Stefan Beek
Building things that people want to be a part of
My entrepreneurial journey began when I was nineteen, organizing house parties in Nijmegen. Some were legal, others not quite so legal. I found it particularly fascinating to see how, with music, a good idea, and the right people, you could suddenly build an entire community. During my studies, I basically just kept doing that. Among other things, I took the Entrepreneurship Minor at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and started a startup that helped young people find creative and fun part-time jobs. Gradually, my interest shifted more and more toward projects that, in addition to being fun, also make a social impact.
Strategic Developer & Partnerships
At De Bildung Academie, I work as a Strategic Developer & Partnerships Specialist. My main focus is on the question: How can we take this even further? I develop new plans and programs, build partnerships with companies and other organizations, and work on fundraising and grants. What I enjoy most is working on ideas that are still a bit vague at first, which we then refine together, secure funding for, and actually implement.
From Music Moves to ZERØBPM
From 2018 to 2023, I served as creative director and program manager at Music Moves. There, we developed MDT programs through which hundreds of young people in six cities learned about event management, social work, and personal leadership each year. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I founded the Homebass Foundation, through which we mobilized the dance industry to support homeless people. This was followed by The Spirit of Amsterdam: a city festival with over 13,000 visitors and more than 80 events held in churches, mosques, temples, and other unique venues throughout the city.
And I also enjoy creating things myself. Right now, I’m working on ZERØBPM, a futuristic meditation ritual featuring electronic music. In addition, I’m working independently on cultural and social projects. It’s quite a diverse range of work, but that’s actually what I like about it.
