The crucial role of HR
in the growth of
sport tech startups

Gersom van der Spek joins the Innovation Committee, where he advises startups and scale-ups in the areas of leadership and HR. In this interview, van der Spek talks about his role at DSTF. “I strongly believe that the success of a startup is not only determined by their technological innovations, but also by the strength of the team.”

With two decades of experience as a freelance HR consultant and interim HR leader, van der Spek has led HR teams at renowned companies such as Body&Fit, adidas, and EY. His passion for sports, combined with his business economics education and experience in HR, make him the ideal person to assess and develop the potential of startup teams within DSTF.

The Innovation Committee consists of a group of experts who work together to make strategic decisions about which new technologies or startups receive support. Van der Spek explains that the focus is not only on financial figures or technological innovations, but also on the people who embody the startup’s vision: “We look at the composition of the management team, their complementarity, and their ability to function and grow as a unit. This process helps us assess whether a team is ready for the next stages of growth.”

Van der Spek mainly focuses on analyzing management teams and HR structures within startups and scale-ups. “In a startup, the strength of the management team is often the only thing that matters. I base my assessment on this to see if the team is ready for the next phase.” He has deep respect for entrepreneurs because of their ability to take risks and spot opportunities.

HR within startups goes beyond simply managing personnel matters. When Van der Spek analyzes a team, he not only looks at whether the current team is ready for the next step, but he also offers guidance and development opportunities. “Even if a team in its current form is not ready for the next step, I hope that through our conversations and the experiences they gain during personality analyses and team discussions, they can develop themselves. This process is ultimately a valuable experience for the entrepreneurs themselves, regardless of the outcome,” he shares.

When a startup transforms into a scale-up, the role of HR expands significantly. This is the point at which the depth of HR expertise becomes essential. “In a scale-up scenario, we take a broader look at the strength of the HR function within the company,” says Van der Spek. This includes an analysis of contract types, employment conditions, resource planning, and core HR processes such as recruitment & onboarding to determine how well prepared the company is for the next growth phase.

Van der Spek is optimistic about the future of sports technology and DSTF’s role in it. “The growth we are seeing in the sports technology market is unprecedented. DSTF is uniquely positioned not only to invest in technology, but also in the people who drive these innovations forward,” he concludes. “The great thing for both investors and startups is the knowledge and network that DSTF possesses. The ecosystem consists of former Olympians, successful businesspeople, and experts from various industries, which gives DSTF a strong position to support start- and scale-ups in the sports technology sector.”
His ambition is to contribute to the growth and development of these companies, so that in turn they can have a positive impact on the health and performance of people worldwide.

Investing in Dutch Sport Tech Fund is now possible from 100,000 euros. Interested? Request the Dutch Sport Tech Fund brochure.