Written by philip:

From the email: Fragmented Ecosystem: A lack of coordination among stakeholders leads to inefficiencies and missed opportunities .​

You 

Problem 1: Fragmented Ecosystems

1. Issue: Within the Dutch impact investment landscape, there is a lack of coordination amongst many stakeholders, including investors, social entrepreneurs, government agencies, and community organizations. Therefore there are duplicated efforts, wasteful resource use, and a lack of awareness of promising social investment opportunities are the results of this issue. 

Solution: Establish an impact investment platform, a digital site where stakeholders can share information, guidelines, and opportunities. This can promote cooperation and would help close these gaps within impact investment. This would be possible by integrating this onto the AMPTD website.

Similar platforms, such as Big Society Capital, are already in place in nations like the UK, and an introduction in the Netherlands of something similar might close a significant coordination gap. 

Source 1: 

Source 2: 

1. This solution is/not similar to other current ideas that we have. 

This solution is similar to solutions 2 and 3, and it builds on the general platform that we are already creating, and this helps expand the general idea of the things necessary for the platform and what needs to be included. 

2.

Helping

Harming

Internal Origin

Strengths:

• A shared online platform can help people in Maastricht work better together. Such as investors, charities, the city, and local businesses. 

• Maastricht has groups and experts at Maastricht University who care about social issues and can help with advice and research

• - Connecting this to a website like AMPTD saves time and money

• - Builds trust and makes it easier for new people to learn about impact investing.

Weaknesses: 

• Someone needs to keep the platform running and up to date

• Some people or groups might not want to join right away

• Building the platform and getting people to use it takes time and effort

• Different groups may have different goals, which can make working together harder

External Origin

Oppertunities: 

• Maastricht can be a test city, and if it works well here, it could be used in other cities too

• Students and researchers in Maastricht can help build and improve the platform

• The city might get money from the EU or Dutch government to support local projects

•  Local problems like youth unemployment or poverty can get more attention and funding

Threats: 

• Some local projects might worry they’ll be ignored on a bigger national platform

• If there are already other websites doing similar things, it might confuse people. 

• If the site isn’t promoted well, people might not use it

Since Maastricht is close to Belgium and Germany, it might be harder to include projects from nearby regions that follow different rules if we were to expands further then only Maastricht. 

do you and your team have the time to carry it out?

Our group does have the time that is necessary to making a quality platform, although it wouldnt be done in the given time frame of the Youth majors project. We in advance knew that we would like to continue this project even after the youth majors has ended, until we have finally achieved our goal of creating this solution. 

do you and your team have the skills to carry it out?

Our group of five group members do have enough skills to be able to make this project a reality. We have a wide range of network to assist us in facilitating this solution, and we all have specific skills which combined will be used to create this platform. 

do you and your team have the resources to carry it out (including money)? 

Funding is available for our team to develop this platform. Additionally, we have acquired valuable resources like bankers, financial advisers, and business owners that provide guidance on the evolution of our project.

will you and your team be able to get the required support (including approvals from authorities) to carry it out?

Theres a high chance that our project will get approved by authorities, as our project aims to support and develop Maastricht in general. 

From the email: Limited Data Sharing: The absence of shared data and best practices hampers the growth and effectiveness of impact investments.​

Problem 2:  Limited Data Sharing and Complex Impact Measurements

Issue: In the Netherlands, there is no standard method for assessing and publishing the results of social impact investments. Investors find it challenging to evaluate projects and determine the return on their investment as a result.

Source 3: 

Solution: To develop an impact measurement framework/or platform aligned with the Dutch standards, such as the SDG Impact Standards, specifically for Maastricht. This framework should be supported by a data platform, where impact investors and social entrepreneurs can post their results in a consistent and transparent way. 

This approach would not only improve accountability but it would also increase the investors confidence as they can assume what they can get in return from an investment, which would also help prevent financial/investing inertia (1d) which people might have, and this transparency can also lead to more capital flowing into projects that are proven to work. 

1. This solution is/not similar to our current ideas. 

This solution seems similar to other solutions and measuring frameworks already in existence internationally, but what sets ours apart from others is that it is small-scale and tailored to one specific city (Maastricht).

2.

Helping

Harming

Internal Origin

Strengths:

• Helps social projects in Maastricht prove their impact using reliable data

• Makes it easier for investors to see where their money is making a difference

• Using international standards (like the SDGs) gives the platform global credibility

• Starting in a small city like Maastricht makes testing and improving easier before expanding throughout the Netherlands for example

Weaknesses:

• Building and maintaining a shared platform takes time, money, and tech skills

• Some people may find data reporting confusing or time-consuming

• It might take a while for everyone to start using the same method

• Training and education may be needed for smaller social businesses to report effectively

External Origin

Opportunities:

• Maastricht could become a leader in social impact transparency in the Netherlands

• Attracts more investors to local projects if they can clearly see the results

• The platform could get support from the EU, especially through programs related to sustainability and data innovation

• Builds trust between investors, citizens, and project leaders

Threats:

• Other cities or regions may start similar platforms, creating confusion if systems don’t match

• If reporting is too complicated, people might avoid the platform

• Not all investors care about social data yet, so it might take time to build momentum and people actually using it

• Risk of low participation if no clear benefits are shown early on

do you and your team have the time to carry it out?

as for the first solution, that is also an online platform or part of it, the project wouldn't be completed in the time frame provided for the Youth majors project, our group does have the time required to create a high-quality platform. We knew in advance that we wanted to keep working on this project until we had finally succeeded in coming up with this answer, even after the youth majors were over. 

do you and your team have the skills to carry it out?

By contacting the government and putting forward this option, some of our team members who have greater legal knowledge or know people who might know more about it, as well as connections, could help us. 

do you and your team have the resources to carry it out (including money)? 

As we know a lot of people as well as within school, who have lots of knowledge on specific things that could help us progress, we do have the resources, there isnt lots of money required to be able to start this project, although with the help of getting money funded would help as well. 

will you and your team be able to get the required support (including approvals from authorities) to carry it out?

As to the previous solution suggesrted, we do think we have a great chance of getting this project approved by the authorities of Maastricht.