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We are a team of committed, experienced investors who are in it for the long run. We back European founders building the technologies climate and nature need.

The SHIFT Invest team on a jetty by the water in Amsterdam

Our working principles

01

Speak your mind

02

Venture beyond today's horizon

03

Give everything, always

The people behind SHIFT

A multidisciplinary team combining venture, operating and technical depth.

Guus Verhees
Janneke Bik
Sophie van Weede
Thijs Gitmans
Sanne van den Bergh
Bart Budde
Willem Poerink
Julie van den Brink
Koen Hooning
Pim Brekelmans
Jonas von den Driesch
Bram Ledeboer
Otis Hein
Karen Hanrath
Florentine Fockema
Sheila Struyck
Rard Rijcken
Bart Raedts
What the entrepreneurs we worked with say about our collaboration

Managing Partner

Guus Verhees

Guus believes that true impact is created by great teams with strong commercial and execution capabilities. He values unconditional commitment and a professional approach to getting things done. Guus is the founder of the SHIFT venture capital funds. He has co-founded and successfully exited several companies and has a background in strategy consulting and finance.

Investments

  • Robin Radar
  • 30MHz
  • Kriya Materials
  • Vandebron
  • HeatMatrix
  • Protix Biosystems
  • BYBORRE
  • Pieter Pot
  • OneThird
  • Jungle
  • Whiffle
  • OMRT
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Managing Partner

Janneke Bik

Janneke is an extraordinarily driven professional who is dedicated to contribute to a more sustainable world. She sets high standards for the companies she works with and strives for ambitious growth and results. Janneke has been involved with the funds we manage since their inception, after starting her career in space engineering and strategy consulting.

Investments

  • The Renewal Workshop
  • Foamplant
  • Green Basilisk
  • CEVAP Technology
  • GreenA
  • Protix Biosystems
  • Vandebron
  • Ampyx Power
  • Pieter Pot
  • E-magy
  • Jungle
  • Whiffle
  • Zero Friction
  • SOLHO
  • Maxem
  • C1 Connections
  • Friday Energy
  • Thermeleon
  • Resoniks
  • HR Energy
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Investment Manager

Sophie van Weede

Sophie has a background in Neurobiology and Econometrics. She is eager to use her analytical skills in finding companies that will contribute to fighting climate change and assisting them in their growth.

Investments

  • ChainCraft
  • Pelagen
  • Zero Friction
  • OMRT
  • Maxem
  • C1 Connections
  • Friday Energy
  • Thermeleon
  • Resoniks
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Partner

Thijs Gitmans

Thijs is always looking for ways to help entrepreneurs accelerate. He has strong social and networking skills and uses these to identify new investment opportunities and add value to portfolio companies. He has invested in early-stage technology companies since 2011, first as fund manager of Peak Capital. He started his career in international tax advisory at Loyens & Loeff and in private banking at MeesPierson, and moved into start-ups at fintech Brand New Day in 2009.

Investments

  • Aiir Innovations
  • Mobian
  • We4Sea
  • ViriCiti
  • Razor Secure
  • C Teleport
  • GRASP
  • SupplyStack
  • Maxem
  • volytica diagnostics
  • Heex Technologies
  • RideTandem
  • TEEPTRAK
  • Ceyas
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Associate & Impact Officer

Sanne van den Bergh

Sanne brings experience in ESG and sustainability from her time at Holtara (formerly MJ Hudson), where she supported investors and fund managers in integrating sustainability into the investment processes. She holds a Master’s in Strategic Innovation Management from the University of Groningen and enjoys connecting analytical insights with real-world impact.

Investments

  • Ceyas
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Associate Partner

Bart Budde

Bart has a strong interest for innovation and sustainability. Graduated as a Chemical Engineer at the TU Delft, Bart enjoys applying his technical knowledge in a broader context.

Investments

  • FUMI Ingredients
  • The Renewal Workshop
  • 30MHz
  • ChainCraft
  • FUL Foods
  • SAIA Agrobotics
  • Jungle
  • Time-travelling Milkman
  • Nature's Principles
  • Whiffle
  • Pelagen
  • TEEPTRAK
  • Astrape
  • Coolsem
  • Foamlab
  • Torwash
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Associate Partner

Willem Poerink

Willem feels a strong personal commitment to bring sustainable innovation to the transport & logistics sector. He combines his entrepreneurial spirit with analytical skills to support entrepreneurs in reaching their goals. Willem has a background in Business Economics & Law, worked in strategy consultancy and lead a startup for Rocket Internet before joining SHIFT.

