Rikx: development and transfer of a social impact marketplace

Rikx Foundation · Municipality of Rotterdam

In recent years, cities have faced increasing pressure to respond to ever more complex social challenges, while public budgets have remained limited and traditional financing mechanisms have prioritized cost coverage over the achievement of measurable results.

In response to this context, Rikx was developed as a city-led marketplace designed to value social impact, assign a price to that value, and enable the financing of verified social results instead of activities or costs.

UpSocial supports the transfer of the Rikx model to pilot cities, working with local actors to adapt the approach to different contexts while preserving its key components, especially the impact valuation and pricing methodology.

The model gained international recognition after winning the Bloomberg Mayors Challenge, reinforcing its relevance as a scalable and results-oriented social financing innovation.

Objectives

The Rikx initiative was designed with the following objectives:

• Create a social outcomes marketplace that values and sets a price for social impact.
• Stimulate private investment in social projects while ensuring accountability for results.
• Support cities in deploying social policies and addressing social challenges through a market-based mechanism.
• Strengthen the social innovation and social enterprise ecosystem by rewarding effectiveness and efficiency.

Methodology

A structured process combining social impact valuation, market mechanisms, and results-based financing:

• A social value assessment conducted by an expert team through a structured process to determine the relative social value of project outcomes.
• The conversion of this value into Rikx tokens, which represent standardized units of impact and not a currency.
• A pricing mechanism that establishes a market price for one unit of impact, rewarding the most cost-efficient projects.
• A platform-based marketplace where projects sell impact tokens to buyers, and funding is released based on verified results.

The methodology is designed to function as a real market, shifting social financing from cost coverage toward value creation and performance-based incentives.

Implementation and transfer of the model

Rotterdam · City-led implementation

Rikx was implemented in Rotterdam as a city-led marketplace connecting social projects and outcome buyers. Projects are assessed and valued by an expert team and financed through the sale of standardized impact tokens. The Municipality of Rotterdam plays a key role in aligning the model with public policy objectives.

International transfer to pilot cities

Building on this experience, Rikx is being transferred to pilot cities. The model is adapted to local contexts while preserving its key components, especially the impact valuation and pricing methodology, supported by clear guidelines and tools for local deployment.

Impact and results

Key results

• Creation of a functional social outcomes marketplace.
• Development of a robust social impact valuation and pricing methodology.
• Mobilization of private financing for social projects through results-based mechanisms.
• Strengthening of accountability, performance incentives, and efficiency in the execution of social projects.
• Development of a transferable model, supported by a replication manual and guidance for pilots.

Impact generated

• Greater focus on results rather than costs in social financing.
• Strengthened role of cities as ecosystem builders and guarantors of impact.
• Improved conditions for social innovation through competitive, value-based financing.

Key learnings

• Valuing and pricing social impact creates real market incentives for efficiency and performance.
• A clear distinction between adaptable and non-adaptable elements is essential in the transfer of the model.
• The impact valuation methodology is a central component and must remain coherent across contexts.
• Cities play a fundamental role as ecosystem builders and guarantors of impact.
• Strong communication and effective learning design are key to transferring complex social financing innovations.

Clients and partners

—Rikx Foundation · Municipality of Rotterdam