IGNITE Award in conversation with Taaly: what the prize and the programme delivered

A year and a half after Taaly won the IGNITE Award, the organisation spoke with Taaly about what the €100,000 prize and the programme meant: a better app, new partners, a bigger team and additional funding.

From participant to winner

Taaly took part in IGNITE 2022 and won the main prize. In the interview Shadi Alhakimi explains how the programme helped to improve the app, build partnerships, grow the team and raise funding. At the time Taaly had thousands of active users and worked with language schools, social initiatives and municipalities.

The most important lesson

Asked for his advice to other social entrepreneurs, Shadi names perseverance on the mission combined with flexibility in execution: stay close to your mission, be open to feedback and dare to adjust.

“The most important lesson is the importance of holding on to the social mission while staying flexible in how you execute it.”
Shadi Alhakimi in conversation with IGNITE Award (translated from Dutch)

Taaly today

Taaly has since grown into the digital integration assistant for newcomers: language, participation and work in one app, with more than 30,000 learners, 4,200 taalcoaches and partnerships with 18 municipalities.

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In conversation with social enterprise Taaly. IGNITE Award (1 May 2024).

Also read our post about winning the IGNITE Award. Taaly wins the IGNITE Award