Investments

  • Aiir Innovations
  • Mobian
  • We4Sea
  • ViriCiti
  • Razor Secure
  • C Teleport
  • GRASP
  • SupplyStack
  • Heex Technologies
  • RideTandem
  • Resoniks
  • OTIV
  • MuTech
  • Roboat
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Associate

Julie van den Brink

With a background in Engineering and Policy Analysis from the TU Delft, Julie is interested in the intersection of decision-making, technology and societal challenges. She is analytical, enjoys to team up and unafraid of a challenge, with a strong commitment to sustainability and creating meaningful change.

Investments

  • Friday Energy
  • TEEPTRAK
  • RABLE
  • foodforecast
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Associate Partner

Koen Hooning

Koen is driven by the belief that new technologies and innovation are key enablers for achieving the world's sustainability targets. He combines his broad interest in technology with experience in business development, management consultancy and finance. Koen has a background in Physics and Econometrics.

Investments

  • Foamplant
  • Green Basilisk
  • BYBORRE
  • E-magy
  • OneThird
  • Vertoro
  • Magneto
  • Canopus Drilling Solutions
  • Fonontech
  • Maxem
  • C1 Connections
  • Friday Energy
  • RABLE
  • HR Energy
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Finance Director

Pim Brekelmans

Pim is responsible for all finance and control activities. He has over 10 years of experience as controller and finance manager. With his strong background in start- and scale-ups, he contributes to setting up finance departments for further growth.

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Investment Manager

Jonas von den Driesch

Jonas uses his strong social and analytical skills to have a positive impact on our world. He enjoys working with ambitious entrepreneurs and supporting them in their growth journey.

Investments

  • FUMI Ingredients
  • BYBORRE
  • Pieter Pot
  • E-magy
  • OneThird
  • Jungle
  • SusPhos
  • Zero Friction
  • OMRT
  • Canopus Drilling Solutions
  • SOLHO
  • volytica diagnostics
  • foodforecast
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Partner

Bram Ledeboer

Bram loves innovation and is a strong believer in cooperation to realize success. He has been working in venture capital and private equity for many years. His former background as technical consultant and chemical engineer, in combination with his strong social skills, make him a good counterpart for technical entrepreneurs.

Investments

  • FUMI Ingredients
  • Green Basilisk
  • NutriLeads
  • Mastiline
  • Meatless
  • FUL Foods
  • SAIA Agrobotics
  • E-magy
  • OneThird
  • Time-travelling Milkman
  • Vertoro
  • SusPhos
  • Nature's Principles
  • Magneto
  • Canopus Drilling Solutions
  • Fonontech
  • volytica diagnostics
  • TEEPTRAK
  • RABLE
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Analyst

Otis Hein

Otis combines curiosity with an analytical approach. He has a strong interest in the latest technologies and enjoys quickly diving into new sectors and business models. With experience in project financing of energy projects, including solar parks and battery storage, he brings a sharp financial perspective. Otis holds a Master’s in Corporate Finance and completed the honours programme A Sustainable Perspective on Finance. As of March 2026, he progressed from intern to Analyst at SHIFT.

Investments

  • HR Energy
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Office Manager

Karen Hanrath

After her studies at the Hotelschool in The Hague, Karen has worked in many different roles in various industries. Including project and event management for music and sports events, PA, and community management for WeWork in Singapore. She has a positive can-do attitude and loves supporting wherever she can. Since October 2023 she is the Office Manager at SHIFT Invest.

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Venture Partner

Florentine Fockema

Florentine feels a strong personal commitment to contribute to the success of societal and sustainable businesses. She combines her broad financial expertise and analytical skills with a straightforward way of working and she is convinced of the importance of teamwork.

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Venture Partner

Sheila Struyck

Sheila has a strong interest in healthy and nutritious food and co-founded a dedicated hospital. Her strong network and background in the FMCG sector together with her experience as an entrepreneur make her a valuable partner to make consumer market oriented companies flourish. She is always end-user and NPS focused, since that is proven to drive profitable growth.

Investments

  • 30MHz
  • Changing Health
  • Vandebron
  • FUL Foods
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Venture Partner

Rard Rijcken

Rard became an entrepreneur and investor after a successful career as an International corporate lawyer and CEO in the utility world. His main focus is therefor the energy sector, transitions in companies, teams and markets while utilising his transactional skills. Nowadays he is active in indirect roles helping companies and investment firms as member of the supervisory and advisory boards or sector expert. As such he is more than happy to work with and challenge founders, leadership teams and investors to make companies grow by setting a thought-through strategy leading to ultimately successful exits.

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Venture Partner

Bart Raedts

Bart is a successful entrepreneur and investor in the biobased industry. He co-founded Orgaworld and sold the company to the UK listed company Shanks in 2012. He has many years of entrepreneurial and general management experience and the urge to make a change. As such, he is the ideal challenger for ambitious entrepreneurs in the biobased industry.

Investments

  • CEVAP Technology
  • HeatMatrix
  • Protix Biosystems
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