks, snacks and live music! You can also pop into our screening room for VR experiences of the local heroes working an inclusive and vibrant city for all.

THROUGHOUT THE DAY
The Future of Food

In addition to food for thought, we have some delicious bites to keep you running from one event to the next. Come and taste the plant-based, fairly produced treats of Meet Jack, FRANK about tea, Plant-Based Cheese, and many more!