I set out to meet 10 interesting people in one day — and walked away with much more than business cards.

Attending ImpactFest 2025 in The Hague felt like stepping into the beating heart of global change. As someone part of The Symbiosis Foundation, I came not just to listen but to connect — to see how collaboration can turn pressure into progress.

From the moment I entered the Fokker Terminal, the atmosphere was buzzing. Over 1,500 entrepreneurs, investors, and changemakers from more than 35 countries filled the hall with optimism and purpose. Everyone I met — from founders to volunteers — radiated a shared belief: that the future can change for the better, and that we can shape it collaborating together.

The event’s theme — “Under Pressure: Brace for Impact” — captured our shared reality, but also our collective strength. Despite global challenges, the mood was hopeful. These were people who don’t give up — they endure to innovate, connect, and act.

A Program Built for Purpose

The full-day program offered over 100 sessions, from thought-provoking keynotes to interactive Table Talks and investor meetups. I began my day at the IMPACT Stage, where speakers explored system change and energy transition strategies. Later, I joined a Table Talk on circular food systems, an intimate and refreshing exchange of real stories and struggles.

One impact investor described peace as a shapeable ROI — a phrase that reframed how I think about finance and value creation.

It also reminded me why The Symbiosis Foundation exists: to create a digital and human ecosystem where nonprofits, governments, and mission-driven organizations can learn from and strengthen each other. At Symbiosis, we believe that real progress happens when connections become collaborations — when doing good is not isolated, but shared.

Connecting Under Pressure

Between sessions, I challenged myself to meet 10 inspiring people — and ended up meeting far more. I spoke with a startup addressing plastic waste in waterways, a volunteer leading educational projects for refugees, and an investor funding climate justice initiatives.

Every person had a story — a spark — and together they reflected the incredible optimism of this community. These weren’t transactional conversations; they were moments of mutual curiosity and purpose.

Reflections at the End of the Day

As the day closed with laughter, music, and new connections, one realization stayed with me: events like these matter deeply. They remind us that impact doesn’t depend on the topic — it depends on the people and the intention behind it. On individuals collaborating and enduring in speaking up on how they feel we can make tangible improvements in the world, regardless of geopolitical tensions.

It reminded me that Symbiosis is about leveraging connections — turning encounters into collaborations, and collaborations into impact. The experience emphasized that a well-designed event can have a transformative effect — sparking partnerships, ideas, and movements that extend far beyond its walls.

That’s exactly what we aim to do with Symbiosis’ Fall Signature 2025 Event — a space to bring together changemakers, nonprofits, and innovators who believe collaboration is the key to progress. (Learn more about it here.)

Under pressure, purpose can thrive — when we face it together. Hope to see you at our next Symbiosis Event or at the next Impact Fest.

Keywords: ImpactFest 2025, Symbiosis Foundation, collaboration, networking, sustainability, social innovation, accelerator program, professional connections, circular economy, climate justice, purpose-driven innovation, nonprofit collaboration