Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation Launches European Office in The Hague - SDG 10
24 May 2022
The Hague, October 28th 2020 – The Draper Richards Kaplan (DRK) Foundation opens its European headquarters today in The Hague, Netherlands. The American foundation selected The Hague as its European hub, due to the city’s impact-focused business environment and entrepreneurial ecosystem. The opening of its European office is accompanied by deployment of a new $80 million fund to support early-stage entrepreneurs tackling complex social issues.
Startup Impact Capital
DRK Foundation’s mission is to support the acceleration and growth of enterprises with a social impact mission for the advancement of a sustainable, fair society. With its $80 million fourth fund, DRK is increasing its financial commitment to early-stage social impact entrepreneurs. Capital from the fund will be available to for- and non-profit impact entrepreneurs in the form of flexible grants, loans and equity. DRK will also take a board seat at each organization for a three-year term in order to provide early direction on mission alignment and growth.
One of the first Dutch companies DRK Foundation is supporting is Safi Sana, a company that converts human and organic waste into products with added value such as electricity and irrigation water.
Ecosystem Partners
With the establishment of DRK Foundation’s new European headquarters and fourth investment fund, the foundation is joining forces with Rabobank to accelerate access to growth capital for impact entrepreneurs in Europe. The Dutch bank is a founding partner for the DRK Foundation in Europe.
Harry Wientjens – Director of Private Individuals & Private Banking Rabobank, Region—The Hague: “In order to properly support social entrepreneurs in their start-up and scale-up phase, collaboration between government and industry is essential. With the arrival of DRK in The Hague and its founding partnership with the municipality of The Hague and Rabobank, our organizations are taking a major step towards establishing the city as the Impact City of the Netherlands and Europe. By investing in social entrepreneurs, we will ensure that we are ‘Growing a Better World Together’ as Rabobank’s mission states.”