Young Heroes helps Gen Z build their career

During her first job, co-founder Eva van Leeuwen noticed the huge difference between what companies offer young professionals in terms of guidance, growth and development and what they actually need. ‘So when I founded my first company, YFK Research & Marketing, in 2016, it was important to provide our people with that opportunity. And to that end, we developed a method by which we managed to grow to a team of 30 marketeers in 6 years. This method became the basis for Young Heroes' Van Leeuwen said.

Hoeckner was still living in Portugal at the time: 'My partner found a job in the Netherlands and I was exploring my options. The first conversation with Eva was literally between packed moving boxes in Portugal! But there was a connection right away, it just felt right and it’s a mission I really believe in. In recent years, I gained experience at tech start-ups in various countries and I love that I can now use this expertise for Young Heroes. I get really happy when I see people around me grow and live their best lives.'

Generation Z has grown up in times of uncertainty. The classic career ladder of yesteryear no longer works for this generation.
Sarah Hoeckner

Sarah Hoeckner

Generation Z

Young Heroes specifically targets Gen Z. But what makes this generation so different? 'Generation Z grew up in times of uncertainty,' Hoeckner explains. 'Economic recession, climate change, lightning-fast technological developments, polarization, you name it. The classic career ladder of the past no longer works for this generation, either. For Millennials, personal and professional growth was already important, but for this generation it has become a necessity. They need to constantly develop their skills to stay rele'vant in a job market that is changing very quickly. And those opportunities for development are also a requirement for Gen Z to stay with an employer.'

'Companies are only too happy to offer this, but often don't have the resources, time and know-how to do so,' van Leeuwen adds. ‘It's virtually impossible for a large company to keep catering to the ever-changing development needs of the younger generation. And that's where we step in with Young Heroes. With our digital platform, connecting them with coaches (always experts with experience in the business world), but also with offline workshops, we're able to offer this in a personal and tailored way.'

Trust

NOM Business Developer Anouk Hummel also enjoyed working together. 'Eva is, of course, a highly experienced entrepreneur. She already had a pitch deck, ideas on paper, and everything well organized in her mind. We had many discussions, bounced ideas off each other and critically examined things, so that everything could be incorporated into a single plan,' says Hummel. 'And during that time, they also spoke with many investors, angels, and VCs. And that’s really important too, because it's like entering into a kind of marriage. It's crucial to be critical and find an investor who shares your vision and company values. Young Heroes ultimately found that connection with NOM and G-Force Capital'.

'I met Eva for the first time a year ago,' says Niek Huizenga, Fund Manager of G-Force Capital. ‘Back then, it was mostly a conversation to assess the need for investment and explore the possibilities. But even at that early stage, the foundation of Young Heroes was already solid. Eva is an experienced entrepreneur, and both Sarah and Eva have extensive market knowledge and understand their target audience better than anyone else. That instills a lot of confidence. Plus, they’re addressing a very tangible problem. On the one hand, they help companies retain their employees in a tight labor market. On the other hand, they assist the new generation of talent with a great hybrid opportunity to bring out the best in themselves.'

An investment was not the goal. We initially wanted to grow naturally as a company. But we noticed that the demand from the market was very high.
Eva van Leeuwen

Eva van Leeuwen

Lessons learned

‘Everyone around you has an opinion about your idea and freely offers advice’ says van Leeuwen. ‘And people tend to reason from their own perspective, based on their own successes or mistakes, or their personal interests. That input is valuable, but at the same time, it can also feel lonely sometimes.'

'Because ultimately, we have to make these decisions ourselves,' van Leeuwen continues. 'And nobody else knows exactly what the implications will be. It's important to gather as much knowledge as possible from the people around you. But it's even more important to surround yourself with people you can truly rely on, both in terms of their expertise and personally. And eventually, you'll know which choice to make; it just 'clicks' suddenly, and you'll have that gut feeling. Trust in it. That's definitely the most valuable lesson I've learned.'

'Especially when you're in an investment process, that trust is incredibly important,' van Leeuwen adds. 'You have to be willing to be vulnerable and ask questions about things you don’t yet know much about. And that can feel contradictory at times, because you also want to exude confidence. After all, it's your company, and you want to show that you have what it takes to turn it into a success.'