The project focuses on creating an overview of impact enterprises in Rotterdam. In an environment where collaboration and transparency are essential, the challenge was to label relevant impact areas and sectors without ending up with an unmanageable list of indicators. This overview is intended for buyers, policymakers, and entrepreneurs, providing them with the insights needed to make well-informed decisions.
This project started in 2021 with the need for a clear overview of impact enterprises in Rotterdam. The challenge was not in finding these companies, but in labeling the relevant impact areas and sectors without creating an endless list of indicators. The goal was to design an overview that could be continuously updated and that would provide buyers, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders with useful information.
Through research within Rotterdam’s impact ecosystem and a review of relevant literature, we developed a compact framework for meaningfully mapping impact enterprises in their physical context. In collaboration with Voor Goed Agency—who manages and maintains the map—THRIVE selected a technical format that integrates seamlessly with their CRM system. This ensured that clarity and content, scalability, and day-to-day operationalization were fully aligned.
The overview of impact enterprises showcases where entrepreneurs are located and what their businesses entail. It connects demand (buyers) with supply (impact entrepreneurs) and supports policymakers by highlighting hotspots and blind spots for impact entrepreneurship in the city and wider region. More broadly, it demonstrates the scale and diversity of impact entrepreneurship across the urban and regional landscape.
After the initial research phase, the map was published in 2022. Given the enthusiasm it received and Rotterdam’s collaboration within the Rotterdam-Rijnmond labor market region, Voor Goed Agency and the municipality of Rotterdam asked THRIVE to manage the scaling to the wider region. To achieve this, additional research was conducted to refine the framework and make the right choices for the map’s new interface. Ultimately, we managed the entire process from research to delivery, working closely with Voor Goed Agency and Cecilia Palmer Studio. The map went live in June 2024 at Impactkaart.nl. Impactkaart.nl
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