Brace For Impact in The Hague

The theme this year reflects that duality, offering a two-part tagline: “UNDER PRESSURE – BRACE FOR IMPACT”. The event, which is looking to attract up to 1.400 participants, is both a celebration and wake-up call, says Mariken Gaanderse, who is charged with the programming of the event. 

“It is no secret that we are living in weird times”, Gaanderse explains, “dominated by conflict, wars, budgettary restraints, policy struggles and more. At ImpactFest, we take inspiration in the old Dutch saying that ‘everything becomes fluid under pressure’. It is that kind of fluidity and flexibility that will be much needed in turning the challenges ahead into impactful solutions.”

This fluidity is reflected in the programme of the event, which combines plenary sessions (Talk Shows) with more intimate Meetups and Table Talks that allow for direct conversation, hands-on guidance, and matchmaking. It’s a conscious choice to shy away from promotion, aiming to make the event a place of genuine connection and authentic dialogue. Too often, event attendees come to profess their message, while the real gold is struck in collaboration. “Participants will see that there is no main stage, but rather a collection of curated spaces that are designed to make the content and the dialogue really come alive”, says Gaanderse. “That is also why we put emphasis on the entrepreneurs themselves”.

In a bid to facilitate these exchanges, ImpactFest will also feature Investor Speed Dating sessions and Expert Sessions, curated by ImpactCity The Hague to ensure maximum compatibility. Investors like Stichting DOEN, FASE, Shaping Impact Group and SHIFT Invest have already confirmed their participation on the investor’s side, with an even large pool of experts sharing their expertise.
In the crowd they expect a variety of entrepreneurs, investors, NGOs, policymakers, and experts from more than 35 countries. Together, they will tackle themes like energy transition, food systems, climate justice, and more. 

The Hague leading the way

But as stated in the onset, the event is also a celebration. “I was here for the first ImpactFest”, recalls Gaanderse, “and while setting up the programming of this edition, I couldn’t help but marvel at how much has changed in those ten years. The ecosystem here in The Hague has truly expanded – a decade ago, it was a very small, niche thing. Now it has slowly but surely found its way into the mainstream.”

One of the main achievements for The Hague as an impact city was undoubtedly the establishment of Titaan, a campus built with impact at its heart. It is in fact “the biggest impact campus of Europe” according to Unknown Group, the people behind the space.

“The idea behind the campus is to offer a space that is set up for the longer term”, explains Jurgen Nieuwenhuijsen, COO at Unknown Group. “A place that would allow start-ups and scale-ups to grow sustainably. 

Impact startups and scale-ups are the long-term residents of Titaan. But the space is also the campus of Unknown University, a unique higher education program in impact entrepreneurship. Students at this “incubator-like school” actively mix with founders and other impact people: informally in the halls, in their classwork and at the many events the space hosts. “There’s a large variety of people roaming the halls of Titaan,” says Nieuwenhuijsen. “Our vision to organise the activities in a way that they build towards a real community and an ecosystem for impact in The Hague. It is positive to see the diversity and the demand for this type of space since the inauguration in 2023”.  

In addition, it has also served as the location for a range of international events, including our own Business of Impact and Capital Ideas in 2024. “But also events like Securing the Future, which happened the day before the big NATO Summit in The Hague and which united over 900 people, or the opening of the academic year”, adds Nieuwenhuijsen. “Being able to have these types of events is of incredible value”.

The attentive listener of Impact People might recall the conversation we had with Jurgen Nieuwenhuiisen shortly before our own event at Titaan. It is still very much worth a listen if you want to know more about the project!

Investors flock to The Hague

It all feeds into the idea of The Hague as an excellent host for capital providers – a reputation which in and of itself attracts different players to the city. Lisa Jordan is the Senior Managing Director and Europe Director of the Draper Richards Kaplan (DRK) Foundation, who established their European base in The Hague in 2020. For Jordan it meant a return to the city she once graduated in.

"We came in because our values aligned with those of the city itself: building a new economy and working towards transitions in energy, food production, water, and using new technologies to address health and economic livelihoods”, Jordan explains. 

"ImpactCity identified a niche ten years ago, and that niche is now turning into a full-blown marketplace", she explains. “In truth, momentum is fueled by cities like The Hague, and the efforts made by ImpactCity to ground entrepreneurs in an ecosystem that can be very helpful, both with knowledge and networks. It’s these partnerships that keep us here – partnerships with the entrepreneurs we fund, but also with values aligned players like Rabobank”.