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Blackbirds, the new data management platform, was launched today in Rotterdam. The company was founded by Toon van Bodegom, a serial entrepreneur in the field of consultancy, digital innovation and the labor market. Blackbirds focuses on supporting companies in the field of data management and then using AI to digitally transform work processes, richer insights into performance and support teams.
Blackbirds is responding to the growing need for AI digitization and the effective management of large amounts of data. The company offers flexible and entrepreneurial employment conditions for freelancers, including the “High-Flyer Program”, which offers consultants the opportunity to earn 70% of the realized turnover. In addition to remuneration, flexibility and influence are also key. Skip a project, temporarily reduce hours, or say “no” to an assignment. This program ensures that employees are not only financially rewarded, but also remain intrinsically motivated.
This approach is particularly relevant with the enforcement of the DBA Act from 2025, so that freelancers are looking for forms of contract that respect and support their independence. This program ensures that freelancers are not only financially rewarded, but also remain intrinsically motivated.
Furthermore, the continuing tightness in the labor market is a reason to come up with an alternative remuneration structure and more flexibility for talent, in order to offer an alternative to entrepreneurial talent with data management skills.
Blackbirds is built on the macro trend of AI digitization. Many companies want to take advantage of the benefits of AI, but are struggling to organize this with their own staff and internal expertise. A key challenge is managing large amounts of data that is potentially very valuable but difficult to inventory, collect and structure for AI purposes.
Blackbirds started with an office in Rotterdam with consultants from this region. In the coming years, the goal is to expand to more locations in the Netherlands with regional customers and consultants.
Van Bodegom has founded and managed several successful companies. His company Myler grew by more than 1500% between 2009 and 2011 and achieved a turnover of 100 million euros. He has won several awards, including the “Golden FD Gazelle” in 2012 as the fastest growing company in the Netherlands and nominations for “EY Entrepreneur of the Year” in 2014, among others.
Blackbirds has divided its data management consultancy into various focus areas: Data Management, AI, Robotic Process Automation, Cloud Data Platforms and Security.
Blackbirds offers four types of services: consultancy, secondment, service contracts and team hiring. In team hiring, an entire team can be hired to support large-scale IT projects focused on data management and AI.
Blackbirds is characterized by high-end expertise, ambition and entrepreneurship. The High-Flyer Program focuses on developing the professional and entrepreneurial skills of consultants. Consultants receive a base salary that is supplemented monthly to 70% of the realized turnover, which offers them the opportunity to earn much more than an average consultancy salary. For example, they have the freedom to take a sabbatical, (temporarily) work fewer hours, or refuse assignments, which contributes to intrinsic motivation and enthusiasm.
“Birds of a Feather Flock Together”. The name Blackbirds is inspired by various songs and metaphors in the music industry related to this, such as how different bird species work together in large swarms. Blackbirds is investing in a beautiful office location in Little C, Rotterdam, where consultants work two days a week for their client. These days also focus on cooperation, knowledge exchange, intervision, training and social activities. The knowledge is documented in a growing knowledge database that is available to all consultants and customers.
