Richard Bruens
joins the Advisory
Board of DSTF

With great enthusiasm and pride, we can announce that Richard Bruens has joined the Advisory Board of Dutch Sports Tech Fund. Bruens, former executive at Van Lanschot Kempen, has extensive experience in fund management, digitalization, and governance in the professional sports world. In this role, he will primarily advise the organization regarding the launch of DSTF’s second fund.

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, my experience as a board member at football club Feyenoord has given me 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. Since his departure, he has continued to advise the bank a few days a month as a senior advisor.  

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