Head of Programming

Norrsken is a non-profit foundation that supports entrepreneurial solutions to big, global challenges. Over the past decade, the organization has grown into a global ecosystem of over three thousand impact-driven startups, backed by capital, community, and hubs across four continents. Amsterdam is next, and a Head of Programming will set the tone and pulse of Norrsken House Amsterdam.

About Norrsken

Norrsken was established in 2016 by Niklas Adalberth, co-founder of fintech giant Klarna. After reaching financial independence, Adalberth chose to put the bulk of his personal wealth into a foundation with a clear purpose: backing entrepreneurs who build businesses that are both profitable and impactful. The underlying belief is that commercial success and solving the world’s biggest problems – climate, health, poverty, food security – are not mutually exclusive. To date, over three thousand startups building solutions for a better tomorrow are part of Norrsken, and the ambition stretches much further.

The Foundation operates through three complementary pillars. The first is physical: Norrsken Houses in Stockholm, Barcelona, Kigali, and Brussels, where founders, investors and ecosystem partners work side by side. The second is financial: Norrsken manages eight hundred million euros across five dedicated impact funds, spanning early-stage venture capital to growth and Africa-focused vehicles. The third is strategic: through flagship forums like Africa/Week and Impact/Week, a Spotify podcast narrated by Alexander Skarsgård, and the annual Impact/100 list of the world’s hundred most promising impact startups, Norrsken puts the spotlight on the impact entrepreneurs shaping tomorrow’s economy.

Closer to home, Norrsken is opening its first hub in Amsterdam. In a carefully restored building, part of the historic Van Gendt Hallen, Norrsken House Amsterdam brings everyone under one roof – the doers and the dreamers, but also the funders, policymakers, and other decision-makers. Having all these people physically together in one place is what makes the Norrsken concept truly unique. Interest has been overwhelming: already six hundred people have signed up for the twenty-eight available private offices.

Vacancy: Head of Programming

While other Norrsken Houses have event managers responsible for programming, Amsterdam is the first to elevate this into a fully strategic position. There is no playbook to follow. The Head of Programming is in close contact with the international houses, draws on their experiences and programs, and translates these into a programming agenda that fits the dynamics of the Dutch ecosystem and community.

The Head of Programming is responsible for the strategic direction and pulse of Norrsken House Amsterdam. That means designing a calendar of meaningful moments – from intimate roundtables and salons to larger gatherings – that bring the right people into the room: founders, funders, corporates, banks, government bodies, and other enablers. The role goes well beyond event management. The Head of Programming proactively digs into what is holding companies back, by talking directly to founders, and building a programming agenda around the challenges and real-world bottlenecks they face. Examples could be sessions that tackle themes like the financing gap between Series A and Series D, the role of debt financing, and why venture capital has largely stepped back from Series B and C investments. Effectively, all the parties needed to break through those impasses are brought together in one room. The goal is to generate real outcomes: new investments, partnerships, and growth for the companies that call Norrsken House Amsterdam home. The role reports directly to the CEO, Thijs van der Burgt.

“The Norrsken house Amsterdam will be a world-class home to a vibrant ecosystem that connects and empowers over a thousand entrepreneurs, investors, and partners. It will serve as a beacon and platform for a new generation of initiatives, businesses and role-models – inspiring others to be part of the solution.” – Thijs van der Burgt, CEO

The ideal candidate is an energetic connector and networker with a business background who is looking to channel their skills toward something that matters. Analytically sharp and strategically minded, this person can hold their own in conversations with seasoned entrepreneurs and investors. At the same time, the role sits at the intersection of strategy and execution: thinking like a strategist is a prerequisite, but so is scanning QR codes and moving chairs during events. Above all, this is a role for someone driven by more than financial gains – someone who genuinely wants to make a difference and contribute to building a better world.

Interested?

Norrsken is working with Top of Minds to fill this vacancy.
To express your interest, please contact Vivian Linker at vivian.linker@topofminds.com.