Founders

Microsoft

Founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, Microsoft is a leading and globally recognized technology company headquartered in Redmond, Washington. The company is best known for its Windows operating systems and Office productivity suite, but has significantly expanded its portfolio to include prominent activities in cloud computing through Microsoft Azure, gaming via Xbox, and artificial intelligence and digital services, such as integrating AI into Microsoft 365 and Bing.

Microsoft is committed to making technology more accessible, inclusive, and user-friendly worldwide. With its mission to “empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more,” the company focuses on innovation, diversity, and social responsibility. Microsoft aims to create a positive societal impact through initiatives such as AI for Good, support for education and skill development, and investments in sustainable technologies. The company continues to prioritize ethical business practices and ambitious sustainability goals, including achieving carbon negativity by 2030.

LinkedIn

Founded in 2003 and part of Microsoft since 2016, LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network, with over 900 million members across more than 200 countries and regions (data as of 2024). Headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, the platform enables professionals to network, share knowledge, discover career opportunities, and achieve business goals.

LinkedIn offers a wide range of tools for recruitment, marketing, and sales through its Talent Solutions, Marketing Solutions, and Sales Navigator. Additionally, the platform plays a vital role in professional development and learning through LinkedIn Learning, which provides a vast array of online courses.

With its mission “to connect the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful,” LinkedIn is dedicated to innovation, inclusivity, and fostering economic opportunities worldwide. The platform emphasizes responsible data usage and ethical management of information, playing a crucial role in helping individuals and businesses achieve their professional and business objectives.

Stichting IT PerformanceHouse

Stichting IT Performance House is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and sustainable IT labor market by identifying and responding to regional trends and developments. The foundation acts as a connecting link between employers, educational institutions, and governments to develop solutions for the mismatch between supply and demand in the IT labor market.

With a special focus on vulnerable groups, such as refugees, job seekers, and individuals with a distance to the labor market, the foundation supports initiatives that promote equal opportunities and diversity within the sector. Additionally, IT Performance House emphasizes sustainable innovation, lifelong learning, and strengthening regional IT ecosystems.

The foundation’s mission is to provide everyone with access to opportunities in the IT sector and contribute to a future-proof, inclusive labor market that generates social and economic value.