Elisabeth Obeng introduces the new Ripple Fund

Why was the Ripple Fund founded?

“We, the advisory committee, started from the experience that there are many young entrepreneurs who do not fall within the stereotype and face barriers, either founder-related barriers or business-related barriers. Founders can face barriers when they do not look stereotypical: they are black, or female, have a non-heterosexual orientation, people with a disability – anything that is not the current standard. But founders can also face barriers when their business does not fit the stereotype in the current entrepreneurial climate: instead of high-tech innovations, they focus on value-driven impact without a quick way to proof of market traction or validate their concept, or are based on relatively simple technology that just isn’t grand or exciting. These founders do not only have to face the many barriers that any starting entrepreneur faces, but also system-related barriers.” 

How does the Ripple Fund come in?

“With the fund, we want to provide a key where the system has locks. It enables ideas that are not aligning with the mainstream and allows founders in the starting phase of their entrepreneurial journey further develop their business. The fund is guided by four principles to decide who receives support.”

What four principles are we talking about?

“One is ethics first. That means that both the company and the individual need to have a moral obligation or an ethical backbone in their actions. There is a strong commitment to addressing a meaningful societal challenge and creating lasting value. Some of these challenges are complex and require patience, long-term thinking and, in some cases, approaches that prioritise responsible impact over speed or short-term returns.”

The second principle is integrity over hype. This means being transparent, consistent and authentic in the way a company operates, and staying focused on building something meaningful and sustainable rather than following short-term trends. We see this reflected in how founders work with the people around them, both within their teams and across their wider network. I think the take-away is of these first two principles is: the fund helps when doing the right thing is hard, and backs people who do it anyway.”  

“And then there is the principle of paying-it forward, where the term ‘ripple’ comes in. The Ripple Fund is about promoting collective support. The fund helps you develop your business, it provides an impulse for a future effect. So, in five to ten years’ time, when your business is up and running, we want you to remember this support and think about either giving back to the fund or helping people around you, for example by mentoring them or giving direct financial support through your business. That way, the support we give you is like a splash in the pond, creating ripple after ripple.” 

And the fourth?

“Inclusive access. We want the fund to be accessible to founders across the Wageningen startup community, including those who may face additional barriers to accessing finance. At the same time, the fund is intended to address situations where other funding routes are not available or suitable. Applicants should be able to demonstrate that they have explored relevant funding options and that a genuine funding gap remains, one that the fund can help to bridge.” 

What kind of impact do you hope the Ripple Fund will have?

“I hope many people will join us to support the Ripple Fund so it grows, which then can also further its reach and impact. It would be great if we could measure exactly how many people we have supported in, say, five years, and can understand how much positive impact these supported founders have had in their supply chain or whatever they have been working on. In that way, we can trace this impact back to the fund. If we can show the importance of the fund, then ultimately, I hope this instrument will be recognized at systemic level, becoming a part of every university or other startup ecosystem worldwide. Today, this kind of support may still be relatively uncommon, but by institutionalising it, we can make it a more integral part of the future of innovation. The Fund aims to help build a resilient ecosystem where changemakers are not only encouraged to ask, ‘Is this viable?’ but also, ‘Is this right?’”