A numbers and family guy motivated for impact

I am definitely a “numbers” guy, so becoming an investment analyst at LUMO Labs is a custom fit. To be honest, I’ve always been interested in money, finance and entrepreneurship. Though my interest in finance was clear, I had no clue what career I envisioned within finance and impact wasn’t a factor at all. 

In primary school I just said my dream was to be rich AND an entrepreneur. During secondary school I was intrigued by (business) economic courses, particularly by stories about building companies, and I started following the financial news and investing my own pocket money. The decision to pursue a bachelor’s in economics and business economics and subsequently a master’s in finance and investments at the Erasmus University, wasn’t a hard one. 

The internships I was lucky enough to land in M&A, venture capital and private equity firms during my studies proved extremely valuable in so many ways. I learned a lot about company finance, commercial business models and markets such as B2B SaaS and healthcare, and I am now using these skills on a daily basis in my current job. But more importantly, the internships taught me about work ethic and made it clear the finance career I envisioned was in venture capital. 

Along the line, probably as a result of following all sorts of news, I also realized that we have to change the way we live if we are to sustain a livable planet for the future. It became absolutely mandatory to me my work would contribute a future-proof planet. 

So, when I had the chance to be part of an impact-driven venture, I jumped in and co-founded a startup. From my own experiences, I know how difficult it is to start a business and get the organization up and running. All in all, this helps me relate to founders and better understand their processes.

On a personal note, my parents always encouraged me to make my own choices and pursue my own goals in life – they would support me in whatever I decided to pursue. They taught me to follow my heart and to discover one of the most powerful sources of energy a person can find: intrinsic motivation. This made me who I am and gave me the curious, hands-on mentality I have today. I am definitely a “family” guy. Perhaps this relates to my roots as well, as I was born and raised in “gezellig” Brabant!

As I am writing this story for the LUMO Labs website, I feel the proverbial dots from Steve Jobs’ commencement speech at Sanford connecting. 

I am extremely proud to be part of such an open-minded, down-to-earth and hands-on venture capital fund. 

Curious and enthusiastic about which new businesses and technology applications will join the LUMO Labs portfolio, I feel very excited to build great impactful companies together with our founders!