Here’s how Berlin-based startup Honeypot wants to solve Amsterdam’s developer shortage

The word Honeypot may conjure very different meanings among people: while IT-experts will think of a computer security strategy to trap hackers,  thriller readers will think of seductive female spies . Those more innocent at heart will just think of Winnie The Pooh. And now there is a new meaning for the word, as Berlin-based startup Honeypot has developed a new job platform that connect the right talents with matching jobs out there. As finding skilled and senior developers seems to be a big issue, Honeypot came up with a solution.

Like bees to honey

Emma Tracey founded Honeypot in Berlin in October 2015 together with Kaya Taner. Since its launch, developers have been taking to the platform like bees to honey, as more than 8,000 developers and 600 recruiters from 225 companies have signed up. On their platform developers can connect with over 250 tech companies. This Berlin based startup saw the Amsterdam market as a sweet honeypot full of opportunities and decided to have a lick. That’s why the company launched their Dutch campaign this November.

Three reasons for the shortage of developers in Amsterdam

According to Tracey, the main reason for the shortage of developers is the multitude of companies snatching all the good developers away from other companies: ‘I think this shortage comes down to three main factors. First, there is an increasing emphasis on the startup industry in Amsterdam, with initiatives like Startup Delta and Startup Amsterdam. Second, there has been a large influx of American multinational tech companies, calling Amsterdam home. Look at Tesla or Uber. And third traditional industries are demanding more and more development skills, for example ING bank’.

Education and experience both hard to get

An actual shortage of developers could actually happen as a side-effects of big companies only wanting experienced people. This is making it harder for new talent to get their foot in the door. Dutch educational institutions are also no longer able to facilitate all the students looking at a career in IT: ‘The Netherlands have excellent technical universities and very competent graduates. But there aren’t currently enough spaces for people wanting to study’, Tracey explains. ‘Occasionally, graduates don’t have sufficient experience in the more modern web development languages & frameworks. Therefore, particularly the more experienced senior developers are in demand’.

Honeypot’s sweet solution

The female founder is confident Honeypot will bring the improvements the Dutch recruiting scene desperately needs: ‘Tech recruiting in its current form is highly flawed. Companies often contact hundreds of developers directly, without knowing if talents are open for new challenges or relocation. Developers in turn often get approached directly by companies or through middle-men with offers that are not relevant for them. Honeypot provides for both sides with a platform which solves these problems‘. The opportunities are already out there: ‘In Amsterdam in particular, HR structures tend to be more efficient than in other cities. There are some very attractive tax incentives for developers. Honeypot‘s job is to match developers with companies; the developers on the platform come from all over Europe to central tech hubs. Like Amsterdam and Berlin’.

Big names getting their hand in the Honeypot

How have things been going for Honeypot since entering the Dutch market? ‘Very well!’ an an enthusiastic Emma Tracey says. ‘We have close to 30 companies using the platform in Amsterdam, including CataWiki, TravelBird, MediaMonks and WeTransfer’. It looks like Honeypot is well on its way to fulfill its mission, which is ‘To get every developer a great job’.