Dutch Sport Tech Fund
scouts young, promising
companies and helps them
realize their potential

Edwin Benne is a former top volleyball player and investor in the Dutch Sport Tech Fund. In this interview, he notes that entrepreneurship and top-level sports are very similar. According to Benne, Dutch Sport Tech Fund scouts talented, young companies and provides them with the guidance to reach the top. “Without the right coaching, you won’t reach the Olympic level. That applies to athletes as well as entrepreneurs.”

Benne played on the national volleyball team and managed to achieve fifth place (in 1988) and second place (in 1992) with the team at the Olympic Games. His professional career took him to Italy, France, Germany, Turkey, and Japan. He coached various clubs before becoming the head coach of the national men's team, with which he won the European League. “After this period in top-level sports, I brought my knowledge of leadership into the business world. Nowadays, I guide leaders, executives, and young managers. Leadership is a profession, and it is my calling to teach others this profession. Whether that is in a one-on-one session or as a keynote speaker for a group.”

“I am now a trainer at a large training agency, where, drawing from my background in sports, I also share our knowledge and experience with the portfolio companies within the Dutch Sport Tech Fund. This includes guidance, coaching, and training of leaders within the startups and scale-ups.”

Benne also has international experience. He has worked in various countries and learned a thing or two about working with different cultures. “I got to know the challenges and solutions that come with working across cultures. A positive, growth mindset takes you further in such an international context. It’s not just a matter of working hard, but also of being smart. I am happy to use these experiences in (international) leadership to help the Dutch Sport Tech Fund’s portfolio companies grow.”

The former top volleyball player is not only an investor in the Dutch Sport Tech Fund, but has also recently joined the Innovation Committee. This is one of the two committees that assess potential investments. This committee examines the technical and business aspects. Companies are evaluated by this committee on five aspects:

1. Employees and team members: what is their background, work experience, education, and track record?
2. How has the company structured its sales and marketing? Are there areas for improvement?
3. The business model: is there a product-market fit?
4. A technical assessment is conducted to determine whether the product is stable and truly innovative.
5. The scalability of the company. In other words: can it be launched in other countries or markets, and could the company offer multiple products?

“I have expertise in several fields that the Dutch Sport Tech Fund focuses on, such as data and analytics and human performance. In volleyball, data and analytics tools have been used extensively for a long time, from GPS devices to handy software. I am happy to bring that knowledge of data and analytics tools to the fund. In my career, I have also been very involved in talent development. Entrepreneurship is actually a form of top-level sport as well. You notice that young entrepreneurs have the same drive as athletes. I am convinced that I can guide them in the area of human performance. My role within the Innovation Committee fits perfectly with my passion for growth.”

“I decided to invest in Dutch Sport Tech Fund because the market the fund focuses on has a lot of potential. Dutch Sport Tech Fund invests in startups, young companies. You could compare these businesses to young athletes at the start of their careers. The chances of making it to the Olympic Games as a young talent are quite small without the right guidance. Thanks to the coaching, experience, and network of Dutch Sport Tech Fund, such a promising company can realize its potential. In addition, the fund not only generates a good return, but also contributes to sports and vitality. For me, these are important reasons to invest in Dutch Sport Tech Fund.”