At the start of the coronavirus crisis, New Economy received a call from a group of energetic entrepreneurs who thought: let's emerge from the crisis better, more sustainably, and more resiliently with new initiatives that contribute to the climate and a more social Netherlands. As New Economy, we believe in only one thing: Yes, we're going to do this!
In our New Economy team, we share several key drivers: change, innovation, tackling the challenges, and brainstorming. Given that several of our projects were paused or cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, we volunteered pro bono to launch Kraak de Crisis (Crack the Crisis) together with a large group of other enthusiasts.
How did the squatting crisis work?
The coronavirus crisis forced many to pause. We wanted to use this momentum to examine how we've structured our society and economy and how we intend to rebuild them after the crisis. Our goal was to increase the growth potential of the best initiatives that will ensure a resilient Netherlands after the pandemic, through the largest crowdsourcing effort in the Netherlands. Regardless of the stage the initiatives were in, we helped them develop further together with experts.
How could you participate?
We were looking for initiatives that contribute to increased employment after the pandemic. The initiatives had to address the following trends:
– CO2 reduction: We're seeing a decrease in CO2 emissions in our atmosphere. We were looking for initiatives that would ensure we continue to do so in the future.
– Care for each other: We're seeing that we're looking out for each other more and taking better care of each other. We were looking for initiatives that will continue to make the Netherlands more socially responsible in the future.
– Circular economy: We're seeing rapid changes in our supply chains. How can we reuse our materials, products, and components in a high-quality manner, reduce waste, and thus lessen our dependence on suppliers from other countries?
Results
More than 290 initiatives applied, and the eleven most promising initiatives and startups advanced to the bootcamp. During a live broadcast, the eleven finalists pitched their ideas, and a professional jury, including Pepijn Duijvestein, chose the stage. The three winners each received funding to further their initiatives. Kraak de Crisis also connected a wide range of sustainable and social initiatives and startups with the right partners to initiate systemic change.
Curious which initiatives have registered with Kraak de Crisis or want to know more about the Netherlands' largest crowdsourcing initiative? Here you will find it all.
English 
Dutch