Amsterdam-based Techleap.nl, a non-profit publicly funded organisation aimed at boosting the tech ecosystem in the Netherlands, announced on Friday that it is launching the Diverse Leaders in Tech (DLiT) community.
DLiT is an initiative that focuses on an inclusive and diverse tech sector by 2030.
During the launch of DLiT in Amsterdam, a 10-point manifesto presented by 150 tech industry leaders will outline how Dutch businesses must become tangibly more inclusive and diverse in the upcoming years.
The Dutch economy needs to be more diversified
According to Techleap, only 10 per cent of tech startup founders and co-founders are women. And only 2 per cent of all venture capital funds are allocated to businesses with a female CEO. Additionally, chances for entrepreneurs of colour are scarcer.
The Dutch economy needs to be more diversified, especially at the top, mentions Techleap in a statement.
As a consequence, tech firms are passing up important chances for expansion. Data from other countries are readily available and it shows that diverse and inclusive businesses tend to develop more steadily over time.
Techleap also mentions that companies with a diverse and open workforce have a 35 per cent higher chance of being profitable because they are more likely to be able to turn concepts into products or practical solutions.
Ingrid Tappin, director DEI Techleap and initiator of Diverse Leaders in Tech, says, “We live in a time of great changes. The energy crisis, climate change, the food crisis, the challenges are enormous, and the tech sector plays an important role in all these transitions.”
“The Dutch sector can be leading, but then it must take a step forward regarding the diversity and inclusion policy pursued. Data collection will be part of that step.”
“In the Scandinavian countries, the UK and the US, tech companies are collecting more data that provide insight into the effectiveness of their diversity policy, so that companies there can implement more targeted policies.”
“In the Netherlands, we hardly do that and that is a missed opportunity. Measuring is knowing. Diverse Leaders in Tech will therefore also focus on measurable progress in the coming years, for example by conducting its own research,” adds Tappin.
Growth in the coming years
On Thursday, March 30, more than 150 tech executives took part in ten separate workshops where ten pressing issues were discussed.
Participants developed action steps for each problem, from equal compensation to increasing the number of women in tech, and eradicating racism and discrimination in the workplace to improving the status of LGBTQ+ workers in the industry.
The Manifesto, which offers guidance for the required advancement in the upcoming years, summarises the most crucial points.
Constantijn van Oranje, Special Envoy Techleap, says, “An inclusive company culture and diverse leadership are strategic priorities for tech companies if they want to prepare for rapid growth.”
“With DLiT we want to bring together a community of ambitious leaders to promote diversity in the Dutch tech sector together.”
About Techleap
Techleap.nl is a non-profit organisation, funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy of The Netherlands, to help quantify and accelerate the Dutch tech ecosystem.
With programmes and initiatives that enhance access to financing, markets, and people, Techleap claims to offer the ideal environment for technology firms to expand. Constantijn van Oranje is Techleap.nl’s Special Envoy.
The firm also claims to provide selected scale-ups with the “best” learning and network infrastructure through the Rise Programme.
The programme helps these scale-ups gain access to leading experts, networks, and resources to learn from the best Dutch entrepreneurs and grow internationally. Additionally, the programme also puts scale-ups on the global map with corporates, investors, and media.
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