As you may have seen in our recent announcement, SparkOptimus has joined a global community of companies using business for good as a certified B Corp, reaffirming our long-standing commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. We see this milestone as a call to action, a chance to collaborate with our network and amplify our positive impact on the world around us.
Our approach has always been driven by these core principles: attracting and developing diverse talent, prioritizing customer needs, ensuring successful execution, and fostering client capability building. As we always say, "Digital is not about digital; it's about serving customers better, faster and more sustainable". This commitment manifests itself in everything we do, from our client work to our pro-bono projects.
But building a better future isn't just about lofty goals; it requires concrete action. That's why SparkOptimus has always engaged in pro-bono work and social projects, leveraging our core values and expertise to create positive change in the communities we serve.
Here are just a few examples of how we’ve been putting our principles into practice:
RefugeeHelp.com: In collaboration with VluchtelingenWerk Nederland, we developed a platform specifically designed to support Ukrainian refugees in the Netherlands, providing essential information and streamlining access to vital services. The positive response was overwhelming: within days, RefugeeHelp.com saw over 65,000 users and 10,000 daily hits, with high user satisfaction reflected in a Net Promoter Score of 60. This success led to RefugeeHelp.com expanding within a year to become the landing page for all refugees seeking information and support in the Netherlands.
Project March: We were proud to partner with Project March, a student-led team developing exoskeletons to restore mobility to people with severe spinal cord injuries. Our partnership involved conducting internal discussions and workshops with their strategic working group. Over several sessions, we guided them in clarifying their vision, establishing long-term goals, and strengthening their organizational identity. This process included facilitating brainstorming sessions, organizing their perspectives & crafting a cohesive 5-year plan.
Anne Frank Foundation - Stories that Move: We partnered with the Anne Frank Foundation to improve their online diversity learning tool, Stories that Move, used by 2,500 educators across the world. By working together, we tackled user challenges like unclear navigation or confusing functionalities, and streamlined the tool for a better user experience, which lead to a greater impact on student learning. We continued to support the Anne Frank House continuously in realizing improvements and in user-oriented design of the online learning tool, ensuring Stories that Move stayed user-focused and maximized its educational impact on promoting inclusivity and critical thinking.
Association Montessori Internationale: AMI is a global umbrella organization for the Montessori approach to education, captured by Maria Montessori’s statement, ‘Education should no longer be mostly imparting of knowledge, but must take a new path, seeking the release of human potentialities.’ SparkOptimus supported AMI in a digital community engagement strategy and the implementation of a CRM system to optimize engagement with its members.
King’s Day during COVID-19 - Koningsdag Thuis: Facing a pandemic-restricted King's Day in 2020, SparkOptimus partnered with powerhouses like KBOV (preserving Dutch heritage), Google, YouTube Netherlands, and development agency Incentro to spearhead the Koningsdag Thuis initiative, built in just a week! This first-ever digital King's Day platform kept the national spirit alive. Dutch citizens, young and old, could showcase talents (performances, games, magic!) virtually, fostering a sense of community even amidst lockdown.
Philips Innovation Awards: We are firm believers in fostering the next generation of entrepreneurs. That's why we have for years now actively participated in the Philips Innovation Awards. Our partners and managers evaluate business plans, offer coaching sessions on critical topics like customer validation and scaling, and inspire the promising startups to leverage technology for positive social impact. And Co-Founder and Senior Partner, Alexandra Jankovich, brings her expertise by serving on the jury panel.
And this is just the beginning! As a certified B Corp, SparkOptimus is even more dedicated to using business as a force for good. We are always looking for new opportunities to leverage our expertise and collaborate with purpose-driven organizations. Stay tuned to see how we continue to innovate and drive positive change in the years to come.
Passionate about sparking positive change? So are we. Contact us now to explore opportunities for collaboration, and together, let's drive positive impact!
