ABOUT US

A unique combination of alumni, students and professionals


Graduate Ventures is powered by alumni, professionals, and a student investment team that supports the fund day-to-day. Alumni are the backbone: experienced operators and former founders who bring capital, knowledge, and network to the next generation.

Fund management

Highly experienced professionals with startup and investing expertise manage our organization and seed fund.

Auke van den Hout

Managing Partner

Filip Cuypers

Principal Seed

Julia Knoeff

Head of Platform

Victor de Leeuw

Principal Seed

Sophie Heijenberg

Investor Seed

Rui Li

Associate Principal Seed

Eva Post

Head of Pre-Seed Fund

Daan Keizer

Finance Director

Maiko Kamerbeek

Investor Pre-Seed

Quinten Uivel

Analyst Seed

Adriano Michieli

Analyst Seed

Student board

Our student board leads our pre-seed fund operations and brings a fresh, approachable outlook. If you're interested in more information about the Graduate student board, check out our Website or Instagram.

Anastasia Sheluchin

Annemarie van Wiechen

Frederique Serrarens

Hamish van Eesteren

Joost Vernooij

Karel Jongen

Maartje van Niekerk

Meike Dekker

Onno van Binsbergen

Sharwan Tewari

Willem van Buitenen

Pascal Spijker

Our backers

At the core of Graduate Ventures are alumni who founded this initiative, having walked in your shoes, and are now eager to give back.

Founding Alumnus
Coen van Oostrom

You have to be the biggest optimist that life can be because you have to wake up every morning and say yes I can do this! But you also have to wake up every night and be scared shitless of what can go wrong.

Foundin Alumnus
Dian Besseler

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Founding Alumnus
Menno Antal

Don't be afraid to fail. Be afraid to miss the opportunity.

Founding Alumnus
Sandro van Hellenberg Hubar

Start your business for the right reason, not money or ego. I love straightforward, professional, passionate, purpose-driven team-players.

Founding Alumnus
Merlin de Graaf

Having the right team in place is the key to success!

Founding Alumnus
Gert Jan van der Hoeven

Investing in your vision isn’t about predicting the future, but building it. Stay resilient, adaptable, and remember: the best returns come from the risks few dare to take.

Founding Alumnus
Frans van Houten

1. Get the right people on your team 2. It's all about learning fast. 3. Customers, customers, customers!

Founding Alumnus
Joost Romeijn

Make sure that in your business plan your product is not only well defined, but also think of how to sell it. Who is my client and how will I reach that client?

Founding Alumnus
Eline van Beest

Eline founded MedTech scale-up NightBalance in 2009 with a new therapy for sleep apnea. Currently, she is the CEO of Hybridize Therapeutics.

Founding Alumnus
Machtelt Groothuis

Surround yourself with diverse people, be flexible to adapt your plans and just go for it!

Our mission and values

We empower alumni to become world-changing entrepreneurs

We back founders with capital, knowledge, and a high-trust community. Our goal is to help build the companies of the future in critical sectors - strengthening a competitive and sovereign Netherlands.

We aim to foster a collaborative community of entrepreneurs who learn and grow together.

Empowerment

Unlocking potential with funding and practical support.

Approachability

Direct, accessible, and honest—fast access to the right people.

Community

Founders and alumni learn and build together through events and targeted introductions.

Inclusivity

Talent deserves a fair shot; we aim to keep access open and transparent.

Join us for coffee

Rotterdam

Main Office

CIC Rotterdam, Stationsplein 45, unit A4.004
3013 AK Rotterdam

Delft

Office

YES!Delft, Molengraaffsingel 12, 2629 JD Delft

Amsterdam

Office

Oosteinde 19, 

1017 WT Amsterdam

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