The Dutch New Narrative Lab (DNNL), announced recently that it has signed an agreement with President of the Executive Board Margrethe Jonkman and Chief Impact Officer Davide Iannuzzi of VU Amsterdam.
The collaboration is a strategic move towards fostering diversity, sustainability, and entrepreneurship within the Dutch startup ecosystem.
“With this agreement, we fortify our collaboration, reaffirming our dedication to diversity, sustainability, and entrepreneurship – values exemplified by DNNL. An endeavor that aligns with the educational and research efforts we stand for as a university,” says President Jonkman.
The announcement comes a month after introducing DNNL x Social Enterprise NL Launchpad Track 2024, the new programme bringing a deeper, more structured integration with the broader activities of the initiative.
The new launchpad was a collaboration with Social Enterprise NL All-in project, a project designed to specifically support organisations that back social entrepreneurs with a migrant background.
Providing better access to underrepresented groups
The DNNL Foundation’s mission is to promote innovative entrepreneurship by providing better access to underrepresented groups in the Dutch startup scene.
The groups include women, persons with a migration background, LGBTQ+ people, neurodiverse individuals, and scientists.
DNNL aims to unlock the full potential of diversity and inclusion in startups, scale-ups, and corporate ventures in Benelux and Germany while maintaining economic ties to the Dutch economy.
VU Amsterdam is actively promoting entrepreneurship and inclusivity through initiatives such as VU StartHUb and the Demonstrator Lab.
By collaborating with other organisations, VU Amsterdam aims to further elevate its ambitions in these areas.
“As a university, we believe it is important not only to strive for a better future but also to give back that knowledge to society. Only then can you, as an educational institution, make maximum impact,” says Chief Impact Officer and Professor in Experimental Physics Davide Iannuzzi.
Focusing on ‘three areas’
DNNL focuses on three key areas. Firstly, it provides an ecosystem monitor, which acts as a ‘diversity and inclusion’ thermometer for the NL startup community.
Secondly, DNNL offers a sales-driven entrepreneurial lab, which serves as an incubator for entrepreneurs from both underrepresented and overrepresented groups who recognise the innovative power of diversity and inclusion and want to monetise it professionally.
Lastly, DNNL collaborates with various partners to build a media platform that not only provides more visibility for the entrepreneurs but also aims to challenge the dominant standard image of ‘the innovative entrepreneur’.
DNNL: What you need to know
The DNNL initiative was created as a result of a Diversity Exploration commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Affairs & Climate in the Dutch startup ecosystem.
The Exploration was conducted by Ruben Brave, a serial tech entrepreneur, investor, and multi-board member who is also well-known within the VU community.
A case study about him has been developed for use in Bachelor’s and Master’s entrepreneurship education, serving as both a resource and inspiration. Brave is proud to become part of the VU as an entrepreneur in residence, which is unique as such an appointment has never happened before at the university.
“Together with VU Amsterdam, we are taking a significant step forward in creating equal opportunities for all underrepresented groups in the Dutch startup scene,” says Brave.
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