Sign In

Geert-Jan Smits

Founder & CEO bij Pacha Panels

Professional Background

Geert-Jan Smits is an entrepreneur and visionary leader with over two decades of experience in the fields of e-commerce, design furniture, and innovative business development. His passion for circular startups and scale-ups has led him to dedicate his career towards promoting sustainable practices within the industry. As the founder of multiple successful companies, including Flinders and Jungle Minds, Geert-Jan has made a significant impact in the Netherlands and Belgium.

His extensive experience in guiding startups through the complexities of the business landscape is marked by his strategic and operational involvement. His roles span from coaching and investing in new ventures to overseeing the operational strategies of established firms, particularly in the circular interior business. With a keen eye for market trends and consumer behavior, Geert-Jan has successfully navigated the challenges of e-commerce while emphasizing the importance of circular economy principles.

Education and Achievements

Geert-Jan’s academic foundation provides him with a robust understanding of both organizational psychology and financial economics. He graduated cum laude from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, where he studied both Organizational Psychology and Financial Economics. His education has equipped him with an analytical mindset and a unique perspective on consumer behavior, enabling him to apply this knowledge effectively in his business ventures.

Throughout his career, Geert-Jan has taken on various leadership roles that have helped shape the industry’s landscape. As the founder and CEO of Pacha Panels, he has been instrumental in developing innovative products that align with the principles of sustainability and environmental consciousness. His previous roles as an investor and co-owner at RSGA DESIGN, as well as CMO at Lloop New Economy, showcase his versatility and expertise in different sectors, particularly in promoting circular economic models.

Notable Contributions

Geert-Jan has made significant contributions to the startup ecosystem through his various advisory roles, including positions on the boards of INretail and Thuiswinkel.org, where he provided strategic insights and support to enhance the growth of the retail and e-commerce sectors. His ability to mentor and guide fledgling companies has been instrumental in fostering innovation and sustainability within these businesses.

In addition to his roles focused on circular economy initiatives, Geert-Jan has been an active participant and consultant for organizations such as Korn Ferry (Hay Group) and has held directorial positions that have seen him contribute to shaping the operational and strategic frameworks of different organizations. His work at Viking Factory exemplifies his commitment to nurturing creativity and innovation among startups, helping them thrive in a competitive marketplace.

Achievements

Geert-Jan's journey is marked with numerous accolades and accomplishments that highlight his dedication to the circular economy and design furniture sectors. His leadership at Flinders established it as a leading design furniture store in the Netherlands and Belgium, making stylish and sustainable products accessible to a broader audience.

Furthermore, his establishment of Jungle Minds, an internet consultancy based in Amsterdam, allowed him to leverage his expertise in internet strategy and online marketing, offering insights that have driven success for numerous businesses. His contributions across various organizations underscore his role as a thought leader in circular business development, emerging as an advocate for sustainable practices in e-commerce and beyond.

Vision for the Future

With an unwavering commitment to promoting circular principles within businesses, Geert-Jan is poised to continue his journey of innovation and entrepreneurship. He passionately pursues opportunities to invest in and coach startups, remaining at the forefront of circular startups and the evolving landscape of design and technology. Geert-Jan Smits embodies the spirit of modern entrepreneurship—driving change through sustainable practices and fostering the next generation of impactful businesses.

Highlights

Jan 8 · linkedin

De nieuwe top tien van Nederlandse start-ups die uitblinken in het aantrekken van financiering (Q4 – 2023).   Opvallende zaken: 🌏 50% van de start-ups zijn gevestigd in Noord-Holland, gevolgd door 30% in Zuid-Holland 🕹 Fintech en Biotech domineren met respectievelijk 50% en 30% van de top start-ups ⛹ 30% van de start-ups zijn opgericht door vrouwelijke ondernemers 💰 Het gemiddelde van €23,3 miljoen financiering per start-up laat een stijging zien ten opzichte van vorige kwartalen, vooral dankzij een toename in Series-A investeringsrondes

De top-10 van Nederlandse start-ups (Q4 2023):

  1. VectorY Therapeutics €129 mio via Insight Partners, BGV (BioGeneration Ventures), EQT Life Sciences, Forbion en MRL Ventures Fund LLC. VectorY (Amsterdam, 2020) is een biotechnologiebedrijf dat zich richt op de ontwikkeling van innovatieve gentherapieën voor de behandeling van spier- en neurodegeneratieve aandoeningen. 51-200 mdw, sector: Biotech

  2. Cradle €21,6 mio via Index Ventures. Cradle (Delft, 2021) helpt biologen om in recordtijd verbeterde eiwitten te ontwerpen met behulp van algoritmen en AI. 10-50 mdw, secor: Biotech

  3. SolarDuck €15 mio via Invest-NL, Katapult Ocean, Energy Transition Fund Rotterdam en Green Tower. SolarDuck (Rotterdam, 2019) ontwikkelt en implementeert drijvende zonne-energieoplossingen, gespecialiseerd in offshore-toepassingen die energie opwekken in maritieme omgevingen. 10-50 mdw, secor: ClimateTech

  4. Silverflow €15 mio via Inkef, Coatue Management, Crane Venture Partners, Pictus Capital en Global PayTech Ventures Silverflow (Amsterdam, 2019) is een platform dat kaartbetalingen online eenvoudiger maakt voor winkels en bedrijven door alles via de cloud te regelen. 50-200 mdw, secor: Fintech

  5. ARTICA Therapeutics €12 mio via BGV (BioGeneration Ventures), Thuja Capital, InnovationQuarter en Seroba. 1-10 mdw, secor: Biotech

  6. transferz €10 mio via Holiday Extras. 50-200 mdw, secor: Travel

  7. Solvimon €9 mio via Northzone 10-50 mdw, secor: Fintech

  8. Levenue €8 mio via Truffle Capital en Freshmen Fund 10-50 mdw, secor: Fintech

  9. Triple €7,5 mio via neosfer, Portfolio Ventures , Form Ventures en COREangels 10-50 mdw, secor: Fintech

10 Carbon Equity €6mio via BlackFin Capital Partners 10-50 mdw, secor: Fintech

De start-ups zijn gerangschikt naar opgehaald extern kapitaal in Q4 2023. De reden is dat dit wordt gezien als maatstaf voor succes. Je kunt start-ups ook beoordelen op aantal medewerkers, omzetgroei of gerealiseerde impact.

