Dutch Sport Tech Fund
and AH&BC Ladies 1
are going for gold together

Dutch Sport Tech Fund (DSTF) and AH&BC (Amsterdamsche Hockey & Bandy Club) are entering into a partnership. This collaboration focuses on supporting the women’s first team, which has already won the national championship 21 times and the European championship 16 times in the past. Another joint goal is the further professionalization of women’s hockey as a top sport in the Netherlands. The partnership will last for a period of two years, with the option to extend it for another two years.

In recent years, there has been a tremendous increase in attention for hockey, strengthened by the Dutch men’s and women’s teams who recently won Olympic gold. By actively contributing to the further development of the elite sports climate with the AH&BC women’s first team, DSTF also supports the ambition of the women to win gold again at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Mark Snijders, Chief Business Development Officer at DSTF, is enthusiastic about the collaboration. “Together with AH&BC, we want to build a future in which we strive for the highest possible achievements. We aim to optimally support club-level performance, but also to boost the national women’s team’s goal of winning another gold medal by facilitating the flow of talent from Ladies 1 to Oranje. This ambition perfectly matches the DSTF team, which goes for gold every day. In addition, we are focusing on accelerated growth in DSTF’s brand value. We have built an impressive track record in three years, with nearly 20 investments in our portfolio. Among them are some great companies that are doing exactly what we expect: growing very rapidly.”

The collaboration between DSTF and AH&BC offers a unique opportunity to strengthen the brand value of both organizations. DSTF’s association with the AH&BC women’s team increases visibility and exposure through influencer marketing, social media, and the regular broadcasts of hockey matches on various channels. The partnership also explores activations, such as inviting clients to matches, clinics for children, and other forms of engagement. Furthermore, DSTF is investigating whether technologies in which the company invests are suitable to support AH&BC in improving athletic performance.

“AH&BC is incredibly proud to have Dutch Sport Tech Fund as our new main sponsor for the coming years,” says Harm Voogt, Sponsorship AH&BC. “What appeals to us as a hockey club is that DSTF wants to make a positive contribution to sport and vitality. Especially after the success in Paris, the timing is perfect for a company to connect itself to a top club like Amsterdam and, in particular, to the Women’s 1 team, which includes five players who were part of the golden Oranje. Of course, we are aware that Teun de Nooijer, coach of Amsterdam Women’s 1, is also involved with Dutch Sport Tech Fund as CCO. Teun saw the potential of this partnership and introduced us. It is important to mention that the agreements we have made are completely separate from his role as head coach of Women’s 1. The fact that Dutch Sport Tech Fund is our new main sponsor and is visible with Women’s 1 certainly gives us extra energy, but from a business perspective, these are separate paths.”

The Amsterdamsche Hockey & Bandy Club (AHBC) is one of the oldest and largest hockey clubs in the Netherlands, founded in 1892. It offers both recreational and competitive hockey for various ages and skill levels, from youth teams to senior teams. AHBC has a rich history and plays an important role in the Dutch hockey community, with a focus on sportsmanship, talent development, and promoting hockey at both national and international levels. The club is known for its achievements and involvement in Dutch hockey culture.

The Dutch Sport Tech Fund (DSTF) is an investment fund established in 2020 that focuses exclusively on sports technology. The fund supports start-ups and scale-ups engaged in innovation in the areas of sports performance, data analysis, fan engagement, and e-sports. DSTF not only provides financial support, but also strategic advice and access to a valuable network within the sports and technology sector.