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Leading Entrepreneurs Launch Next Level Initiative to Encourage Women and Minorities to Pursue a Career in Tech

02/03/2023
Digital Agency
Amsterdam, Netherlands
68
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Launched by leading entrepreneurs and tech companies, Next Level will raise awareness on opportunities in tech at large, to inspire women and minorities to start their own journey in tech

In a world transformed by technology, women are key in closing the talent shortage reported by a majority of companies worldwide. Tech offers exciting opportunities to grow professionally and personally, and to contribute to solving the world’s biggest problems. From advancing digital inclusion to tackling climate change, technology will radically transform jobs of the future, which will benefit from more diversity in terms of gender, racial and ethnic backgrounds.

However, artificial barriers of entry such as stereotypes, fear and doubt prevent a lot of women from joining tech as employees or entrepreneurs. Women only hold a quarter of computing-related jobs today, and the number for people from ethnic minorities drops even lower, according to a recent study. An impactful – not to mention a fulfilling and well-paid – job in tech often seems out of reach for those who don’t have a role model or understanding on their first steps in tech.


That's why Janneke Niessen, founding partner at CapitalT, seasoned entrepreneur, investor and diversity advocate, started Next Level. Backed by leading tech entrepreneurs and influential voices, Next Level is a new initiative that, through storytelling, encourages women and minorities between 16 and 28 to start their career in tech. Founding members of Next Level believe that, when presented with clear options and success stories to look up to, they can convey everything tech has to offer and ignite widespread, lasting change.

The initiative centers on a TV series about a group of young women and men navigating all the challenges, setbacks, successes and excitement any technology entrepreneur faces. The series will document characters’ journeys as they begin to discover new worlds: technology, entrepreneurship and learning how to code. In addition to the series, Next Level will launch an immersive, interactive platform, online and offline experiences and a magazine. The TV series as well as the platform will launch by the end of 2023.


“Diverse teams possess greater perspective, make better decisions and perform better. Despite these obvious facts, a highly dynamic and competitive tech space still isn’t inviting to those previously excluded from it,” says Janneke Niessen, founding partner at CapitalT. “That’s why everything we do as part of Next Level will have women in mind, and I call on those companies and individuals who care about the cause to join us. Together, we can tackle the biggest challenges we face by bringing more diversity to the international tech industry.”

“We’re extremely excited to support Next Level,” says Ali Niknam, founder and CEO of bunq. “When we started bunq, we wanted to bring color and diversity to an otherwise uniform financial sector. Joining forces with this amazing initiative is a logical next step.”

“Software is most definitely eating the world, so let’s make sure our children are not gobbled up! A TV series that lifts a corner of the veil covering the tech that powers the way youth live their lives could be not only a life saver but also very empowering – and, hopefully, very entertaining”, says Corinne Vigreux, Co-Founder and CMO of TomTom.

Victor Knaap, co-founder and CEO EMEA of Media.Monks, adds: "Increasing visibility is essential when it comes to improving diversity within the tech sector. As a digital-first company, Media.Monks is proud to collaborate with Next Level and the many partners we work with to push for more women in digital and tech."

Founding members of Next Level include bunq, a leading challenger bank based in Amsterdam, Janneke Niessen, founding partner at CapitalT and serial entrepreneur, Corinne Vigreux, Co-Founder and CMO of TomTom, movie director Jan Albert de Weerd, and Victor Knaap, founder of Media.Monks. bunq’s donation of €100,000 will help Next Level kickstart an international awareness campaign.

To find out more click here. 

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