Young Dapperbuurt Entrepreneurs: Dapper(e) Ondernemers
Laying the Groundwork for the Start-up Accelerator by and for Young Dapperbuurt Entrepreneurs
What does it really take to be an entrepreneur? The aim of Dapper(e) Ondernemers (brave entrepreneurs) is to create a valuable connection between young entrepreneurs and experienced entrepreneurs in Amsterdam East. To share information, learn from each other and be inspired.
Times are changing. More and more youth would like to run their own businesses instead of working for a boss. However, taking the step to be your own boss takes guts and some guidance. Who better to learn from and be inspired by than those who have already taken these steps? For experienced entrepreneurs it is your chance to share your real life experience and gain value in mentorship. Commissioned by the City of Amsterdam, Droog deployed the Design+Desires research-and-do method on the dreams and wishes of young people in regard to work and leisure. The research “Me, Myself & My Job” conducted via a social media campaign focused on the main question: Do young people (18-35 years) in Amsterdam East want to create their dream job from their passions?
Me, Myself & My Job
In an effort to identify the aspirations, needs and desires of the Dapperbuurt youth, Droog/OSCity developed a playful online survey that spoke to young people in a similar way they express themselves online. For this, 800 Instagram profiles of youth were scanned. Our campaign on Facebook and Instagram to fill in the survey, reached 11,500 people. The most important question posed in the survey was: “Do you want to turn your passion into your job?” No less than 366 young people from Dapperbuurt took the survey.
Findings of the reseach show that majority of young people surveyed would rather be self-employed than work for a boss under fixed employment. This is in sharp contrast with Dutch government policy that is aimed at creating more fixed employment. The majority of respondents reported valuing freedom and independence in their careers over working for a boss under fixed employment. Most surveyed prefer to work independently in the creative and care sectors in particular.
Remarkable to note, although these young people are mainly occupied with their own identity (especially online), they also feel very connected to their local neighborhood. Many respondents expressed they would like to actively help and collaborate with others in their community. While the Dapperbuurt youth aspire to work for themselves, they often lack the necessary tools and feel insecure when it comes to setting things into motion. Many lack financial resources, contacts and basic knowledge of regulations and commercial experience along with a physical workplace.
Droog/OSCity’s advice is to create a neighborhood “Hub” as a launch platform, a space where personal growth, work ambitions and leisure time intertwine. The Hub would take center stage to coach youth on nurturing the aforementioned tools they lack to realize their dreams. The model of the high-tech start-up accelerators – such as RockStart and Startupbootcamp can also be applied to other sectors. The aim of the Hub is to connect the notion of start-ups to the core values of the city of Amsterdam: creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. In this way, new opportunities for new generations of self-aware youth will follow: from smart city to smart societies.
Creating a Hub
On the January 23rd Design+Desires organized the ‘Dappere Ondernemers’ (brave entrepreneurs) public meeting in Amsterdam. The public meeting was organized via a poster campaign of the same name shown the weeks prior (January 10-24, 2017) in 40 bus stops throughout Amsterdam East. Via a Facebook promotion, Droog interviewed and hand-selected 17 young, proud and successful entrepreneurs to showcase on the posters. Young entrepreneurs, residents, and business people from in- and outside the Dapperbuurt neighborhood in Amsterdam came together to pulse interest and discuss developing a neighborhood entrepreneurial hub, run by and for youngsters. The meeting was held in The Jungle Amsterdam, in the heart of the Dapperbuurt. After her presentation, Renny Ramakers asked the audience for feedback on the framework ideas she has for such a Hub. During the open mic, several youngsters and neighbors expressed their willingness to participate.
The evening connected many people in the neighborhood who may have otherwise not known one another. A resident from the Dapperbuurt expressed his joy and noted if he had not come across our Facebook promotion, he would not have known all the young entrepreneurs in his neighborhood. He works as a coach in daily life and said he would be delighted to contribute to the Hub. Another entrepreneur, a lawyer shared his thoughts and offered his support in way of advice to youngsters in their initiatives for the Hub. Several civil servants of the Dapperbuurt were also in attendance. One of them told the youngsters that the City of Amsterdam might explore the possibilities to facilitate such a Hub.
Renny Ramakers emphasized that key to getting the Hub off the ground is that the youngsters themselves initiate its’ creation with plans and needs. Therefore Droog will offer practical support by means of creating a Supervisory Board with seasoned and well-experienced entrepreneurs who will coach the Hub-organizers. One young entrepreneur, Irene Drexhage was inspired to take the lead. She is now the chairman of a group of 18 youngsters that expressed interest in setting up a hub. Successful senior entrepreneurs Oscar Kneppers of RockStart, Sarriel Taus of World of Food and Leon Ramakers ex-director of Mojo Concerts and others are in the Supervisory Board coaching this core to establish this new start up accelerator.
Renny Ramakers and Irene Drexhage were interviewed by business radio BNR Zakendoen to talk about the project.