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Former footballer Mark Snijders – AZ and Port Vale – is the mastermind behind the Dutch Sport Tech Fund. The investment company helps start-ups and scale-ups in sports data and sports technology to score worldwide. "I can get so enthusiastic about everything we are working on..."

The meeting point for Mark Snijders, born and raised in Alkmaar, is his pride De Dieu (a modern society club, with its own Wikipedia page) in the heart of the famous cheese city. This actually says everything he stands for. Connecting people, forging teams, getting everyone on the same page, and making things happen. He is a true team player, as he says himself. Just as they used to go for victory and the cup together on the field, that’s still how he approaches life.

And that’s how De Dieu was born. A majestic building that, under Mark’s leadership, was purchased seven years ago by a group of men who established a gentlemen’s society there, modeled after the British style. “But a bit more lively,” says Mark. Each member contributed five thousand euros as an investment in the property and pays an annual fee to help preserve the 18th-century residence of former mayor De Dieu for future generations. And it’s worth it, Mark points out, gesturing to the reception room. Paintings on the walls and ceilings, surrounded by baroque ornaments and a fireplace where, on beautiful evenings, the fire is stoked. “How could you not fall in love with this place?”

The gentlemen’s society now boasts 160 members, allowing Mark to look back on a successful idea. A project like De Dieu gives him wings. He often visits—“I still live nearby”—holds his business meetings there, and regularly meets with the Dutch Tech Sport Fund team. This has been his focus for the past three years. Here too, his enthusiasm was leading, and since 2020, the Netherlands has had its first investment fund for start-ups and scale-ups active in the world of sports data and sports technology. “That didn’t exist at all yet; I was really surprised.”

Just like with De Dieu, he saw opportunities. A beautiful goal that could lead to even greater things. “Sports data, I find it incredibly interesting. The fact that you can use it to improve your sport, make teams stronger, and also offer something to the fans; that’s just wonderful.”

Mark ended up with Eric van der Maarel and Alexander Janssen. “People with experience in sport tech and finance, because I didn’t have that.” Together, the three of them laid the foundation for the Dutch Sport Tech Fund—not a fund, but an investment company. Mark: “What we came up with back then is rock solid.”

Now, thirty people in that company review all the applications that come in every week. Ten to fifteen, Mark estimates. If the Board unanimously gives the green light, it moves on to the next round, where experts in sports and finance give their opinion. Among them are prominent figures such as former speed skater Marianne Timmer and former hockey player Teun de Nooijer. On the investment side, people with solid experience in accountancy, entrepreneurship, investments, etc., have joined. All thirty team members also have ‘skin in the game.’ “Investing our own money, participating… We all want to achieve results together.”

Thirteen national and international start-ups and scale-ups have so far received the green light, and they are all actually doing very well, says Mark. Good news for investors who join the Dutch Sport Tech Fund from 100,000 euros. For example, Fando, whose value has already risen from 3 to 240 million dollars. And there are more examples like that. “We assume that the market shares the same vision, and that one or more exits is a logical consequence.”

Many of these companies started out in an attic somewhere. You know the type, he says: “A good idea that turns into a success.” We often search for and find these kinds of gems. To grow, more is needed, and then they face a new challenge. Because how do you take it to the next level? That’s where we guide them.”

He enthusiastically talks about two Dutch companies from the portfolio that have been embraced by the Dutch Sport Tech Fund. Scala Sports is making a name for itself with an app for the global tennis and padel community. By downloading the app and signing up, it becomes very easy for players to see, for example, which group they are assigned to during a match, but also to make arrangements with each other. “If the American tennis association joins in, you’ve got us on board, we said.” And so it happened. Zest.golf is also a wonderful company, Mark continues. The company is the Booking.com for the international golf world. “Golf courses put their available tee times for green fee players into their own system, and Zest connects all this data into one booking platform.”

All these kinds of initiatives make his sporting heart rejoice, he says. “Because together you ensure that a sport can improve. That way, you also give something back.” He himself still plays football weekly with the veterans, is a very enthusiastic padel player, and has been playing golf regularly for a year at The Dutch. “What I love about The Dutch is that I can share a story like the Dutch Sport Tech Fund there. There are people who understand my drive and can share my enthusiasm. And we actually have something to tell.”

Author: Evelien Baks