Aphetor: investment
in innovative
media consumption

Dutch Sport Tech Fund has a new addition. We are excited to announce that we have recently expanded our portfolio with Aphetor, a platform that harnesses the power of content creators to help sporting events connect with a younger generation of fans. Carsten Thode, founder and owner of Aphetor, shares more about how they operate and how they add value to their community and partners with a unique, innovative business model.

DSTF has plans to launch a second fund in the future. With this, DSTF also aims to attract institutional investors. At Van Lanschot Kempen, Bruens gained extensive experience with fund selection among both private and institutional investors. “These investors not only look at the quality of the management team, but also whether processes are in order. A positive track record of at least three years is often a strict requirement. With the fruitful years DSTF has had, the second fund will also become interesting for institutional investors.”

Bruens’ interest in this role at DSTF was sparked through his connection with Teun de Nooijer. “I have known Teun for over 11 years, ever since the Teun de Nooijer Academy provided a leadership program for the branch managers of Van Lanschot. For various reasons, we have kept in touch over the years. When I left Van Lanschot in June 2023, Teun asked me if I wanted to take on this role. I am a sports enthusiast myself, both passively and actively. In addition, I immediately had a good connection with the other board members. My experience, interests, and the ambition of DSTF are a good match, so I didn’t have to think long about this request.”

What distinguishes DSTF according to Bruens is the focus on the intersection of sports and technology, something he says is still quite unique in Europe. “In the Anglo-Saxon world, you see many funds that combine sports and technology,” says Bruens. “But in Europe, and especially in the Netherlands, that is not yet the case. That’s why it’s very exciting to be involved in an innovative fund like DSTF. In addition, through my experience as a board member at football club Feyenoord, I have also developed a broader perspective on how fans experience sports. The fact that DSTF focuses on this combination of tech, sports, and fan experience makes it an exciting, interesting, and above all, fun project to be involved in!”

Bruens’ love for sports goes back a long way. He played professional football for Veendam for two years before focusing on his career in business. After an international career at ABN AMRO, where he worked in London, Greece, and Saudi Arabia, among other places, he returned to the Netherlands in 2011. In 2013, he made the switch to Van Lanschot Kempen, where he eventually became an executive board member. Since his departure, he has continued to advise the bank as a senior advisor for a few days each month.  

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