For ten years now, 510, the Netherlands Red Cross’s data and digital team, has been working on innovative data and software solutions to make humanitarian aid around the world faster, smarter, and more efficient. What began as a small team has grown into an organization of sixty colleagues who support Red Cross societies in more than fifty countries. 510 has been collaborating with Pipple since its founding. Based on a shared sense of purpose, a long-term partnership has developed that focuses on research, data, AI, and social impact.
Creating social impact together
We want to build long-term partnerships with organizations that understand what we stand for. Pipple gets that.
“Pipple was founded with the motivation to do something good for the world. That aligns with our values,” says Maarten van Veen, founder and strategic lead of 510. “We want to build long-term partnerships with organizations that understand what we stand for. Pipple gets that.” The partnership between 510 and Pipple began around the same time both organizations were founded. Now, ten years later, the organizations still meet once a quarter to discuss areas where Pipple can provide support. Sometimes this leads to a specific technical request; other times, it leads to broader initiatives involving data, AI, or knowledge development. “Pipple is very proactive,” says Maarten. “The organization reaches out to us on its own, asking, ‘Is there anything else we can do for you?’ Plus, we can respond quickly. It’s not a large, bureaucratic organization with all kinds of layers. That makes for a pleasant working relationship.”
Research as a collective strength
An important part of the collaboration revolves around applied research. Both 510 and Pipple work closely with students and young talent. Each year, one or two Pipple graduates conduct their research for 510. In recent years, this has resulted in studies on automatic damage assessment based on satellite imagery, AI applications for humanitarian aid, hurricane damage forecasting, and the use of generative AI within nature-based solutions. “Research is incredibly important to us,” Maarten explains. “We want to demonstrate that the work we do is of high quality and actually makes an impact. Pipple’s added value lies not only in its additional mentoring capacity but also in its substantive expertise in AI and data science.”
According to Maarten, the collaboration yields more than just research results. “Pipple also helps us identify talent. Many students end up continuing to work in this field. In addition, Pipple provides practical support, such as administrative assistance and financial compensation for students.”
From training to technical solutions
In addition to research, Pipple also supports 510 in other areas. For example, in 2024, Pipple conducted a multi-day data science training session at 510’s office in The Hague. The training covered topics such as programming fundamentals and machine learning. “We regularly hire young people who don’t yet have much experience with data science,” says Maarten. “That’s why it’s so valuable to work with a partner like Pipple. Because they know our organization well, they know exactly which topics are relevant and how to make them accessible.”
510 also turns to Pipple for technical challenges. In 2025, for example, Pipple helped develop an API for version control within EspoCRM, the open-source data management system that 510 uses with Red Cross chapters worldwide. “With this system, we help organizations manage volunteer data, warehouse information, or risk analyses related to flooding, for example,” Maarten explains. “One challenge within EspoCRM was version control. Pipple helped us find a smart solution so that users can always revert to previous versions.”
Ready for the next step with data and AI
In 2026, the two organizations continued to work closely together. During a data strategy initiative, Pipple collaborated with 510 to explore how data and AI could contribute to more efficient internal processes. “We wanted to see how we could use AI to lighten our team’s workload,” says Maarten. “For example, when writing reports, retrieving information, or making knowledge from hundreds of theses and projects accessible.” Pipple guided the process with a maturity assessment, interviews, and brainstorming sessions focused on data architecture and AI use cases. “It helps enormously to have an external party look over our shoulder,” says Maarten. “Pipple brings structure, ensures progress, and contributes strong insights.”
A partnership based on trust
Pipple doesn’t feel like an external provider, but like a partner.
What makes the partnership special, according to 510, is Pipple’s consistency and commitment. “At some organizations, the points of contact are constantly changing,” says Maarten. “At Pipple, we always work with the same people. That allows you to really build something.” This long-term partnership ensures that both organizations understand each other well. “Pipple doesn’t feel like an external provider, but like a partner,” Maarten concludes. “The partnership is informal, accessible, and always focused on making an impact. We really appreciate that.”
