The career switch of skating icon Marianne Timmer to Dutch Sport Tech Fund

Marianne Timmer (46) is a former Dutch, world, and Olympic champion in speed skating, and a sports fanatic from head to well-trained legs. Although her active years on the track are behind her, the fascinating world of sports still captivates her. As innovation captain, member of the Advisory Board, and investor at Dutch Sport Tech Fund, she still feels 100 percent involved in this wonderful, healthy, and athletic industry.

Dutch Sport Tech Fund invests in sports and sports-related data and technology companies. In this way, a positive contribution is made to sports and innovation is given more opportunities. ‘Timmertje’ looks back with pride at her sporting life and her Olympic medals, but now also at her role within Dutch Sport Tech Fund.

The sports technology market will be worth 50 billion dollars by 2030. Dutch Tech Sport Fund is the first fund to focus exclusively on this market. ‘Sport is a very important and much-discussed topic,’ the skating legend says enthusiastically. ‘A lot has happened in elite sports, especially in terms of innovation. And there continues to be a lot happening that we also apply outside the world of sports. Technological innovations that upgrade our world. Everyone wants a healthy and fit life. And I wholeheartedly want to support companies that contribute to that!’

Dutch Sport Tech Fund mainly wants to invest in promising companies that want to grow. It is a logical choice to focus on scale-up companies: These companies often already have demonstrable value. As an experienced top athlete, Marianne has experienced firsthand how young talent and their coaches use technology and innovation. Her proven talent in managing ‘winning teams’ has led to optimal performances. Now she is part of the innovation team at Dutch Sport Tech Fund.

Marianne Timmer enjoys staying up to date with what is happening in the sports market. ‘Sport is the cradle of many innovations. Take Jogo Sports, a data-driven platform and one of our investments. One feature, for example, is a chip in sports shoes that allows athletes to track their performance. The app encourages you to improve, which helps talents develop even further. That’s what makes it unique: it goes far beyond just investing. Dutch Sport Tech Fund thinks along, connects with other companies, challenges, and offers support to future innovations and sports talent. In other words, cross-pollination. Investing in a promising sector that is also a gap in the market. I am proud to be an innovation captain at this company.’

As a seasoned skater, Marianne still looks firmly ahead to the future. Because there is still much to gain there, both literally and figuratively. ‘Innovation lies in both big and small things. Just look at the innovations of recent years. Where does it end? We have wind tunnel tests, performance measurements, advancements in nutrition, all incredibly interesting. Air transport? Drones? New materials? Climate control? Today you might think: is there still enough room to innovate? But we are growing together,’ the skating icon smiles. ‘There is still so much to gain. And if I knew exactly where that would be, I would focus on it right away.