Team
Joris Kruse [Partner], former executive creative director at Media Republic, responsible for the creative strategy and process. Joris and his team have pushed Media Republic towards one of the leading crossmedia companies specialized in formats, content and campaigns for international brands like Unilever, Heineken, Tommy Hilfiger, Vodafone, KPN, Royal Philips, Samsung, Microsoft. His team won many international industry awards. Joris started his career as Product Developer in the retail industry in this position he worked for clients like BAT and Mackintosh. In 2000 he started Lost Boys Formats at LBI. In his position as Development Director he was responsible for multimedia Innovation within the Lost Boys Group. In his role as associated professor at Breda University of Applied Sciences (http://www.nhtv.nl) he is member of the advisory board at the Academy for Digital Entertainment.
Harm de Vries [Partner], General Partner and co-founder of venture capital funds targeting early stage high tech companies and university spinouts that develop commercially promising products and technologies in technology areas such as life sciences, cleantechnology, nanotechnology, and ICT. The funds under management are the Erasmus MC Biomedical Fund (Rotterdam, 2007), the Life Sciences Fund Amsterdam (Amsterdam, 2009), and the Twente Technology Fund (Enschede, 2010). All funds are independent and have unique access to the Universities within their focal regions, including the Erasmus University Rotterdam, the AMC Amsterdam, the Free University MC, the Dutch Cancer Institute, Sanquin and the Technical University of Twente. In 2010 Harm co-founded Innovation Industries, a media innovation company which operates on the cutting edge of science & technology, entrepreneurship and venture capital.
Jan-Michiel de Pont [Partner], has an MA in Mass Communications with a major in Television from Emerson College, Boston. Since 1995 he has worked in the field of international television production and licensing, as well as content procurement, for companies such as Warner Bros (US), Endemol (NL), Tiscali (NL) and Eyeworks (NL).
Hans Bouwknegt [Associate and Co Founder], studied Film- en Television sciences at the University of Amsterdam. During his study, he sold some cross media concepts and started a cross media company. Hans held several creative positions in the international media industry before he started his academic career at the University of Bayreuth, where he developed the digital media program at the department media studies. Since 2005, Hans works at the NHTV University of Applied Sciences where he currently holds the position of Associate Professor.
Mark Ramakers [ Co Founder], currently CFO of Talpa Media Holding NV, has extensive experience from the entertainment optical, fiber and airport develop- ment industries. Mark’s experience goes beyond the traditional CFO role and focuses on strategy development and company growth. Previous positions include CFO of Eurofiber BV; Director at ABN AMRO Capital; CFO of Helkon Media AG; Manager Participations, Acquisitions and Business Development at Endemol Entertainment NV; and Senior Consultant for Schiphol International.
Manon Frissen [Office Manager], started her career in the Financial Industry in 1998. She worked as administrator at Hypotheekshop C.O. bv. After a year as Sales Representative in the graphic industry she returned to the Financial Industry as Interim Professional for Welten. Her last assignment was as Assistant Account Manager Private Banking at Rabobank.