Selectiecriteria:

  • Hoofdkantoor in Nederland
  • Minder dan 5 jaar actief (lancering in 2019 - 2023)
  • Financieringsronde voor pre-seed, convertible, angel, seed, early VC of series-A
  • Periode: Q4 2023

Bron: Dealroom.co & de start-up scorecard Succes van start-ups beter voorspellen? Lees het boek: De Startup Scorecard (Haystack, 2023). https://lnkd.in/e6qNGRsz

#NederlandseStartups #StartupTop10 #StartupFinanciering #Seedronde #StartupEcosysteemNL

Oct 2 · linkedin

Dit zijn de acht meest succesvolle start-ups van Nederland in het binnenhalen van funding (Q3 – 2023)

Opvallende zaken: 🌏 De 8 start-ups komen uit 6 verschillende provincies - er zijn geen duidelijke start-up hubs (zoals Amsterdam of Eindhoven); 🕹 Sectoren die er uit springen: health, marketplaces, B2B SaaS en manufacturing (ouderwetse productie met een tech sausje); ⛹‍♀️ Gemiddeld werken 15 medewerkers bij de start-ups; 💰 Opgehaald bedrag bedraagt gemiddeld €4,2 mio (lager dan voorgaande kwartalen).

Top-8 van Nederlandse start-ups (Q3 2023):

  1. Trustoo.nl $7 mio via No Such Ventures. Trustoo (Amsterdam, 2019) brengt lokale bedrijven in contact met nieuwe klanten. 36 mdw, sector: marketplace/ home&living.

  2. Sencure €5 mio via NV NOM, Cottonwood Technology Fund & Lumana Invest. Sencure (Roden, 2021) ontwikkelt technologie voor de monitoring van patiënten en het volgen van de gezondheid via wearables. 18 mdw, sector: health tech

  3. MantiSpectra €4 mio via Innovation Industries, PhotonDelta & PhotonVentures MantiSpectra (Eindhoven, 2020) produceert halfgeleiders – de volgende generatie spectral sensors. 11 mdw, sector: tech manufacturing

  4. Roseman Labs €4 mio via Matterwave Ventures, NP-Hard Ventures en Spacewalk VC RosemanLabs (Breda, 2020) maakt data collaboration mogelijk zonder de privacy en vertrouwelijkheid van data in gevaar te brengen. 22 mdw, sector B2B SaaS

  5. Vipio €4 mio via NOM. Vipio (Assen, 2019) is een snelgroeiend online boekingsplatform. 7 mdw, sector: marketplace/ecommerce

  6. Polars $4 mio (€3,8 mio) via Bain Capital Partners. Polars (Utrecht, 2023) is een razendsnelle DataFrame-bibliotheek voor Rust en Python. Sector B2B SaaS

  7. BiaNergy €3 mio. BiaNergy (Den Haag, 2023) is een pionier en leverancier van oplossingen die draadloos opladen mogelijk maken. 2-10 mdw, sector tech manufacturing

  8. Reyedar €3 mio via NOM, Cottonwood, @Pupil Labs, UNETI Ventures Reyedar (Groningen, 2019) heeft een eigen medisch technologieplatform ontwikkeld voor de vroege detectie van leeftijdsgebonden degeneratieve ziekten. 7 mdw, sector health manufacturing

De start-ups zijn gerangschikt naar opgehaald extern kapitaal in Q3 2023. De reden is dat dit wordt gezien als maatstaf voor (tussentijds) succes. De opgehaalde funding geldt als indicatie voor toekomstige groei en succes. Je kunt start-ups ook beoordelen op aantal medewerkers, omzetgroei of gerealiseerde impact.

Selectiecriteria:

  • Hoofdkantoor in Nederland
  • Minder dan 5 jaar actief (lancering in 2019 - 2023)
  • Financieringsronde voor pre-seed, convertible, angel, seed, early VC of series-A
  • Periode: Q3 2023

Succes van start-ups beter voorspellen? Lees het boek: Start-up Scorecard (Haystack, 2023). Nu verkrijgbaar in de boekhandels.

#startup #entrepreneur #venturecapital #angelinvesting #funding #founders #startupfunding #scorecard

Related Questions

How did Geert-Jan Smits develop his expertise in circular startups and e-commerce?
What inspired Geert-Jan Smits to found Flinders and Jungle Minds?
In what ways has Geert-Jan Smits contributed to the circular economy within the design furniture sector?
What strategies does Geert-Jan Smits implement to mentor and coach startups?
How has Geert-Jan Smits utilized his education in organizational psychology and financial economics in his business ventures?
What are Geert-Jan Smits' future aspirations for promoting sustainability in the business landscape?
Geert-Jan Smits
Add to my network

Location

Zaanstad, North Holland, Netherlands