Kraak de Crisis, a hackathon for entrepreneurs

At the kitchen table in conversation with Roos Janssen

🎬 Multilingual subtitles
✍️ By: Team BC1.NL

Kraak de crisis (Crack the Crisis)

Roos Janssen watched with dismay as one entrepreneur and freelancer after another around her lost their work to the crisis. Inspired by 'Hack the Crisis', she came up with the idea of doing something about it herself, actively. The result is kraakdecrisis.nl, a nationwide crowdsourcing effort for a more sustainable, more social, and economically stronger Netherlands.

How did the idea come about?

From two things at once. Roos Janssen saw friends, freelancers, and entrepreneurs around her suddenly take a financial hit, for creative freelancers, there was simply no work left at all. At the same time, an economic crisis was looming, and it didn't seem sensible to her to leave all that brainpower sitting on the sofa. She'd also noticed that people in the Netherlands were suddenly looking out for one another far more, and that CO₂ emissions were falling. Her question: could we hold on to that and build towards a new economy, one where we create work by becoming more social and more sustainable?

From an idea to something that works

An idea on its own can sometimes fizzle out. What she really wanted to tackle wasn't so much the crisis itself as the resilience that comes afterwards. She called Mark Spijker, someone she'd worked with before who has a talent for organising hackathons and challenges, if he liked it, then she'd know it was right. He was enthusiastic, Max came on board as website designer, and all at once there was a team. So many people liked the idea and ran with it that the team quickly grew.

Sustainable Development Goals

Every idea that comes in is reviewed and developed further by the Kraak de crisis team, with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals kept firmly in mind throughout.

Vote for your favourite idea

All approved ideas go online, and from 20 April onwards, everyone can vote for their favourite. On 3 May, the ten public favourites will be announced and invited to pitch their idea to a jury. From these ten, the jury will choose the three best ideas based on impact, with the help of the social handprint (MAEX).

See also:
At the kitchen table in conversation with Derk Loorbach Transition conversation, the Netherlands after corona
At the kitchen table in conversation with Ilja Werkhoven Practical homeworking tips during corona

Frequently asked questions

This is a short summary of the film. Watch the video above for the full story.

Which subjects have most promise straight after a crisis?

The initiative puts the focus on three subjects: more circularity, less CO₂ and more care for one another. The reason is that the loss of exports and the rearranging of supply chains created a good moment to think about how we do want to arrange them, and about continuing to care for crucial professions, education and lonely older people.

Who sets up a hackathon like this for entrepreneurs?

Roos brought in Mark Spijker, who is good at organising hackathons and challenges, and Max as website designer. When so many people thought it was a good idea and ran with it, a very large team suddenly came about.

What is in it for an entrepreneur?

It is about entrepreneurs, freelancers and self-employed people who no longer have an income or any jobs. Those are exactly the people who can put their thinking power to good use.

Where can I watch the full film?

These questions and answers are a short summary. Watch the full film "At the kitchen table in conversation with Roos Janssen" with all insights, examples and background at https://www.bc1.eu/at-the-kitchen-table-in-conversation-with-roos-janssen/