Voys’ social impact 2025: steward ownership, education & global connectivity
It’s that time of year again: a moment to pause, look back, and reflect. And 2025 was a good one for Voys. A year where impact took center stage. From launching the Voys Social Return Foundation, to wrapping up 48percent’s Digital Inclusion Pilot in the Netherlands, to sharing our mission with people in our office and across Europe. There was a lot to celebrate.
Before we dive into the highlights, we want to take a moment to remind ourselves why making an impact is so important to us. Every decision we make influences the world around us. So if we can make choices that benefit society, the climate, or people’s everyday lives, big or small, then that’s what we want to do.
We’re a company operating in an ecosystem that’s allowed us to grow and thrive. We now have more than 130 colleagues passionate about building and maintaining products our customers rely on. With that growth comes responsibility and opportunity. The more Voys grows, the more impact we can make. Because we are a steward owned company, profit is either reinvested into the organization or flowing to society.
Taking steward ownership across Europe
When we transitioned to steward ownership last year, we took a major step toward bringing our impact mission to life. Because Voys no longer has traditional shareholders, our profits stay within the company. This allowed us to establish the Voys Social Return Foundation, an ANBI foundation that invests Voys’ profits into initiatives focused on climate reversal, sustainable food systems, the energy transition, and a more equitable world.
In short: initiatives that serve the common good.
The foundation marks an exciting new chapter for Voys and will play a growing role in how we operate and what we contribute to the world. Keep an eye out: in 2026 we’ll share much more about how this foundation develops.
This year, we also had the chance to share our steward ownership journey far beyond our office walls.
In the spring, Mark spoke at the PYM Impact Days, where Mark, as founder of Voys, reflected on what stepping back as owner meant for him, and what steward ownership unlocks for the future of Voys.
In the summer, we traveled to the first European edition of SXSW in London, where Pollien shared our journey with an international audience. With her experience leading the transition to steward ownership, she spoke about the challenges, opportunities, and lessons learned along the way. Later in the year, she gave a keynote at the Steward Ownership Conference 2025 in Berlin and joined a panel on why diversity in ownership structures is essential for a healthy economy.
In 2026, we’re excited to continue sharing our learnings, and inspire other companies to contribute to shaping a business landscape where companies serve more than profit alone.
Education and equal opportunities
As every year, we dedicated time to sharing knowledge with the next generation. We welcomed student groups from across Europe, including Germany and Denmark, to give them a behind-the-scenes look at what we do and how we do it. Through office tours and conversations, they learned not just about our product but also about self-management and our broader impact. The giant wall filled with 48percent projects always sparks curiosity.
We also continued visiting schools to talk about digital skills, and invited kids to our office for career days, where they learned the basics of programming and got a peek into life at a tech company. Events like ChecktheBizz also helped us inspire young people about the job opportunities local tech companies have to offer.
We continued supporting IMC Weekendschool and JINC, two organizations dedicated to giving all young people equal opportunities. And we were proud sponsors of Bits of Freedom, a foundation advocating for a strong democracy supported by digital rights, privacy, and equitable access to technology.
Another year of impact for 48percent
This year marked the end of one of 48percent’s longest-running initiatives: the Digital Inclusion Pilot in the northern Netherlands. In April, the research report was released, sharing key insights from the project.
While the project has officially concluded, the next step is even more important: turning those lessons into policy. During the national Week of Digital Inclusion in November, 48percent colleagues presented how the pilot can shape the future of digital inclusion in the Netherlands.
2025 was also a global impact year for 48percent. The foundation supported 17 projects in 7 countries, from Colombia and Mexico to Kenya and South Africa. The beginning of the year marked a significant shift in the funding landscape for non-profits. The USAID funding freeze made 2025 a particularly tough year for any organization trying to raise funds, also for non-profits within the connectivity space. Part of 48percent’s funds this year went to support its partner network through this period.
A major highlight from these difficult circumstances was the transition of 48percent’s partner Hello World’s project in Uganda to full independence. This led to 100,000 people now having access to the internet and unlimited communication. Through capacity building and sustainable revenue planning, the community is now ready to maintain and expand their own connectivity network.
Curious to see more? Visit 48percent.org to explore the projects.
Planting for a greener tomorrow
For another year, we had the pleasure of helping out at Voedselbos Glimmen on Green Friday, the green alternative to Black Friday. As long-standing partners, we love getting our hands dirty planting trees, preparing the soil for next year’s harvest, and contributing to a more biodiverse and sustainable environment.
Talking open source and AI in 2025
We continued supporting and attending conferences that align with our mission and values. We were gold sponsors of PyGrunn, Groningen’s open-source developer conference, and supporters of AIGrunn, which brings together developers and AI enthusiasts.
Mark also gave a talk at AIGrunn about returning to programming after ten years, thanks to the help of AI. If you’re curious about his experience, he wrote a full blog series about it.
And in Amsterdam, we again got to support another awesome edition of the OpenSIPS Summit, one of the key global events for open-source SIP development.
The little things that add up
Sometimes impact shows up in the smallest choices. For Sinterklaas, instead of buying treats from the supermarket, we supported a local school for special needs education by purchasing from their Sinterklaas initiative. They earned funds for a well-deserved day out, and we enjoyed delicious snacks. A win-win.
A closing thought
This overview might not be what you’d expect from a business communication provider. We share it because seeing what’s possible when profits are reinvested into society inspires us, and we hope it inspires you too.
If more companies directed even a small part of their revenue toward making the world a healthier, more equitable, more sustainable place, the impact would be enormous. And that’s the future we’re working toward.