About us
Hi, we are The Pioneers of Our Time
Our vision: people living in harmony with nature and each other
Our dedication: embody our vision and contribute to co-create a demonstration model of the world we want to live in: The Muga Valley Project
Our Theory of Change
Our belief is that the nature of life is for every living being to reach its full potential and continuously create a more beautiful version of itself. That humanity is motivated by purpose and positive change.
Facilitating a deep connection with ourselves and nature is key to shaping the societies that we want to live in. We aim to build new-born models that encourage human behavior enabling the regeneration of our ecosystems. We realize our vision by creating a showcase (The Muga Valley) in which we embody this transition. We believe that the only way forward is through innovation, entrepreneurship, partnerships, collective action and connecting local communities with the global ones.
What we do
We are building a network of professional change makers that devote their lifework to creating large scale positive impact. We come together at The Home, a safe space for our network where we facilitate collaboration as well as a deep connection with nature, ourselves and each other. We have adopted the Muga Valley Project as a demonstration model in Europe and co-create the transition of an abandoned valley of 100ha of forest into a resilient and regenerative society. The project offers (real estate, land and VC) investment and philanthropy opportunities though our investment vehicles and foundation.
About the Founder
Stef van Dongen, (is a host), nature lover, serial entrepreneur and challenger of the status quo. Over the past 25 years he has been focused on establishing regenerative ways of doing business and has challenged various real economies to set new sustainable and just industry standards around the world. His latest project is the regeneration of The Muga Valley in the Spanish Pyrenees. He is undertaking this adventure with various local and global stakeholders creating a Campus for resilient landscapes and uniting local government, science, business and civil society in The Muga Valley Partnership. Stef is guided in his actions by the values of authenticity, innovation, and collaboration. He believes that collaborative action is the only way forward in (y)our search to live and work in harmony with nature.
In 2002 he founded the social enterprise group Enviu from the belief that entrepreneurs can play a major role in solving the world’s biggest challenges. Over the years he has co-founded and invested in more than a dozen social enterprises and innovation programs. Stef was awarded the lifetime achievement award “Radical Innovators” from Vrij Nederland Magazine. He is a distinguished Alumni of the Rotterdam School of Management, where he completed his Master’ degree with a focus on Global Business Society Management. Stef is a passionate chairman for NEXUS Europe and served as board member and advisor of several social enterprises, HNW individuals and innovation networks.