Team
At Vliegwiel, young talent is empowered to think ahead and drive change. They bring energy, fresh perspectives and the determination to accelerate innovation. Supported by a network of seasoned experts in market strategy, commercial scaling, finance and team building, we combine bold ideas with years of experience.
Tom Alma
Tom is our connector who spots commercial opportunities and helps convert them into real plans. He holds a Bachelor in Industrial Engineering from the Technical University in Delft and a Master in Strategic Management from Tilburg University. Tom works as a commercial specialist at AB InBev and in his spare time enjoys road cycling.
Gijs Hubers
Gijs is passionate about strategic planning and financial analysis. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations at the University of Groningen and a Master’s in Management from the London Business School. Gijs currently works in finance at FrieslandCampina and can often be found kitesurfing in the weekend.
Tijn Boenk
Driven by social impact with a strong focus on climate and renewable energy, Tijn grew up in Dubai, which broadened his perspective and curiosity. At Roland Berger he works on strategic transition challenges and supports young startups. In his free time he is sailing, kitesurfing or training for triathlons.
Kaz Barentsen
Kaz has a strong passion for corporate strategies and investments that create a positive societal impact. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics & Business Economics from the University of Groningen and his master’s degree in Financial Economics from Erasmus University Rotterdam. At Rabobank, Kaz is closely involved in strategic acquisitions and divestments, contributing to innovative partnerships and investment opportunities that drive sustainable growth. In his free time, he enjoys sports, with a particular passion for tennis and water sports.
Gert-Jan Hubers
When things get complex or a business model needs unraveling, Gert-Jan becomes excited. With an MBA from Harvard and years in consulting at Booz Allen, he founded Nimbus Hands-On Investors. Nimbus invests in proven companies and created a separate fund for scale-ups. His talent is spotting opportunities and helping remove obstacles for Vliegwiel. In downtime he enjoys sailing at home and abroad.
Joost Leeflang
Joost built a successful career at Philips, working globally on commercial projects. After Philips, he joined several scale-ups and founded his own company. He specialises in refining company positioning and building commercial roadmaps. Joost also takes leaders into nature to remind them of how important it is, both for themselves and for all of us.
Herre Hoekstra
Herre is a pioneer at the interface of sustainability and technology. As co-founder and COO of Liqoflux, he played a key role in developing an innovative algae-based ecosystem solution now used globally. Since 2006 he has been the Chairman of the Board of Orb Energy, a solar company supplying sustainable energy to SMEs in India and Kenya. With over 20 years in international tech firms, he brings a strong mix of strategic insight, start-up agility and hands-on technical expertise.
Pieter ter Kuile
Pieter is a seasoned investor in start-ups and scale-ups. What sets him apart is his experience as CFO at Carbon Black—a scale-up focused on reusing carbon from car tyres. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, was a partner at McKinsey and then managing partner at Kempen. Besides financial expertise, Pieter excels in assembling complementary teams, a crucial skill for scaling companies.
How We Work
At Vliegwiel we operate as an engaged, driven team united by our mission: growing impact-driven companies. We blend financial expertise, strategic insight and a hands-on mentality. By working closely with entrepreneurs, we offer not only capital but also guidance and access to our expert network.
We believe in sustainable partnerships and take the time to truly understand each business. Our team brings diverse backgrounds and experience, giving us the ability to support companies from multiple angles. Together we provide the right boost to make businesses stronger and future-proof.
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